Mexico holidaymakers no option over cancelling despite flu fears
Holidaymakers already with bookings for holidays in Mexico may receive no refund if they want to cancel.
As a new swine flu virus, AN1H1, is suspected of killing over 100 people in Mexico, those with holidays in the nation are thinking of withdrawing their bookings.
However, it may not be so simple, despite EU health commissioner Androulla Vassiliou warning against travel to the US and Mexico.
As Spain reported the first case of swine flu outside the EU, Ms Vassiliou called on Europeans to avoid traveling to Mexico or the United States of America.
"Personally I would try to avoid non-essential travel to the areas reported to be in the centre of the cluster into order to minimise the personal risk and to reduce the potential risk to spread the infection to other people," she said.
Package tour operator Thomson and First Choice - which operates resorts in Cancun - says as things stand those wanting to cancel holidays are tied to the booking conditions of their deals, meaning they may not be able to get their deposits or cash paid back.
The major tour operators use a sliding scale for those cancelling - from losing everything for last minute cancellations to just deposits gone if cancellation is 56 days or more before departure.
"We are waiting to see how the situation unfolds and we will take further advice," a Thompson spokesperson said.
"The health and safety of our customers is paramount and Thomson and First Choice are working closely with the FTO (Federation of Tour Operators) and all other relevant authorities monitoring the swine flu outbreak."
She added the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises that visitors to Mexico should be aware of an outbreak of influenza and should consult a doctor immediately if they show signs of 'flu-like' symptoms.
"There are no restrictions on travel at the present time," she concluded.
Once the FCO does warn against travel, holidaymakers may be able to cancel holidays and claim on their travel insurance.
"At the moment we would not cover people cancelling holidays until the FCO advises against travelling. This is pretty much standard across the industry," a spokesperson for Saga Insurance said.
However, they must wait until the decision is made - as cancelling beforehand will mean they have no route for compensation.
"As it stands at the moment, until the FCO warns against travel to the area, people will not be covered if they cancel their holidays," a spokesperson for Saga Insurance said.">
"This is pretty much standard across the industry."
The FCO travel advice currently states visitors to Mexico should "be aware" of the outbreak after cases were reported in Mexico City, together with the states of Oaxaca, San Luis Potosi, Mexicali and Baja California.
"Travellers should consult a doctor immediately if they show signs of flu-like symptoms," the FCO travel advice states.
The Mexican Secretariat of Health, the FCO reports, is advising people to avoid large crowds, shaking hands, kissing people as a greeting, or using the subway, while stating people should maintain a distance of at least six feet from others and frequently wash hands to decrease the risk of exposure.
TheAssociation of British Travel Agents (ABTA) is also urging holidaymakers not to panic.
"At the moment there are no suggestions that there have been any outbreaks in any tourist areas, and the Foreign Office has not imposed any travel restrictions, and as a result normal booking conditions apply," said ABTA in a statement.
"Please contact your ABTA travel agent or tour operator for further assistance."
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