Hello all! We had booked a flight to Athens on August 28, 2020. Lufthansa sent us an email asking us to let them know by April 19 what we want to do. I was planning on calling them to find out our options. I think we have to cancel, right?

We are in Boston, Massachusetts.

Thanks in advance for any advice,

You need to call them to find out what your options are. If cancelling is one of them, you can cancel and get a refund if that's what you want to do.

I meant should we cancel the trip not the flight. I don't think we get a refund. We have to rebook. I have no other plans.

I think it's very "iffy" if Greece will be opening up travel to the country late August. If so they may ban flights from certain countries which still have a high rate of infection like the US or England. Anything is possible but probably dubious as best.

Have you checked with the airlines to see what the options are for cancellations? If you cancel on your own you may not get any voucher or even a refund. If the airlines cancels than they are obligated to give either a voucher or refund depending on policy.

I would contact Lufthansa and see what your options are. There is still plenty of time to cancel so I don't understand why they are in a rush.

I would be more concerned with what's going on in Greece and what they will be doing about tourism later this summer.

I am booked with Swiss Airlines for an early October flight and as of now my flight is still on and I have heard nothing from Swiss about what I plan on doing. I believe Swiss and Lufthansa and part of the same company.

I'm not planning any trips at all this summer. We probably won't even go to our summer home in August, and that's less than two hours' drive from here. I'm pretty sure that even out trip to the US in December is off. We're in an older age category, and traveling through airports and on planes doesn't seem to be advisable unless we have some sort of immunity by then.

Of course, it's possible that everything will have changed by August. I agree with Crazyh. I wouldn't cancel just at the moment. There's pleny of time before August.

I would tell Lufthansa that you'd prefer to delay your decision. I don't think they can compel you to decide by April 19th, although, for planning purposes, it would be convenient for them.

I doubt very much COVID-19 will be gone by August. Think of all the deaths and upheaval around the world. You wouldn't want to get sick and be in a Greek hospital or prevented from returning home if flights are banned. I would cancel the trip but with the flights - some airlines are refunding in full and others are removing fees to cancel or change. The airline website or airline forums would be helpful to check before contacting them to see what your options are. A refund's going to be much better than a voucher which you may or may not be able to use.

Kay

Thanks everyone, With heavy hearts it seems like we will have to cancel. I paid already for our two night stay in Athens - I guess I will contact the about a refund. Lufthansa says that refunds are an option so I will take a look. Can't plan another trip right now - we have kids in school.

My flights in April got canceled, so I asked for a refund. I waited for them to cancel instead of reacting too quickly. if I had gone for an earlier rebooking, I might not have received a refund offer again. Certainly if they offer you a refund, then take it. I asked for a refund too weeks ago and still have not received it....

Swiss, Lufthansa, and Austria Airlines are all part of the same group and they share a reservation system. Calling one is like calling the others. I was on hold for only 8 minutes with Swissair, but they didn't want calls until 72 hours before the departure flight. Hopefully I will get the refund before I feel the need to follow up.

Thanks all. We have reserved accommodation with the same host for the past four years, so I would want to let him know ASAP if I have to cancel. I also prepaid two nights in Athens (same place we have stayed for years). I kind of want to cancel now but feel so bad - especially for the host. Cannot imagine what they are going through.

My friends in Greece are staying put in their homes. They have a list of things they are allowed do outside the house, like walk the dog. Check carefully as to what the situation is there before going ahead with more planning.

People have different approaches to this. For me, I cancelled the trip i had planned (last month) and am not making any plans for the rest of 2020. I know for me it was a relief to make the decision, even though it was of course disappointing not to be able to make the trip. I just am not seeing Greece in August from the US happening this year.

There is actually no Lufthansa flight from Boston to Frankfurt.
But it may be reintrocuced later in the year.

I m not sure if you are doing anyone any favors by not canceling sooner than later.

Thanks all. I did cancel and the host was absolutely lovely about it. I need to call Lufthansa but it seems like that will get sorted. We were flying through Munich anyway.

Hi all,
We also had plans for a 3 week trip to Greece for my 60th.
Austrian LAX VIE Thessaloniki late Aug
return Lufthansa Athens Munich LAX

And poof, I’m watching our lovely vacation evaporate away. I’m too high risk to travel now. I can’t imagine that anything is going to be that much better in four months.

We haven’t heard a thing from Austrian or Lufthansa. The website still has our flights listed as going. With the cuts they just announced that might change.

I was planning to just wait a while longer to see what happens. We have travel insurance so could be covered if my doctor says I can’t travel, if my husband can’t be spared from work (medical worker) or if travel advisories prevent travel. We bought it in Feb before things started going crazy so I think we’re covered but I’m sure the insurance co will try to weasel out of it.

We have flights, a deposit on a small ship islands cruise, hotels reserved, cars reserved. A few things are prepaid, some non refundable.

I’m hoping maybe we can postpone the trip until next year. I read that Greek travel authorities were going to change refund regulations to allow Greek travel providers to give vouchers for postponed vacation services rather than refunds.

Im totally bummed but in the scheme of things at least all of our family has remained well, and we’re not trying to figure out how to pay the rent. Lots to be grateful for.