Northwestern Mutual Leads Industry on Latest Forbes’ “Top Financial Security Professionals” and Best-in-State Lists MILWAUKEE, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Northwestern Mutual announced today that an industry-leading 489 of its advisors earned a spot on Forbes‘ annual lists of top financial security professionals – the company’s strongest showing on this prestigious ranking since it debuted … [Read more…]
If so, you’re in luck if you’ll fly with Southwest Airlines within the next couple of weeks. For the 10th consecutive year, the carrier will offer special Shark Week programming on its flights as part of a partnership with Discovery Channel, the network that produces the special.
Beyond the inflight programming, Southwest is also organizing shark-themed pop-ups at airports in Atlanta, Dallas and New York, according to a Southwest spokesperson.
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The airline hosted one of these pop-ups at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) on Thursday. Marine biologist and Shark Week presenter Dr. Craig O’Connell shared fun facts about sharks and hosted trivia.
During the events, passengers received Shark Week fin hats during boarding. The program’s mascot, known as “Chompie,” made a surprise appearance in Dallas earlier this week.
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Related: The best Southwest Airlines credit card for family travelers
In previous years, Southwest featured shark-themed Boeing 737s and partnered with flight tracking site FlightAware to track these shark-themed jets.
There won’t be a special livery to commemorate the week this year. However, a spokesperson for Southwest said Discovery Channel’s inflight Shark Week programming has been some of the most popular television for the carrier’s customers.
Launched in 1988, Discovery Channel’s Shark Week programming is devoted to all things sharks. The release of the 1975 movie “Jaws” led to misconceptions about sharks. Discovery Channel launched Shark Week programming to educate viewers and quell fears they may have of sharks.
Over the years, programming morphed into a platform for scientists to advocate for one of the Earth’s oldest animals.
Shark Week runs on Discovery Channel from July 23 to July 29.
Related reading:
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
On July 14, 804,000 longtime student loan borrowers began receiving word that their $39 billion in remaining debt would be forgiven as the result of the Education Department’s income-driven repayment (IDR) account adjustment. This one-time program, first announced in April 2022 to repair past missteps in the IDR system, is counting more past repayment periods toward income-driven repayment (IDR) forgiveness. Many borrowers will be at least three years closer to IDR forgiveness — and some will automatically see their loans forgiven altogether.
“At the start of this Administration, millions of borrowers had earned loan forgiveness but never received it. That’s unacceptable,” Department of Education Under Secretary James Kvaal said in a July 14 press release announcing the news. “Today we are holding up the bargain we offered borrowers who have completed decades of repayment.”
This is just the tip of the iceberg. More than 4.4 million borrowers have been repaying their loans for at least 20 years, and 2.3 million of these borrowers have never defaulted or been delinquent on their loans, according to April 2021 Education Department data provided to Sen. Elizabeth Warren. However, there’s not yet a final count of total borrowers who will receive the IDR account adjustment forgiveness, says Mike Pierce, executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC).
“If I were a borrower, I would feel pretty good about this happening, but you know, we never say never,” Pierce says. “This is something that has never been put in front of a federal judge, and we have not seen any signs that it’s going to.”
All this is occurring as borrowers gear up for student loan payments to resume in October. Here’s what you need to know about the next waves of loan forgiveness under the IDR account adjustment and what qualified borrowers can do to prepare for it.
When will IDR adjustments be made?
The Education Department said it will notify waves of loan forgiveness recipients about every two months. Since the first major batch was announced on July 14, borrowers can expect the next announcement by mid-September.
The department plans to apply the account adjustment by the end of 2023 to all borrowers who’ve reached enough payments for forgiveness; all other borrowers will receive at least three additional years of credit toward IDR loan forgiveness in 2024.
Will I get IDR account adjustment forgiveness?
To find out whether you’ll receive loan forgiveness under the one-time IDR account adjustment, you must count your past payments yourself.
Generally, borrowers with undergraduate loans will receive loan forgiveness if they’ve made at least 240 monthly student loan payments, and those with some graduate loans will reach forgiveness if they’ve made at least 300 payments, Pierce says.
From July 1994 onward, the adjustment counts the following periods toward the 240 or 300 payments needed to reach forgiveness:
Any month a borrower was in repayment, even if the payments were late or partial. The type of repayment plan also doesn’t matter.
Time spent in forbearance, either periods lasting 12 or more consecutive months or a cumulative 36 or more months.
Any month spent in deferment other than in-school deferment before 2013.
Any month spent in economic hardship or military deferments on or after Jan. 1, 2013.
Any months in repayment, forbearance or a qualifying deferment before a loan consolidation.
Months spent in default will generally not be included in the recount, though borrowers who enroll in the temporary Fresh Start program to get out of default will get IDR credit from March 2020 through the date they leave default.
Log in to your Federal Student Aid (FSA) account at StudentAid.gov to see how long you’ve been in repayment. To see detailed information, including descriptions of the specific forbearance or deferment periods, request your account history from your servicer.
How to prepare for the IDR account adjustment
The loan forgiveness will be largely automatic for most eligible federal borrowers with older direct loans, federally held Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) loans and parent PLUS loans. These borrowers don’t need to take any action to qualify or receive loan forgiveness.
“The good news is, for most people, you don’t actually need to be an expert on this program to benefit from it,” Pierce says. “If you have a loan that’s owned by the Department of Education, it’s just gonna work for you.”
But there are some small steps you can take to be proactive.
Update your contact information
Regardless of the type of federal student loans you have, check that your current contact information is listed in both your FSA and servicer accounts. While you’re at it, make sure you still have the password to these accounts, and reset your login credentials if needed.
Forty-four percent of federal borrowers were transferred to a new servicer during the pandemic payment pause, according to a June estimate from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, so now is also a good time to see if your servicer changed.
You’ll likely be notified by email if and when your loans are forgiven under the IDR account adjustment, but student loan communications may also arrive by mail.
Consolidate commercially managed federal loans
Some federal loans are not held by the government, but by a private entity. Borrowers with these commercially managed federal loans won’t benefit from the recount automatically — they’ll need to consolidate these loans to qualify. The account adjustment will count periods of repayment prior to consolidation toward IDR forgiveness.
Commercially held loans include certain FFELP loans, Perkins loans and Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) Program loans. You can see what type of loans you have on the dashboard of your FSA account or servicer portal.
You have until the end of 2023 to consolidate commercially held loans, but don’t delay. The full consolidation process can take from 30 to 60 days, Pierce says. Get started by submitting a direct loan consolidation application on the Federal Student Aid office website.
Consolidate newer parent PLUS loans
Parent PLUS loans are included in the IDR account adjustment. If you reach 300 payments — or 120 payments if you’re eligible for PSLF — your parent PLUS debt will be discharged automatically this year, regardless of whether or not your PLUS loans are consolidated.
But if you have fewer payments than that, you’ll need to act. Consolidate your parent PLUS loans before the end of 2023 to benefit from the adjustment, and enroll in an IDR plan called Income-Contingent Repayment to continue making progress toward forgiveness.
Apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Borrowers eligible for PSLF are also eligible for the account adjustment; they can receive IDR loan forgiveness after just 10 years, or 120 eligible payments. PSLF-eligible borrowers with direct loans, including parent PLUS loans, will benefit automatically. Those with either federally or commercially managed FFELP loans must consolidate them into a direct consolidation loan by the end of 2023 to get PSLF credit under the account adjustment.
After the adjustment is applied to your account, you’ll see credit toward PSLF for any month after October 2007 during which you were in repayment and had qualifying employment.
“If you’ve applied or will apply for PSLF and certify your employment, you may see the benefits of this adjustment to your qualifying payment count,” writes the office of Federal Student Aid. Do so as soon as possible to ensure you benefit from the recount.
Check your state’s tax policy
The federal government won’t tax any debt forgiven as a result of the IDR account adjustment.
However, certain states, including Indiana and Mississippi, treat forgiven student loans as taxable earned income, and thus may tax the amount of forgiven debt you receive. The vast majority of states don’t do this, so check the rules in your state.
If you’re concerned about a state tax bill, you can opt out of loan forgiveness. You have 30 days to do so after you receive notice that your remaining debt will be forgiven under the IDR account adjustment.
JetBlue is offering $25 off one-way flights and $50 off round-trip flights for travel this fall. All you have to do is use the promo code FALLSALE to get this discount.
The deal is only valid on nonstop flights, and you can’t apply it to previously purchased tickets. It’s also not valid on transatlantic flights or on Mint tickets.
The sale ends July 26, so book as soon as you can.
Deal basics
Airlines: JetBlue
Routes: Between any U.S. destinations where tickets cost more than $50
How to book: Directly on JetBlue’s website with promo code FALLSALE
Travel dates: Sept. 7 through Nov. 16
Book by: July 26 at 11:59 p.m. EST
Blackout dates: Excludes Friday and Sunday travel
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Sample flights
Head to JetBlue’s website, and click on the promotional window.
It’ll take you to the booking page and automatically enter the code. From there, you can choose your dates and destination.
Make sure you’re not trying to book on a Friday or Sunday, as these dates are excluded from the sale. Know, too, that this discount code won’t work if your flight is less than $50.
The below Monday flight to Los Angeles from New York is discounted $25, from $137 to $112.
The same discount is applied to the return flight, making it $50 off both tickets.
When you get to your shopping cart, you’ll see the discount applied in the price summary.
These tickets are for JetBlue’s Blue Basic fare category, which does not include a carry-on or checked bag. To check a bag, you’ll have to pay $35 each way. Passengers cannot cancel without paying a fee and will be the last to board.
Maximize your purchase
Use a credit card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases. Frequent JetBlue flyers can use the JetBlue Plus Card for 6 points per dollar spent on eligible JetBlue purchases, the JetBlue Card for 3 points per dollar spent on eligible JetBlue purchases or the JetBlue Business Card for 6 points per dollar spent on eligible JetBlue purchases.
Or, you could use The Platinum Card® from American Express for 5 points per dollar spent on airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year); the Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees) or the Chase Sapphire Reserve, both of which award 3 points per dollar spent on airfare; or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for 2 points per dollar spent on travel.
The information for the JetBlue Plus, JetBlue Business and JetBlue Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom line
If you’re planning to travel somewhere in the U.S. this fall, these discounted JetBlue flights are a perfect option.
Book fast, as tickets will sell out quickly before the sale ends tomorrow.
You probably know him best for his role as hopelessly duped FBI agent Stan Beeman on the FX series, “The Americans.”
And now, Noah Emmerich, the talented actor who portrayed Beeman, is selling his lovely New York City apartment.
Interested? Prepare to dig deep. The listing price for the modest one-bedroom, 1.5-bath pad in the East Village is $1,999,000. The apartment last sold in 2007 for $1,175,000.
While just 1,150 square feet, the home’s elegant details and standout, north-facing views give it a roomier feel.
The apartment is a large one-bedroom space, but it was originally designed as a two-bedroom home. The main bedroom sits behind pocket doors and has its own large walk-in closet and a fancy marble bathroom.
The sleek galley kitchen sports stainless appliances, custom cabinets, and a subway-tile backsplash. A sizable dining space, unusual for an apartment this size, sits just outside the kitchen.
There are also hardwood floors throughout, recessed lighting, central air conditioning, and a half-bath with a linen closet tucked inside.
The high-end building features a number of amenities, including 24-hour door attendants, a live-in manager, storage rooms for bikes and personal items, and a gym. There’s also a shared, outdoor space with a planted deck, tables, seating, and a rooftop pool.
Emmerich has appeared in a number of movies—”The Truman Show,” “Little Children,” and “Super 8,” among others—and seems to enjoy playing federal investigators. Another role has him working for the government as an FBI agent, this time in the Apple TV show “Suspicion,” with co-star Uma Thurman.
Most new cars come with several manufacturer’s warranties that cover the cost of repairs to your vehicle for a limited time. Car owners also have the option to purchase an extended car warranty, which covers the cost of certain repairs after the manufacturer’s warranty expires.
Car warranties can help you avoid paying out of pocket for some expensive repairs. But it can be confusing to know what warranties come with new or used cars, which ones require an additional purchase and what each type covers. Here’s what to know about car warranties and what they cover.
What is a car warranty?
A car warranty is a contract where the manufacturer or warranty company agrees to cover certain repairs to a vehicle for a specific period of time.
Most new cars come with a manufacturer’s warranty which covers the cost of repairs due to malfunctions on the manufacturer’s end. This warranty doesn’t cover damage caused by the driver, as car insurance does, or typical wear and tear. But if the battery or air conditioning stops working due to a manufacturing defect, for example, your car warranty would cover the cost to replace or repair it, and you wouldn’t have to pay out of pocket for it.
New car manufacturer warranties typically last 36,000 miles or three years, whichever comes first. Car owners can also choose to purchase an extended car warranty after the manufacturer’s warranty ends. (More on this below).
🤓Nerdy Tip
Car warranties typically transfer when a car is sold. This means that when you buy a used car, you’ll want to check its mileage and the year it was purchased to see if the original warranty remains and whether it is transferable. You can also typically buy an extended factory warranty for a used car.
Types of car warranties
Coverage between warranty types can vary depending on the manufacturer or provider. Below are the most common types.
Bumper-to-bumper warranty
Like the name implies, a bumper-to-bumper warranty (also known as a comprehensive warranty) covers repairs to parts between a vehicle’s front and rear bumper. This usually includes things like the car’s body, the heating and air-conditioning system and the steering. Note that this warranty doesn’t cover maintenance like routine oil changes or wear and tear of parts like brake pads, for example. Coverage can vary but the basic contract lasts three years or 36,000 miles — whichever comes first.
Powertrain warranty
A powertrain warranty covers any repairs related to the parts that move a car — such as to the engine, transmission or suspension. Coverage limits and terms vary, but this warranty typically lasts longer than the bumper-to-bumper warranty. For example, all new Honda cars offer powertrain warranties for five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first, while new Hyundais come with a 10-year or 100,000-mile warranty.
Extended car warranty
Extended car warranties cover the cost of repairs after the manufacturer’s warranties have expired.
This warranty is sold separately by manufacturers, dealers or independent dealers that aren’t connected with a specific carmaker. Costs and coverage terms vary across dealers, car type and more, so be sure to read coverage terms carefully before purchasing one to understand what the inclusions apply.
While an extended warranty might give some car owners peace of mind, they’re not necessary to purchase. To determine whether the coverage is right for you, consider a number of factors like the type of car, how reliable it is, how much money you have set aside for major repairs and how long you plan to keep the vehicle.
It’s important to note that service contracts can also be labeled as extended car warranties. A service contract doesn’t meet the federal government’s definition of a warranty, which is to protect or correct a product when it fails. Service contracts can cover some maintenance tasks, like oil changes and air filter replacements, or extend the length of coverage for certain warranties. They are sold by dealers, manufacturers and independent contractors.
Additional warranties
Carmakers also offer several other types of warranties, some of which aren’t as common. Examples include:
Roadside assistance: This generally covers towing costs and tire changes if the car breaks down during travel.
Corrosion warranty: Also known as rust warranty, this covers replacement and repairs due to rust to sheet metal parts of the car.
Federal emissions warranty: This type of warranty covers repairs needed to correct defects in parts that would prevent the car from meeting Environmental Protection Agency standards.
Partnership between Northwestern Mutual Capital and DWS Group achieves investor fundraising goal NMC and DWS secure $500 million for the Four Columns Junior Capital Fund VI MILWAUKEE, July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Northwestern Mutual Capital and DWS Group have secured $500 million in commitments from investors, successfully accomplishing the goal of the partnership between the … [Read more…]
Flight cancellations are the worst, and they seem to be happening more and more frequently these days. That’s why frequent and not-so-frequent travelers should be aware of their options and know what to do if their flight gets canceled at the last minute.
Here’s what you need to know about the Breeze Airways cancellation policy and Breeze Airways customer service.
Why are Breeze flights canceled
There are plenty of reasons a Breeze flight, just like a flight on any other airline, might be canceled. In addition to bad weather and equipment issues, problems like staff shortages or scheduling snafus can also arise. Sometimes the cancellation is the result of a decision made by air traffic control.
While the reason the flight is canceled doesn’t ultimately matter when it comes to refunds and rebooking, it may matter when it comes to other travel-related reimbursements that the airline offers.
What is Breeze Airways’ cancellation policy?
If your flight is canceled, Breeze will offer the option to rebook you on the next available flight or cancel your flight for a refund.
Breeze Airways cancellations may also result in an apology credit from Breeze in the form of BreezePoints. On a recent trip, I received $150 worth of BreezePoints (15,000 points) when my flight was canceled.
But it’s not just canceled flights that Breeze lets you opt out of. If your flight is canceled or delayed for longer than two hours, you can change your flight to a new date any time in the next 14 days or cancel any flight segments not flown for a full refund.
The airline may also offer reimbursement for hotel accommodations if the flight is delayed overnight or rescheduled for the following day — but only if the cancellation or delay was due to the airline’s failure, not for things like air traffic control decisions or weather.
You will have to submit receipts for reimbursement via the Breeze Hotel Reimbursement Request Form within six days to receive payment.
You will have to fill out a Breeze Transportation Reimbursement Request Form online to do so.
What to do if Breeze cancels your flight
If Breeze cancels your flight, you have a few options:
Let the airline rebook you on the next available flight.
Cancel one leg of your flight and get a refund.
Cancel your entire round-trip booking.
There is no Breeze Airways phone number to call, so your only options to get in touch are:
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), if your flight is canceled and the airline is unable to rebook you on an acceptable flight — or you choose to cancel your travel as a result of the flight cancellation — you’re entitled to a full refund of any untraveled portion of your booking as well as extra fees like seat selection and checked luggage.
How to rebook
If you’d like to rebook, you can chat with a gate agent at the airport or rebook yourself online.
To do so, sign in to the My Trips section of the Breeze website, find your canceled reservation, select “View Options” and select a new flight. You can rebook your Breeze flight any time in the 14 days following your canceled flight. The new flight just has to be to and from your original departure and arrival destinations.
How to get a refund
Refunds look a little different. If you only want a refund for one leg of your flight — say if it was your return flight that was canceled — you can request a refund via Breeze’s Refund Request form, which is available online. There will likely be a link in your email, too, if you opted to receive flight updates that way. Keep in mind that refunds may take up to a week to process.
If you want to cancel your whole trip and request a refund for the entire journey, you can do so online or in the Breeze app. Just find your canceled flight under the “My Trips” section, then scroll down to “refund trip.”
Once you confirm your choice to cancel, you’ll receive a credit to your original form of payment for the cost of the ticket. That means if you paid with a credit card, you’ll get money credited back to that card. If you booked with BreezePoints, you’ll get your refund in the form of points.
Credit card and travel insurance that can get your money back
The Breeze cancellation policy doesn’t cover other travel expenses that you may have already booked or prepaid for, like accommodation, rental cars or tour tickets. If you’d like to be reimbursed for these expenses, you’ll want to consider travel insurance.
There are travel insurance policies available for every type of trip, and many will cover the entire cost of your trip if your flight gets canceled.
Some credit cards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, also provide travel insurance as long as you pay for bookings with the card. However, coverage may not be as comprehensive as a full travel insurance policy, so read the fine print and know what’s covered before you count on it to protect your investment.
Breeze Airway cancellations recapped
Having your flight canceled is always frustrating, but the Breeze cancellation policy, coupled with the DOT’s refund requirement, means you’ll definitely get a refund for canceled travel if you choose not to rebook.
Additionally, Breeze offers compensation in the way of BreezePoints when it’s at fault, which may help take the sting out of the situation.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:
Northwestern Mutual kicks off #LemonTopChallenge in honor of childhood cancer patients and survivors The company has donated more than $30 million to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation to accelerate the search for better treatments and cures MILWAUKEE, July 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Northwestern Mutual is kicking off a unique social media challenge today to generate awareness … [Read more…]
Wildfires on the Greek islands of Rhodes and Corfu have left thousands of travelers stranded.
As of Sunday, about 19,000 people in villages and resorts on Rhodes had been evacuated as wildfires spread across the island. Local news outlet Ellada 24 described the operation as the largest fire evacuation ever carried out in the country. Corfu has seen about 2,400 people evacuated.
It’s estimated that about 10,000 British tourists are currently stranded on Rhodes.
The General Secretariat for Civil Protection in Greece has announced a Category 4 alarm (very high risk) for many areas based on its Daily Fire Risk Map. According to the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece, “high risk of fire is expected to continue in the coming days.”
Several travel companies and airlines — including Tui and Thomas Cook — have reportedly canceled planned trips to Rhodes, according to The Guardian.
So far, two rescue flights operated by EasyJet have repatriated 421 people back to the U.K., with a third flight scheduled for Tuesday. Three repatriation flights operated by Tui are scheduled for Monday evening.
Despite the current situation on the ground, many airlines continue selling flights with immediate departures as of Monday morning.
Here’s what you need to know if you are currently stuck in Rhodes or Corfu, or have plans to visit the Greek islands in the coming days and weeks.
Can I still travel to Rhodes and Corfu?
Airlines are still flying to and from Rhodes and Corfu, and as the situation currently stands, most travel and flights to Greece are going ahead.
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The U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has not yet advised people to avoid travel to Rhodes or Corfu, though it does warn of “active wildfires in Greece.”
Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s “Today” program, Olga Kefalogianni, the tourism minister for Greece, said that tourists can still fly to Rhodes.
“There has been no disruption in the airport and I think it’s particularly important to stress that only a small part of the whole island of Rhodes is affected,” Kefalogianni said.
What is the current government advice for travel?
Stopping short of advising against travel to the affected Greek islands, the U.K. Foreign Office has urged travelers to check with their travel operator or hotel before traveling.
“If you are planning to travel to Rhodes, please check with your travel operator or hotel, prior to travel, that the area you plan to visit is not impacted by the current wildfires,” the FCDO said.
The U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece has advised U.S. citizens living in or traveling near the affected area to “exercise extreme caution” and “follow instructions from local authorities and closely monitor the local media and emergency alerts.”
What are airlines and travel companies saying?
So far, several airlines have canceled flights to Rhodes; others are offering passengers the opportunity to change their current flights free of charge.
British Airways
The U.K’s flag carrier is allowing travelers currently in Rhodes or Corfu to change their flights free of charge if they need to return home early. Any passengers due to fly between now and Sunday can also change their flights to a later date for free.
EasyJet
The popular budget airline has canceled its package holiday bookings in Rhodes until Aug. 1. However, flights to both Rhodes and Corfu are operating as normal. Passengers booked to travel to or from Rhodes between now and Saturday can transfer their flights to a new date or request a flight voucher.
Ryanair
All flights are currently operating as normal.
Jet2
All flights and holidays to Rhodes have been canceled until July 31. The airline says affected customers have been contacted regarding “refund and rebooking options.”
Tui
All flights to Rhodes are canceled through Tuesday. Passengers due to fly Wednesday can rebook or cancel their trip without additional charge. Travelers due to visit affected hotels or areas in Corfu have been told they will not be able to on Monday and Tuesday.
Any travelers set to stay at Tui Blue Atlantica Nissaki Beach, Pantokrator, Golden Mare, La Riviera or Nautilus hotels have been advised not to travel Monday or Tuesday.
Thomas Cook
The holiday company has canceled trips to affected areas of Rhodes until July 31. It has contacted its customers to arrange partial and full refunds.
How can I get help if I’m stuck in Rhodes or Corfu?
The Greek government has set up a crisis management unit to help if you are stuck and need assistance.
U.S. and U.K. residents can contact the unit at the numbers below:
+30 210-368-1730
+30 210-368-1259
+30 210-368-1350
“If you are a British national affected by wildfires, please follow the guidance from the emergency services. Call the Greek Emergency Services on 112 if you are in immediate danger,” the U.K. Foreign Office also advises.
To contact British consular assistance, call +4420 2008 5000. This line is operated 24/7.
For U.S. consulate or embassy guidance, call +30 210-729-4444.
Does my travel insurance cover wildfires?
In most circumstances, it’s unlikely that your insurance coverage will offer a specific clause for wildfires. Additionally, governments have not yet advised people not to travel, so it’s unlikely that you’d be able to claim on your insurance without a specific clause.
Insurance claims may be valid if your home government changes its advice and instructs people not to travel.
Related: The best travel insurance policies and providers
That said, it does depend on the insurance policy you have. In some instances, people with declared medical conditions or those who become ill due to the wildfires may be able to put forward a claim regardless of their government’s travel advice.
As always, with insurance questions, we recommend reading the fine print of your policy to clearly understand the intricacies of what it may cover.
Can I get a refund on my holiday if I return home early?
Possibly, though this will entirely depend on where you are booked to stay, the conditions under which you leave and how you booked your vacation.
If you are traveling as part of a package deal and are forced to return home early due to the wildfires, you might not be entitled to a full reimbursement but could receive a partial refund. This is because the costs of flights will be taken into account and deducted from any refund, as you would still be traveling on the outbound and inbound flights. However, this could vary among package providers, and you should contact the company you booked with for further clarity.
If you booked directly with your accommodation provider and need to end your stay early, any refund policies will be specific to the individual hotel or rental that you booked with.
Can I still get home if I lost my passport during evacuation?
If you were evacuated from Rhodes or Corfu and could not grab your passport beforehand, don’t worry.
In this instance, you should contact the Greek authorities. Or, if you’re a U.K. resident, contact British consular assistance at +4420 2008 5000. This line is operated 24/7, and they should be able to help arrange temporary travel documentation, which will be accepted on your flight home.
Can I cancel an upcoming trip?
This will depend on the terms outlined by the company you booked your trip with. If the accommodation you were set to stay in has been affected by the fires, your trip may have already been canceled.
However, you may struggle if you are not due to visit an area affected by wildfires but want to preemptively cancel your holiday. We’d advise contacting your package provider or hotel in both circumstances.
If you have booked your flights and accommodation separately, you should receive a full refund for your airfare if the flight is canceled. However, you will need to reach out to your hotel to find out your options for reimbursement for your accommodation.
If your trip has been canceled due to governing authorities, either local or your home government, restricting travel to the area, you should be entitled to a refund.
Bottom line
Wildfires in Greece have upended vacations for thousands of travelers in Rhodes and Corfu. The most badly affected area right now appears to be Rhodes.
U.K. and Greek authorities are not currently warning people to avoid traveling to these Greek islands but do recommend exercising caution. Some airlines are allowing travelers to rebook upcoming outbound flights for later dates or change to earlier return flights if needed.
If you are currently in Rhodes or Corfu and require assistance, you can reach out to the crisis management unit set up by the Greek government at:
+30 210-368-1730
+30 210-368-1259
+30 210-368-1350
If you urgently require the Greek emergency services, you can reach them on 112.
To reach British consular assistance, call +4420 2008 5000.
For U.S. consulate or embassy guidance, call +(30)(210) 729-4444.