Your Travel Rights for Cancelled Flights During COVID-19

Flight Refunds for all Cancelled Flights During COVID-19

COVID-19 has thrown us all for a bit of a loop and for people whose flights and holiday plans have been disrupted it’s been an even more trying and stressful time. With airlines having cancelled flights due to Coronavirus it’s important to know what your passenger travel rights are during the pandemic. A recent investigation by Which? found that all 10 of the top 10 UK package holiday providers have not been consistently meeting their legal requirements to refund passengers in the required timeframe. With this level of failure to comply it is very important for you to familiarise yourself with your consumer rights to ensure you are not left shorthanded. Here at Flight Patrol we truly value your travel rights so here’s what you need to know about flights refunds for any flight that has been cancelled during COVID-19.

What are your Rights?

With the FCO still advising against all but necessary travel, and the UK government beginning to set up travel corridors this summer there is a lot of confusion in the air over what’s going on.

If your flight is cancelled you are legally entitled to a full refund.

The importance of this cannot be stressed enough. Many airlines such as British Airways, Easy Jet and Ryan Air are now trying to issue passengers with vouchers to rebook at a later time. These vouchers however, are not ATOL protected. (Please note that flights alone are never ATOL protected either). Vouchers may waiver your right to compensation if your new flight is disrupted as they are seen a ‘free flight’. Therefore, it is better to claim a full refund and pay for your new flight in cash. You are then still covered by EU Law and can claim up to 600EUR if your new flight is cancelled or delayed in excess of 3 hours (given that it was due to a fault of the airline).

Who to Contact?

If your flight has been cancelled due to COVID-19 then swift action is key. Though it could take a while to get through, call your airline. Phone lines are extremely busy right now but do not let that put you off. If you give them a call they should refund you then and there. If you are experiencing any difficulty make sure they know that you are aware of your rights.

If you are having difficulty receiving your refund and had booked your flights with a credit card there’s the second option of contacting your credit card company. Under your credit card consumer protections, they may be able to help you secure a refund that way.

If you are still having trouble, contact your travel insurer. Policies vary, and many insurers are not refunding cancelled package holidays. However, cancelled flights can be easier to deal with than entire holidays.

As stressful as it can be to have your flights cancelled during a time like this, in many ways it is a better position to be in. Having your flights cancelled by the airline because of the Coronavirus pandemic means that you are entitled to a full refund. As much as airlines may not want to pay out, they are legally required to do so. Make sure you contact your airline and insist on getting the full refund, and not just a voucher. If you have flights that have not yet been cancelled, but you suspect that they may be then sign up to us at Flight Patrol with the flight details and we will monitor the flights for you.

Need Help Contacting the Airline?

Here at Flight Patrol, we strive to keep passengers as informed as possible. We also want to make your life as easy as possible when it comes to defending your travel rights. Which is why we have done all the hard work for you. Simply click the button below, fill in the form and we will let you know if your flight qualifies for a refund and how exactly you can claim for it.