But what would it cost you to dispute the charge and NOT pay the fee to renew the card? It seems to me that the card need not be active, assuming it still is as we speak, to get a credit that would returned to you whether the card was later active or not. A credit is given immediately so why not? Let them work out the details. I cannot imagine not giving it a try.

We have just returned from a month travelling in the Queensland outback and checked our credit card to find we have been refunded by Lufthansa for the full amount of our return fares to France. So feeling very pleased tonight.

Something to celebrate, Rhon. That's a big load off your mind.

I read your July trip report. What you saw in Queensland fascinated me, such unexpected (by me, but what do I know) art and landscapes. Here's hoping there'll be another trip report once you get settled in.

rhon, do you recall how long you were in the Lufthansa refund queue and did you receive any kind of recognition that they had received your request for a refund while you waited? My flights were canceled and so I filled out the online form but haven't heard a peep.

Glad you got your refund!

Leely I also haven’t heard anything (Qatar, not Lufthansa) - except for the offers to rebook ;)

rhon good news. Leely2 the airlines test our patience. If you have the energy you could try to contact them.

Our flights were for April 2 and returning in early June. Because we actually cancelled when we realised we could not go and not the airline, we were not sure we would get anything. So we did not ring them for ages, in May some time. They said yes, we would get a refund and we would get a confirmation email. We never did get that. We rang again in June and they said we were in the queue. Still nothing. We rang again in July before we went away and they upgraded us to urgent as it had been so long since we cancelled ( early March ) It came through a couple of weeks ago but we were not checking our credit card. So maybe three months in the queue. Our thoughts were " I will believe it when it actually happens " . And it did.
Coquelicot, I will do another report. We covered about 5000 kilometres in the month. P is at the moment washing dust and mud off the car and camper.

MmePerdu, I had just assumed that, if successful, there would be a credit back to the charge card. So if we no longer have the card, is there an incentive for the cc company to act on our behalf? It’s certainly worth looking into.

Thanks, cheska, Adelaidean, and rhon.

This is a small problem compared to what others around the globe are suffering, but of course as I sit here at home, the mind turns...

Take care, all. Happy travels again someday.

Adelaidean, our cancelled flights were with Singapore Airlines, not Qatar. But I just kept harassing them and finally got the money refunded to our credit card. As well as doing what had to be done online, I rang them and also made a comment on their facebook page along with hundreds of other unhappy customers. I finally got an email saying how much money they’d refund but that it could take months to happen. However, it was only about a week later that it was refunded to our credit card.

So don’t give up, keep trying and it should eventually happen.

Thanks jacooper, that’s reassuring.

I received my refund from Lufthansa this week.

Take care, all.

We received our refund from Virgin this week. Four months but we have it and an extension for Eurostar.

Great news Leely2 and Macross. It is a good feeling.

That is good news. It is a relief when it comes through.

Australians should be aware that they are entitled to a refund, offer of credit or change of travel dates for any travel insurance which they were unable to utilise due to COVID. Specific dates apply of course. This may be small comfort in the disappointment of not being able to travel but worth enquiring about if you're in that situation.

Dreamon, I have RAA travel insurance and they were very unhelpful.
My flights were cancelled and I await (not that hopefully now) for my refund from Qatar.
RAA stated that there was no entitlement to a refund (bought my policy in Sep 2019 for trip in June ‘20)

They eventually, (after much stonewalling) postponed policy for up to June ‘21 travel. Unlikely to happen, I know.

Adelaidean how absolutely frustrating for you and I feel for you. The only thing I can think of is to try Consumer Affairs.

Oh, not sure I want to share this, embarrassing....
but my husband paid our airfares on his credit card and I was the one negotiating the refund request from Qatar.
So in May they responded to my refund request with an email saying it would take 8 weeks, and then I heard nothing, so I messaged them and received those cut and paste type responses of how busy they are, please be patient, last message from them was in September.
Only...my husband received the refund in June and hadn’t noticed.
Oops.

so, well done Qatar, .....not so well done, us.....

That’ great. Glad it is resolved. I would have made that mistake also as I only recently discovered that my husband can’t see the details on my cc. Wish I’d known that a while ago. ha ha.