Read the cancellation terms as a timeline: the nearer the departure date, the more of your money is kept, and some parts, such as airline tickets and attraction bookings, follow their own rules. Ask the agency to write the tiers as dated steps before you pay a deposit.
It is hard to think about cancelling when you are excited about a holiday. Still, a few minutes now can save a great deal of stress, especially if you are travelling with children or parents whose health may change.
What do cancellation tiers look like?
Most terms divide the time before departure into stages, with a larger charge at each later stage. Ask for the stages in this form.
| Stage | What to ask for |
|---|---|
| Soon after booking | Is any part of the deposit returned? |
| Weeks before departure | What percentage or amount is kept? |
| Days before departure | What is kept, and what is refundable? |
| After departure or no-show | Is any amount returned? |
Turn the tiers into dated lines on your calendar. A clause that says “within a reasonable time” is not a date, so ask for exact days.
Why do some parts follow different rules?
A package is made of pieces bought from different companies, and each has its own terms. Airline tickets, hotels, rail seats and attraction bookings may have their own refund windows, and the agency often cannot change them.
A public example shows the idea. Forbidden City tickets can be refunded free before 24:00 the day before the visit and not at all once checked[1]. If a similar rule sits behind part of your package, the agency may be unable to refund that piece, so ask which parts are affected.
What should you ask about airline tickets?
Ask whether your flights are included, which fare they are and who sets the refund. Our guide on flight-inclusive or land-only packages explains why this matters.
If the flights are bought separately, check the airline’s own change and refund rules before you pay the deposit. Write the answer down.
What if plans change but you still want to travel?
You may be able to change a name, a date or a traveller rather than cancel. Rules and fees vary, so ask early. Changing names, dates or travellers after booking lists the questions.
If the agency or airline cancels, you have a different set of rights and options. If your China flight or tour is cancelled goes through them calmly.
How does travel insurance fit in?
Insurance may cover some cancellations, such as illness, but only for the reasons your policy names. Read the policy before you rely on it. Claiming travel insurance after a China trip problem explains what to keep.
Buy insurance when you book, not at the airport, and keep the policy wording with your papers.
What should you do next?
Ask the agency for the cancellation tiers as dated steps, and for a note of which parts follow other companies’ rules. Read deposits and payment schedules alongside it.
If a refund is refused, complaining about a travel agency in Malaysia shows the order of steps. The booking topic page has the rest of the checks.