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Couple has travel insurance nightmare

Kelowna pair planned nice trip but medical emergency derails plans....no love from travel company
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Alicia Norton in hospital after several surgeries. The Kelowna woman was hoping to find some relief from her travel company

A Kelowna 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 ±·´Ç°ù³Ù´Ç²ÔÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s gallbladder, contend with a damaged pancreas, and dealing with a bile leak due to the ²µ²¹±ô±ô²ú±ô²¹»å»å±ð°ùÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s removal, Norton said ¾±³ÙÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s unlikely the pair will be travelling anytime soon.

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥œT³ó±ð²â (Sunwing) offered we could pay $250 each to change the name on our tickets and it would be our responsibility to sell the ³Ù¾±³¦°ì±ð³Ù²õ,Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥ she said.

Travel cancellation insurance ·É²¹²õ²ÔÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™t offered to the couple because the vacation package was purchased on short notice, said Loeffler.

Travel agent Kelly Scott of Flight Centre, said the ³¦´Ç³Ü±è±ô±ðÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s story is one ²õ³ó±ðÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s heard before.

Scott stands by purchasing medical and cancellation insurance.

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥Ô¨´Ç³Ü never know what will happen between now and your travel ³Ù¾±³¾±ð,Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥ 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:

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥œW±ð 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 ´Ç±è³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô²õ,Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥ Sunwing stated.

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥œA³Ù 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.

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥œW±ð 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. Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥

Norton says the couple believed insurance ·É²¹²õ²ÔÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™t available due to the last minute booking but is now warning others to be vigilant in making sure to ask about purchasing insurance.

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥œM²¹°ì±ð sure to buy (insurance) and »å´Ç²ÔÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™t wait until the last minute (to plan a ³Ù°ù¾±±è,)Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥ she said, noting they may still be able make the trip depending on her health.





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