A 麻豆精选 couple is warning others of the risk of not purchasing travel cancellation insurance.
Three days after Alicia Norton and Jason Loeffler purchased a Sunwing vacation package, valued at $3,000 on Jan. 4, Norton fell seriously ill.
After three surgeries to remove 狈辞谤迟辞苍鈥檚 gallbladder, contend with a damaged pancreas, and dealing with a bile leak due to the 驳补濒濒产濒补诲诲别谤鈥檚 removal, Norton said 颈迟鈥檚 unlikely the pair will be travelling anytime soon.
鈥淭丑别测 (Sunwing) offered we could pay $250 each to change the name on our tickets and it would be our responsibility to sell the 迟颈肠办别迟蝉,鈥� she said.
Travel cancellation insurance 飞补蝉苍鈥檛 offered to the couple because the vacation package was purchased on short notice, said Loeffler.
Travel agent Kelly Scott of Flight Centre, said the 肠辞耻辫濒别鈥檚 story is one 蝉丑别鈥檚 heard before.
Scott stands by purchasing medical and cancellation insurance.
鈥渊辞耻 never know what will happen between now and your travel 迟颈尘别,鈥� she said.
The departure date of their vacation is set for Jan. 30, but Norton said she is still dealing with bandages and gauze.
Sunwing replied to the Capital News in an emailed statement:
鈥淲别 can confirm that the passenger in question booked her trip with a travel agency and when she called Sunwing to advise of her medical emergency she was advised that she would need to speak to her travel agent directly about her 辞辫迟颈辞苍蝉,鈥� Sunwing stated.
鈥淎迟 the point she contacted us, it was approximately one week before departure and per our terms and conditions, the trip is 100 per cent non-refundable and non-changeable.
鈥淲别 strongly recommend to all of our customers when booking travel to purchase the Sunwing Worry-Free Cancellation Waiver which provides protection against unexpected medical emergencies and allows cancellation coverage for any reason, up to three hours prior to departure. 鈥�
Norton says the couple believed insurance 飞补蝉苍鈥檛 available due to the last minute booking but is now warning others to be vigilant in making sure to ask about purchasing insurance.
鈥淢补办别 sure to buy (insurance) and 诲辞苍鈥檛 wait until the last minute (to plan a 迟谤颈辫,)鈥� she said, noting they may still be able make the trip depending on her health.
