There is currently a travel warning for Turkey. The country is also considered a corona risk area. Reason enough for travelers to be able to cancel their booked package holidays free of charge. But some organizers face it. Florian H. also has this experience: The family man has been waiting for a deposit to be refunded for months.
Florian H. booked his 2020 summer vacation a year ago. For the first time, he wanted to travel to Turkey with his family, and he planned the all-inclusive package tour via Dertour's online travel portal. "You want to try something different," says the family man from nearby Munich.
But when the corona pandemic spreads more and more in March, Florian H. decides to cancel the trip to Turkey. He is looking for alternatives where it is possible to travel independently.
Under the new conditions, he does not want to get on a plane with his wife and two children. But he doesn't want to give up family vacation altogether.
"I was in the queue for hours on end"
Florian H. plans to share all of this with the travel agent as well. But getting in touch turns out to be difficult. "I was in the queue for hours for days," he tells FOCUS Online. When he finally reaches an employee over the phone, he shows himself to be dismissive: a rebooking or a travel voucher for the next year? Not possible.
Florian H. has not yet paid for the entire trip, but has paid a deposit of 650 euros. Dertour, which is based in Frankfurt and belongs to the Rewe Group, charges it as a processing fee.
Consumer advice center: cancellation or processing fees do not have to be paid
According to the consumer advice center, this is not permitted. The federal association makes it clear on its website: "According to an expert opinion by travel lawyer Prof. Klaus Tonner, consumers could cancel package tours abroad free of charge, which should take place by the end of August 2020."
The travel lawyer emphasizes that cancellation fees or processing fees for package tours do not have to be paid. It also says: If the payment has already been made, customers have the right to a repayment.
With flight law you can easily up to 600 euros compensation claim from the airline. The claim applies to all flights since 2017who were more than 3 hours late or canceled – even with overbooking.
Federal Foreign Office: Travel warning until August 31 is considered "force majeure"
The Federal Foreign Office also makes it clear that customers can cancel their package tours free of charge "if there are unavoidable and exceptional circumstances at the holiday location".
For trips to third countries, the travel warning issued until August 31 falls under "force majeure". Only if the trip is planned at a later point in time can you not rely on a free cancellation.
Dertour refers to data protection and already advertises online with "super carefree package"
Meanwhile, Dertour advertises on its Facebook page with a “safe, super carefree package”. This is intended to protect customers in the event of a corona infection at the holiday location – "assumption of costs included".
A Facebook post also says that repayments for canceled trips are currently being processed. However, there would be delays due to the high volume.
At the request of VIP News on the situation of Florian H., the company refers to the regulations on data protection. It was regretted that he was unable to provide any information on the case.
Family man is outraged – and wants to continue to fight for the refund
Florian H. is furious that he still does not get his 650 euros back: "It just won't work." But he doesn't want to let go – if necessary, you have to hire a lawyer, he says.
The employee hopes that a letter from his employer, which recognizes him as systemically important, will help him with this. First of all, however, we go to Lake Garda with the family for a few weeks. Florian H. booked the vacation this time alone – without a tour operator.
Turkey is a popular holiday destination for Germans
The federal government recently extended the travel warning for Turkey until August 31. In addition to this general travel warning, the Robert Koch Institute has classified the country as a corona risk area.
Vacationers must enter a two-week domestic quarantine after entering a risk area. According to John Hopkins University, Turkey currently has 221,500 confirmed corona cases (as of July 23).
Turkey, on the other hand, has lifted the entry ban for German nationals since June 11, 2020 – and is pushing for the federal government to lift it. After all, tourism is one of the most important economic sectors in Turkey. According to official information, more than five million Germans spent their holidays there last year.
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