Review Standard Booking Conditions: EF’s Peace of Mind Program
The following excerpt has been taken from EF Explore America's Booking Conditions for the 2019-2020 Travel Year.
EF’s Peace of Mind Program
“We understand that plans can change due to unforeseen circumstances. EF provides an exclusive Peace of Mind program to account for such situations. This program is automatically included for all travelers and can be enacted at the group level for any reason, including terrorism or other world events. Your Group Leader may choose from the following options:
45 days or more prior to departure
EF’s Peace of Mind Program Terms and Conditions
Benefits of the Peace of Mind program are only available to the entire group and not to individual travelers. Travelers missing any payment deadlines must pay any incurred late fees to qualify for this program. Revised tours must fall within the date range that these booking conditions are valid. If the revised tour has a higher price than the original tour, travelers will be required to pay the difference as a condition of traveling on the revised tour. If EF cannot accommodate a revised tour request and/or the group decides not to travel on the original tour, then the group may opt for travel vouchers. If the group does not travel on the original tour, travel on a revised tour, or receive a future travel voucher, standard cancellation fees will apply. Travelers cancelling from a revised tour will be charged a cancellation fee based on the date that the original tour was revised or the date of cancellation from the revised tour, whichever is higher. EF will make every effort to accommodate revised tour requests. Travel vouchers will be issued in the amount of all monies paid by a traveler for the original tour less the $95 non-refundable deposit and any other non-refundable fees. Travel vouchers are valid for the current and following travel year. Travel vouchers are transferable at the face value of the voucher to members of the traveler’s immediate family or to students and faculty of the traveler’s school. The future travel voucher is not a merchandise credit or a gift certificate and may not be redeemed for cash.”
Group vs. Individual Peace of Mind Decision
Our standard Booking Conditions state:
“Benefits of the Peace of Mind Program are only available to the entire group and not to individual travelers. […] Travelers cancelling from a revised tour will be charged a cancellation fee based on the date that the original tour was revised or the date of cancellation from the revised tour, whichever is higher.”
Our temporary enhancement to this policy:
Individual travelers may now elect to use our Peace of Mind Program to cancel from their original tour or a revised tour and receive an EF future travel voucher for all monies paid, including non-refundable deposits and fees.
Future Travel Voucher Value
Our standard Booking Conditions state:
“Travel vouchers will be issued in the amount of all monies paid by a traveler for the original tour less the $95 non-refundable deposit and any other non-refundable fees.”
Our temporary enhancement to this policy:
Travel vouchers will be issued in the amount of all monies paid, including non-refundable deposits and fees.
Future Travel Voucher Validity
Our standard Booking Conditions state:
“Travel vouchers are valid for the current and following travel year.”
Our temporary enhancement to this policy:
EF future travel vouchers are now valid for use on programs through September 30, 2022. We have also expanded options for future travel voucher redemption, including brand new tours exclusively for graduating seniors, which can be found here.
Future Travel Voucher Refunds
Our standard Booking Conditions state:
“The future travel voucher is not a merchandise credit or a gift certificate and may not be redeemed for cash.”
Our temporary enhancement to this policy:
EF future travel vouchers may be redeemed for a refund, the amount of which is based on departure date and mode of transportation to tour. Travelers originally scheduled to depart on or after May 15, 2020 and arriving to tour via flight are eligible for all monies paid less $350. Travelers originally scheduled to depart between March 12 and May 14, 2020 and arriving to tour via flight are eligible for all monies paid less $450. Travelers originally scheduled to depart between March 12 and September 30, 2020 and arriving to tour via bus are eligible for all monies paid less $150. If the refund to which a traveler is entitled under our Booking Conditions is greater than the cash refund value of Future Travel Voucher, the traveler will receive the standard cancellation refund.
Revised Tour Program Price
Our standard Booking Conditions state:
“If the revised tour has a higher price than the original tour, travelers will be required to pay the difference as a condition of traveling on the revised tour.”
Our temporary enhancement to this policy:
For travelers who received an EF future travel voucher due to EF modifying their tour date, they will be guaranteed to have the same program price they paid for 2020 on an equivalent tour in 2021. For a different tour with a higher program price in 2021, EF will cover up to $200 of the higher program price if arriving to tour via flight, or up to $100 if arriving to tour via bus.
Cancellation Fees
Our standard Booking Conditions state:
“If the group does not travel on the original tour, travel on a revised tour, or receive a future travel voucher, standard cancellation fees will apply. Travelers cancelling from a revised tour will be charged a cancellation fee based on the date that the original tour was revised or the date of cancellation from the revised tour, whichever is higher.”
Our temporary enhancement to this policy:
Individual travelers who cancel from a revised tour and do not elect an EF future travel voucher will be charged a cancellation fee based on the fee they would have been charged as of February 24, 2020 (when we "froze" cancellation fees). Cancellation fees for tours scheduled to depart through September 30, 2020 will not increase as of February 24, 2020.