Expert advice on planning and canceling trips

Experts give advice on when to cancel and book your next trip.

IF YOU HAVE ANUPCOMING TRIP- YOU MAYBE WONDERING WHENYOU SHOULD CANCEL IT.OR- WHEN IT WILL BESAFE TO BOOK A NEWVACATIONNEW THIS MORNING--CONSUMER INVESTIGATORCAT REID GOT ANSWERSFROM THE AIRLINEEXPERTS- AND LEARNEDWHY THERE"S REASONTO BE OPTIMISTIC.AN INDUSTRY dealing withTHE UNKNOWNClint Henderson/The PointsGuy Senior News Editor5:15The demand for travel hasfallen off a cliff basicallyScott Keyes/Scott"sCheap Flights8:28I think it"s the uncertaintyof it all that is especiallytryingabout this situationTHE 41 ACTION NEWSINVESTIGATORS WENT TOEXPERTS AT TWO TOPTRAVEL SITES-FINDING THEMSELVES IN AUNIQUE POSITIONHenderson-5:52The points guy isrecommending against anytravel right nowSO IF YOU HAVE ANUPCOMING GETAWAY-HERE"S WHAT YOUSHOULD DOHenderson-6:13Cancel at the last possiblemomentBECAUSE YOU MAY NOT BETHE ONE PULLING THEPLUG ON THE TRIPKeyes-12:46The best case scenario is thatthe airline cancels your flight.And the reason why that"sthe best case scenario is if theairline cancels your flight,thenyou get a cash refund.Cat Reid- That"s cash onhand to use at the grocerystore or the gas station.On the flip side, if you havesome cash to spare, thinkabout accepting a voucherinstead.

You could come outaheadHenderson-8:33American airlines for examplewill give you a voucher forfuture travel as much as youpaid plus 20 percent, soyou"re actually getting abonus if you don"t take itas a cash refundANOTHER SILVER LINING?Henderson-12:01We think once this crisispasses, there"s going tobe some incredibleopportunities for you to save aton of money and go to thosedream destinationsKeyes-16:46The types of fares we"vebeen seeing- as low as $225roundtrip to hawaiiTHE POINTS GUYRECOMMENDS BOOKINGFOR LATE FALL OR EARLYNEXT YEARSCOTT"S CHEAPFLIGHTS IS ONLYHIGHLIGHTING DEALS PASTJULY-AND ONES WITH FREECANCELLATION ORCHANGE FEESPUTTING YOU IN A GOODPOSITIONKeyes-17:33 where you can sayi"m going to book a greatdeal now, lock it in the priceand know that if things arestillreally bad when that tripcomes up, I can cancel it andnot be out any moneyCat Reid-Here"s one last tip fromscott"s cheap flights.

Ifyou"re having a hard timegetting through to a ticketcounter in the states- try oneof the airline"s offices inanother country.

They havethe same capability, as longas you"re willing to footthe bill for an internationalcallIm consumer investigator catreid, 41 action