Storm Tour Cancellations

[Scott Weberpal]

I think most reputable tour groups are up front about the possibility of periods of down times and most tourists also understand this uncertainty.

The company I work for had a tour starting right at the beginning of the 2006 ridge and we did everything we could to accomodate and make the tour as fun as possible without the prospect of storms for at least the first 7 days. He hired a world-renowned tornado scientists to speak to the group on the first day, spent a few days in the mountains going to various tourist area, and by the end of the tour finally had some decent weather. For those who could stay, we actually extended the tour by a day and those who could stay stayed, and those who had to catch a flight headed back to OKC.

 

[Scott Nelson]

The customer should also assume some responsability when booking a tornado tour. He/she knows perfectly well that mother nature runs the show. For me, a good tour operator would have other storm/weather related sidetrips, movies and talks available as a contingency plan right on their website. If it was bust but I learned from the experience, I'd want to come back again.

 

[Mike Bennett]

Some schools of thought here:

First, regarding purchasing a travel policy. I think you would get into a problem with the insurance company of defining storms as being chaseable or non-chaseable. For example, storms are available but expected and do remain below severe limits ect...so is the tour company required to drive a 1000 miles to chase general rain storms? Would the insurance company consider that as an oppurtunity not taken.

Second thought is this: I for one couldn't afford to spend 2 or 3k on a storm tour if I wanted to. So apparently, those that can afford to can also afford to risk losing it.

 

[Dan Cook]

If people are worried about the money, then they should take the College of DuPage tour, as it's only $920 for your first time for 10 days out, and $720 for each additional tour. Lessens their financial liability.

What are you talking about? You don't get price breaks for additional trips. You only do if you're an advanced student.

 

[Jason Foster]

I wonder if there is any laws regarding this. Like with construction companies, many times they can only get 33% before delivery of the goods and services.

Storm Chasing tours seem very specialized and are a very small market compared to many others (like cruises) and cannot bare the cost of such cancellations (as far as I know). I'm sure with reputation being a large part of the way groups gain business, it is in their best interest to do as much as possible to make the customer happy. I'm sure they have run into unhappy guests before, so I'm sure measures are in place.....just prudent business planning anyway.