In the wake of the violence in Puerto Vallarta, travelers are wondering about refunds, insurance coverage and whether to continue with their Mexico plans.
Is it safe to travel to Mexico? See what our experts say.
USA TODAY’s Eve Chen spoke with former CIA officials and security experts about the current situation in Mexico after the death of “El Mencho.”
- Civil unrest in Puerto Vallarta has tourists worried about future trips to Mexico.
- Standard travel insurance typically does not cover cancellations due to civil unrest.
- Travelers are only eligible for a refund if they purchase certain “cancel for any reason” coverage.
With spring break just around the corner, travelers are considering whether to cancel future trips to Mexico after recent civil unrest in the tourist capital of Puerto Vallarta.
Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho and head of the Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel, was killed during a military operation on February 22nd. His death prompted cartel members to take to the streets, torching cars and looting stores, prompting a shelter-in-place advisory issued by the U.S. State Department that was later lifted.
Authorities quickly reassured people of their safety. Within days, residents, tourists and even Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo insisted that “things are calm” and “business as usual” in Mexico.
Disturbed by what they’ve seen in the media, travelers who had planned trips to Mexico are also considering canceling or postponing trips to popular destinations far from where the incidents occurred, such as Cancun and Mexico City.
Chrissy Valdez, senior director of operations at travel insurance platform SquareMath, said the company has seen a “spike in concerns” among its customers, with the number of inquiries related to Mexico travel in particular soaring sixfold.
“For the most part, what people have to remember is that Mexico is a big country and this problem is only occurring in certain regions,” Valdez said. “In fact, historically, travelers who encounter emergencies while traveling abroad are more likely to encounter medical emergencies than security incidents. Therefore, there are still certain benefits to having travel insurance, especially when it comes to medical emergencies and travel delays.”
The big question is, if you cancel your trip, will you get your money back? Here’s what travelers need to know about their rights.
What refund obligations do I have if I cancel my trip to Mexico due to safety concerns?
You don’t owe that much, if anything.
It depends on what the accommodation and airline are currently offering. Some airlines, such as American Airlines, were offering immediate, fee-free flight changes and cancellations. Department of Transportation rules state that travelers are only entitled to a full refund from the airline if their flight is canceled or significantly delayed, they choose not to fly and refuse any other compensation.
“One thing consumers should remember is that only airline tickets are eligible for refunds,” Valdez said. “It does not cover accommodations such as resorts, hotels, or any tours or excursions you are planning.” You should check with your accommodation or travel company.
If I have travel insurance and cancel my trip to Mexico, can I get a refund?
perhaps. Most travel insurance policies exclude events related to social anxiety, so they won’t be of much help in this case, but you should call your travel insurance company to find out what your coverage is.
“Standard travel insurance does not include coverage for military action or acts of war,” Valdez said. Basic travel insurance will only reimburse you if your flight is canceled due to an “unforeseen emergency” such as hospitalization or death.
It is also important to know when you purchased your travel insurance.
“A lot of people think that travel insurance covers everything, but when something like this is widely publicized or becomes a government advisory, it’s now a known or foreseeable event,” she said. “This means that some policies that don’t offer trip cancellation will be discontinued once the incident is known. However, if you purchased your policy before the violence erupted, you may still be covered.” This is another reason to check with your provider to see if they accept your reason for canceling your trip.
But if you’ve also purchased cancellation for any reason (CFAR) or interruption for any reason (IFAR) coverage, you’re in luck. With CRAR, you can get up to 75% of the trip price refunded if you cancel 24 to 48 hours before the trip starts. She said the reason could be anything from feeling unsafe to “going to the salon and not liking the way your hair turned out, or not wanting to be seen in public.”
IFAR is a little different. This allows people who have just arrived on a trip and decide to end it early to get some money back. Adding either CFAR or IFAR to your coverage plan typically costs just over 8% of your total travel cost, or 9% for both. Standard insurance has an operating ratio of just under 6%.
Should you buy travel insurance now for your upcoming spring break trip to Mexico?
Unless you have a CFAR or IFAR, it won’t help if you want to cancel due to safety concerns. Because this is now a known event.
“Standard trip cancellation insurance will likely not cover you due to exclusions, but you will still be covered for travel delays, medical emergencies, and anything else that may occur,” Valdez said.
Will travel insurance help me postpone my trip?
While you won’t necessarily get your hotel or flight money back, many travel insurance companies will allow you to change the date of your policy within a certain period of time. It’s up to the airline, travel agent, and hotel to rebook your trip without a fee.
