Booking Travel Now

[steviep166]

Is there any benefit to booking travel now -- for the summer to Israel? United allows free rebooking (at least for tickets bought before 4.30).  We will definitely go at some point during the yea?r? Is there an upside? downside.

[israshot]

We will definitely go at some point during the year

How are you sure you will go? Maybe they will ask you to quarantine.
I'm not answering you question but just pointing out that nothing is sure.

[Joel]

What about Hawaii? It's a US state will it be required to quarantine?

[zagguru]

Is there any benefit to booking travel now -- for the summer to Israel? United allows free rebooking (at least for tickets bought before 4.30).  We will definitely go at some point during the yea?r? Is there an upside? downside.

Wondering same. If anyone is booking any trips for Aug/September?
How about even for winter vacation?

[Dan]

What about Hawaii? It's a US state will it be required to quarantine?

They have the strictest quarantine.

[steviep166]

You could be right. I assume -- maybe wrongly so -- that the restrictions will be lifted in the next 12 months. I certainly could be wrong. I was thinking that the quarantine may be lifted in July -- but if its not -- maybe i would not go. I may still go and deal with the quarantine considering my trip in the summer would be for 6-8 weeks. A trip during the year would only be a week.

[Dan]

I wouldn't book anything nonrefundable for travel this year, but that's just me.

[zagguru]

I wouldn't book anything nonrefundable for travel this year, but that's just me.

Plenty of refundable options available now.

[ejb123]

What about Hawaii? It's a US state will it be required to quarantine?

They tourism board is actually paying tourists to leave if they are caught violating the 14-day quarantine.

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/04/17/breaking-news/watch-live-hawaii-state-senate-committee-on-covid-19-assesses-islands-coronavirus-planning/

[Dan]

Plenty of refundable options available now.

I'm talking about fully refundable, not funny money refundable when we have no idea what travel will look like for the foreseeable future

[davidrotts63]

What for? You'll have to pay a difference in fare regardless, so unless you're fairly confident about a specific date there is no reason to.

[mendy from lakewood]

I booked 2 weeks ago to Orlando in the summer for my family and price has already went up. Totally refundable so no risk.

[shmooz]

Because miles options are totally open now, I booked some for future. If I can't go supposed to be rebanked for free, but even if not the downside is low.
My feeling is that just like no one predicted the situation we would be in now, no one knows how long will last. Actually, no one knows anything about this.

[yochai]

LOT Polish Airlines is not charging a fare difference to change from cancelled flights. They have very cheap tickets for the next few weeks which will almost definitely get cancelled. You can then change to Sukkos/New Years or any high season in the next 2 years for free! If the flight doesn’t get cancelled, you can always change the date but you’ll have to pay the fare difference. May be worth the risk in some cases.
I was thinking of doing it last week because they were selling tickets for early May, but now they cancelled flights till the 15th. Not sure what the cancellation chances are after that.

[shmooz]

I wouldn't book anything nonrefundable for travel this year, but that's just me.

Could you give examples of what is out there, besides united miles booked by 4/30?

[yyonah]

LOT Polish Airlines is not charging a fare difference to change from cancelled flights. They have very cheap tickets for the next few weeks which will almost definitely get cancelled. You can then change to Sukkos/New Years or any high season in the next 2 years for free! If the flight doesn’t get cancelled, you can always change the date but you’ll have to pay the fare difference. May be worth the risk in some cases.
I was thinking of doing it last week because they were selling tickets for early May, but now they cancelled flights till the 15th. Not sure what the cancellation chances are after that.

Assuming they'll still be in business.

[Naftuli19]

Because miles options are totally open now, I booked some for future. If I can't go supposed to be rebanked for free, but even if not the downside is low.
My feeling is that just like no one predicted the situation we would be in now, no one knows how long will last. Actually, no one knows anything about this.

I did the same.

[yochai]

Assuming they'll still be in business.

Lot is government owned, so they have a better chance of staying in business

[yochai]

LOT Polish Airlines is not charging a fare difference to change from cancelled flights. They have very cheap tickets for the next few weeks which will almost definitely get cancelled. You can then change to Sukkos/New Years or any high season in the next 2 years for free! If the flight doesn’t get cancelled, you can always change the date but you’ll have to pay the fare difference. May be worth the risk in some cases.
I was thinking of doing it last week because they were selling tickets for early May, but now they cancelled flights till the 15th. Not sure what the cancellation chances are after that.

Update: I just booked on Sunday for a flight from Miami to TLV on 5/16 for 580$ RT. They just cancelled all flights through May 31, so I can use the ticket anytime in the next year with no fare difference! + a 30% off coupon for future flights (Hopefully they’ll still be around).
I can always opt for a refund per DOT regulations.
That’s a great policy compared to AA who cancelled my flight to TLV and wanted to charge me a fare difference, so I just asked for a full refund.

[gotthepoint]

niiiice!