If the coronavirus crisis had not wreaked havoc on the world, the travel industry would be on the brink of a very busy spring break travel season right now. Travelers everywhere would be taking off to beaches in Mexico or Hawaii, ski vacations in the Rockies, or flying to Amsterdam to see tulips, or to Washington, DC to see the cherry blossoms.

Instead, most of us are stuck at home staring at our screens and trying to figure out how to get airline refunds for canceled spring break plans. Here's something important to keep in mind as you wade into these waters.

If the coronavirus crisis had not wreaked havoc on the world, the travel industry would be on the brink of a very busy spring break travel season right now. Travelers everywhere would be taking off to beaches in Mexico or Hawaii, ski vacations in the Rockies, or flying to Amsterdam to see tulips, or to Washington, DC to see the cherry blossoms.

Instead, most of us are stuck at home staring at our screens and trying to figure out how to get airline refunds for canceled spring break plans. Here's something important to keep in mind as you wade into these waters.