Confirmation number MD41529850
Expedia itinerary 72067973454753
I had booked and prepaid a two-night stay at The Relais Henley through Expedia as part of an 18-day itinerary that included all flights, hotels, and activities. I did not have insurance on the hotel stay. The Relais Henley itself was charming, and my modern king river-view room with half-board was excellent, though guests should be aware of the step coming out of the shower.
The issue arose because my travel dates coincided with the US government shutdown. Following the shutdown, the head of the FAA announced the cancellation of approximately 10 percent of flights across the United States, creating what was effectively a national emergency in US airspace. My American Airlines flight to London Heathrow was one of those canceled. Fortunately, American Airlines rebooked my otherwise non-refundable flight for the following day at no charge because the disruption was directly tied to that emergency.
Immediately after the cancellation, I called Expedia to alert them that I would arrive in the UK a full day late and would not be able to use the first night of my prepaid reservation at The Relais Henley. I requested an exception or refund for that missed night given the extraordinary circumstances.
After lengthy explanations and time on hold, the Expedia agent told me that the decision rested with the hotel’s manager. He said he had already contacted the hotel, that the manager would not be in until the next morning, a