Heather L.

In January 2020 I booked a vacation with Sunwing Vacations in celebration of my 25th wedding anniversary. We were to travel to Punta Cana and had booked in at a luxury adult resort with all the bells and whistles including our own personal butler. Our travel date was March 21,2020. On March 17,2020 the government advised that they were locking everyone down and nobody was to leave the country. Over the years we have not been ones to spend money on these types of vacations so needless to say we were very disappointed. However, not as disappointed as the treatment we have received from Sunwing since that date. When we were banned from travelling I immediately contacted Sunwing and was told not to worry that we would either receive a travel credit or refund. In the past year I have attempted several times to obtain a refund but have been told that I do not quality.
Most recently I have learned that Sunwing is to receive a $375 million dollar loan from the government as like many other businesses their business has suffered due to the pandemic. In reading the articles about the government loans it clearly states the following. Under the terms of the loan, Sunwing has agreed to maintain an account with the money it received from customers for travel that was cancelled due to the pandemic. The federal government has stressed that it will provide financial aid for the battered aviation industry only if airlines provide refunds to passengers whose flights were cancelled as a result of COVID-19. Upon reading this I immediately contacted Sunwing and again was advised I do not qualify for a refund. Their representatives informed me that the only travelers who qualify for a refund are travelers who booked since the pandemic. How does this make sense? These people are booking vacations during a pandemic when our government is advising us not to travel knowing full well that at any time we could be locked down again and their trip cancelled and they are entitled to refunds. I booked a vacation before anyone was aware COVID19 existed fully intending to go on that vacation, but my trip was cancelled through no choice of my own. I had no input in this decision. This was decided for me by the government. How is my trip cancellation deemed not a result of COVID19. I think Sunwing needs to stop playing with the wording in the terms of their loan agreement and step up and do the honest and right thing. They have now extended my travel credit unit 2026. How generous, but how do they know what shape the world will be in by then, how comfortable I will feel travelling, what my health will be like and if I can still afford this vacation because guaranteed the trip I paid for in 2020 is not going to cost the same in 2026.
If Sunwing has accepted a government loan they need to do right by ALL travelers. There must be others out there who are in the same situation was me. Please post, contact the media. Let's do whatever is necessary to make our voices heard.