Students and their families could lose thousands of dollars after high schools cancelled overseas trips that were set to transit through the Middle East.
At least 15 schools have been impacted, with some families now uncertain how much of their money they will get back.
At Upper Hutt College, around 50 students were due to depart next week on a three-week trip to Europe. Each had paid about $13,000.
Now, many are coming to terms with the disappointment and the financial uncertainty.
Student Cindy Giddens has little more than her specially printed hoodies ordered for the trip.
"It just has places we were going to go, a little plane, and then you could customise them," she said. "I put 'Mr 305'."
Connor Monk had been planning to celebrate a milestone overseas.
Middle East conflict: School trip cancellations could cost families thousands - Watch on TVNZ+
"We were supposed to be touring the Greek Islands on a cruise ship for my 18th birthday," he said.
For some, it would have been a first-time experience.
"I was just most excited about getting to travel somewhere. I mean I’ve never travelled before, I’ve never been on a plane before," Giddens said.
That excitement was cut short when the school's board voted to cancel the trip last week.
High school student and families finding their fundraising efforts have been all for nought as excursions are cut. (Source: 1News)
Principal Judith Taylor said the decision was informed by safety concerns.
“The only way for the trip to go ahead was to go with Emirates and to go through Dubai. But there’s a ‘do not travel’ warning on that, so it was a really hard decision for the [school] board,” she said.
Travel company Defining Moments said it is working with at least 15 affected school groups.
It says each case is different, and solutions are not one size fits all, with staff meeting with families to explain their options.
For Upper Hutt College, rerouting flights was not viable.
“They looked at breaking it down into smaller groups on different airlines, but that wasn’t going to work either,” Taylor said. “Students could have ended up flying into different parts of Italy and having to make their own way to Rome.”
Many families are now facing only partial refunds.
What rights do families have to refunds?
Consumer NZ chief executive Jon Duffy said reimbursement depends heavily on the reason for cancellation.
“If it’s the airline cancelling the flight, in some instances you can recover costs like accommodation,” he said. “But if it’s due to something like an act of war, that’s outside the airline’s control and those extra costs typically won’t be refundable.”
Travel Agents’ Association NZ president Victoria Courtney said such events are difficult for insurers to cover.
“The risk is enormous, and if it was covered, it would significantly increase premiums for everyone,” she said.
For students and their families, the financial strain is hitting hard.
“My mum got a second job to be able to afford it,” Giddens said.
Many had been saving since year 9 and now face uncertainty over whether they will see that money again.
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