Dear Valued Partners,
If you have customers scheduled to travel next month, our team will be reaching out via email to review options for all affected bookings departing on or before June 30, 2020.
Additionally, please note that we have made the following updates to provide the most flexibility for your clients’ bookings affected by the COVID-19 pandemic:
- The Land FTC can be transferred to another person. An Indemnification Agreement Release form must be signed and returned back to Avanti Destinations.
- The Air and Land FTCs are not dependent on each other. In other words, you can take either the Air or Land FTC stand alone. Please note when accepting only the Air FTC, land minimum requirements still apply.
- If the air has been ticketed via the Air Deposit, Avanti will issue an Air FTC for the value of the Air Deposit for bookings scheduled to depart on or before June 30, 2020. The air does not have to be paid in full before the Air FTC is issued. The new airfare must be equal or greater value of the original airfare.
- Final payment for future bookings will be due 45 days prior to departure (instead of 75 days).
For a full description of our Land FTC and Air FTC options, please see the terms and conditions below:
How does the Land Future Travel Credit (Land FTC) work?
- Avanti will provide a Land FTC which can be used for travel to be completed by December 31, 2021. This credit can be used to any destination that Avanti sells.
- The Land FTC is issued per person. Not all people have to rebook together on the new booking.
- After the new booking is created, the Land FTC(s) will be applied and deducted from the gross total. If the new booking total exceeds the Land FTC value, the passengers are responsible for paying the balance of the booking.
- The Land FTC is not refundable and has no cash value.
- Commission will be paid on the new booking, not on the original booking.
Land FTC Terms and Conditions:
- Land FTCs are issued to the original travel agent and passengers*
- Rebooked travel must be completed by December 31, 2021.
- Land FTCs can be used for any Avanti destination.
- Land FTCs have no cash value and any unused portion will not be refunded.
- Land FTCs must be redeemed on a single booking.
- Land FTCs can be used towards the deposit on the new booking.
*Transferring Land FTCs to Other Passengers
How does the Air Future Travel Credit (Air FTC) work?
- Avanti will provide an Air FTC, which the majority of carriers will allow travel to be completed by December 31, 2021; however, in some cases, carriers may restrict travel dates to be for 2020 travel, while others may extend the travel date to be two years from original date of ticket issue. Note – you will be advised of the ticketing and travel dates proactively by email if the Air FTC can be extended to your customers.
- Air FTC value based on 100% of the original airfare cost including all taxes and carrier imposed surcharges. If the airfare has not been paid in full, the prepaid amount will be converted into an Air FTC and the remaining balance due must be paid by the final payment date of the new booking.
- New travel must be on the original carrier issued on the original ticket to a destination that Avanti sells, subject to carrier rules.
- The Air FTC is issued per person and cannot be transferred to other passengers. Not all people have to rebook together on the new booking. The replacement air ticket must be of equal or greater value than the original ticket issued.
- Rebooked fares must match the original fare type and price – contract fares must be rebooked as a contract fare and published fares must be rebooked as a published fare.
- Upgraded classes of service (for example, economy to business class) is based upon availability at the time of rebooking.
- After the new booking is created, the Air FTC(s) will be applied and deducted from the gross total. If the airfare in the new booking exceeds the Air FTC value, the passengers are responsible for paying the balance of the airfare.
- Per Avanti’s contract rules with the airlines, land components need to be booked in conjunction with the air. There is a $250 land minimum for economy/premium economy and a $1,000 land minimum for business/first class.
- The Air FTC is not refundable and has no cash value.
- Commission will be paid on the new booking, not on the original booking.
Air FTC Terms and Conditions:
- Air FTCs are issued to the original travel agent and passengers.
- Air FTCs can be used for any Avanti destination, subject to carrier rules.
- Air FTCs have no cash value and any unused portion will not be refunded.
- Air FTCs must be redeemed on a single booking.
Refund Option:
You may decline both the Land and Air FTCs and opt for a refund instead. This may be beneficial if your clients are seeking a cash refund and have purchased travel protection with a cancel for any reason benefit. If the FTC is declined:
- Terms: Standard cancellation penalties will apply
- Refund Amount: Avanti will refund the remaining balance, after penalties, to your clients. Please note that it may take one to two billing cycles for the refund to reflect on your client's credit card statement
- TripMate Plan: If you purchased Avanti's TripMate policy, you may qualify for the Cancel For Any Reason benefit which provides up to 75% cash back on all prepaid, non-refundable services
- Commission: Commission is paid on services that are 100% non-refundable
If you have any questions regarding this, you are welcome to call our dedicated COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-970-0341 Monday-Friday 8:00am – 4:00pm PST to speak to a specialist.
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Please note for group travel, the above is not applicable and needs to be looked at a case by case basis. Please contact our group department at (888) 606-7260 for further details.
Best regards,
Mark Grundy
Chief Operating Officer
