You could potentially receive a reimbursement, an alternative flight arrangement, accommodation, or assistance with meals and beverages.
Passengers are still grappling with significant disturbances following a technical malfunction at a UK air traffic control during the August bank holiday. This glitch resulted in flight cancellations and delays. While the issue was eventually resolved after a few hours, subsequent delays are anticipated due to the need for repositioning aircrews and aircraft.
My flight has been cancelled, what are my rights?
In the event of a flight cancellation, if your airline is based in the UK or EU, they are obliged to provide you with a prompt replacement flight or offer a refund. If the cancellation affects your outbound flight, you are eligible to receive a complete refund for the entire cost of the return ticket.
When arriving from a non-UK and non-EU location via a carrier such as American Airlines (e.g., New York to Glasgow), it’s crucial to review your booking’s terms and conditions to ascertain the extent of assistance you are eligible for.
Selecting an alternative flight is referred to as “rerouting,” and the majority of airlines will arrange for you to be rebooked on one of their other flights headed to the same destination. In the unfortunate circumstance, like that of numerous travelers on Monday, where you were already at the airport when the flight was canceled, you are also eligible for “care and assistance” during the wait for your rescheduled flight.
“Airlines have a legal obligation to ensure your prompt transportation to your destination,” explains Rory Boland, the travel editor at Which?. “This entails utilizing alternate airlines or routes when deemed necessary.”
Nevertheless, he highlights that numerous airlines frequently disregard this rule and limit your rebooking options solely to their own services or those of “partner” airlines.
“If other airlines can facilitate your return journey several hours or even days prior to the rerouting proposed by your carrier, don’t hesitate to inquire about a rebooking,” he advises. “Should they decline, consider booking the alternative flight independently and subsequently seeking reimbursement.”
Should you find yourself stranded overnight, the airline bears the responsibility of arranging accommodation. While certain airlines may secure hotel reservations for passengers, it’s not uncommon for travelers to encounter difficulties in accessing assistance, particularly during significant disruptions when staff availability may be limited.
In such cases, you possess the authority to take care of the arrangements personally and subsequently seek reimbursement for the expenses incurred. If you opt for this route, ensure to retain all receipts and adhere to reasonable spending limits. It’s worth noting that airlines are improbable to reimburse expenditures related to extravagant hotel accommodations or alcohol purchases.
Nevertheless, be ready for potential delays in receiving your reimbursement, as airlines tend to procrastinate in processing payouts. Additionally, it’s advisable not to accept a refund directly from your initial airline. Legally, you are entitled to either rerouting or a refund, but not both simultaneously.
In the case of flight delays, a comparable entitlement exists for assistance with food and beverages, contingent upon the flight category. For short-haul flights, the delay should surpass two hours, while for long-haul flights, it should exceed four hours. Should the delay extend beyond five hours, the airline is obligated to provide you with the choice of a refund.
Can I get the money back for my trip?
When you’ve arranged your own travel plans, the situation can become intricate. If you’re unable to proceed with your flight but have a costly hotel reservation, regaining that expense might pose challenges. Once more, it’s vital to examine the terms of your booking. In the event of irrecoverable costs, it’s advisable to reach out to your travel insurance provider to determine the extent of coverage provided by your policy.
For those embarking on a package holiday, you retain the equivalent rights as other travelers in terms of rerouting and receiving a refund. However, there are supplementary entitlements concerning the remainder of your vacation, as outlined by the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta), a trade organization within the travel industry.
Typically, your travel company will initiate contact to reschedule your flights. Yet, if you happen to be at the airport during a flight cancellation, it’s advisable to reach out to them directly to explore available alternatives.
In situations where flight rescheduling is not feasible or substantial modifications to your itinerary become necessary, the travel company is obligated to present either an alternative vacation option or a complete refund covering the entire package cost, beyond just the flight segment. Typically, a modification exceeding 12 hours within a 14-night vacation is classified as a substantial alteration.
My holiday has been ruined – can I claim compensation?
The eligibility for compensation hinges on the underlying cause of the disruption to your travel arrangements. Generally, if the airline isn’t responsible for the incident, compensation may not be applicable. Instances of flight delays or cancellations triggered by “extraordinary circumstances” are typically exempt from compensation claims.
Regrettably, Boland indicates that the disruption experienced both yesterday and today will likely be categorized as “extraordinary circumstances,” resulting in the absence of compensation entitlement. Nevertheless, he proposes that if your flight scheduled for several days or a week later encounters cancellation or delay due to the air traffic control system failure, you might potentially be eligible for compensation.
“While the airline might assert that this falls under extraordinary circumstances, if you observe that other airlines are operating regularly to your intended destination, it’s advisable to contemplate filing a compensation claim.”
What about claiming on my travel insurance?
The entitlements you receive in cases of flight delay or cancellation will consistently differ based on the specific policy you hold. Generally, travel insurance does not typically extend coverage for expenses that the airline is legally obligated to cover, such as overnight accommodations. Certain policies may have predefined payout amounts for delays surpassing a certain timeframe or for cancellations, which would be subject to any applicable excess. Additionally, your policy might encompass benefits such as access to airport lounges.
