This summer, airlines have cancelled tens of thousands of flights. Since Heathrow has capped the number of passengers who may fly out of the airport, more cancellations are almost certainly coming. Therefore, it’s imperative that you make yourself aware of your cancellation rights. Especially if you plan to fly in the next months. The law entitles you to a full refund or an alternate flight. Entitlement occurs in the event that an airline cancels your flight. Additionally, if an airline cancels a flight within 14 days before takeoff and it is the airline’s fault, you can claim additional compensation. But the laws aren’t always straightforward. We took a look at your flight cancellation rights.
Basic Rights
You have the right to a full refund or an alternate route if a provider cancels a flight more than 14 days prior to departure. However, you are not eligible for further compensation on top of your refund or reroute. If you leave the UK/EU or entering the UK/EU, these regulations apply to you. But then it must be on a UK or EU airline.
You can typically manage reservations online or through an app. It is likely you will need to sign in to your account. Once there, you can book a different flight or ask for a refund. To learn more, though, you can also visit the airline’s information desk. Alternatively, try a check-in counter, or departure gate if you already find yourself in the airport.
Flight Cancellation Rights – If You Choose A Refund
The seller will transfer money to the same bank account you used to make the original travel reservation. Thus, double check that it is still active. If you have since closed the account, be sure to inform the airline. Tell them of your new information. If the airline tries to pressure you into accepting vouchers, you are legally entitled to a full cash return and are not required to do so.
Choosing An Alternative Route
Regulations require the airline to find you a different flight if you still wish to fly. You can choose to fly as quickly as possible following the flight cancellation. Alternatively, you can wait until a time that works for you. However, the airline should try to reroute you on the same day. It can book you with a different airline or on a different mode of transportation if no flights with the airline you booked are available.
Flight Cancellation Rights – Vouchers
This will equal the cost of your postponed flight(s). For instance, British Airways, Easyjet, Virgin Atlantic, and Wizz Air all claimed to give customers the option of a credit or a voucher. Since vouchers aren’t any better for you than cash, it is not ideal. That is unless the airline gives you a refund that goes above and beyond the regular one. You might want to accept one out of politeness given the sorry position that airlines are in right now.
Cancelled Flights With Non-UK/EU Airlines
This means that neither your flight’s departure from (with any airline) nor its arrival at (with a UK/EU carrier) a UK/EU airport.
You must review the terms and conditions of the airline you booked with. This is because the UK/EU cancellation and compensation system does not cover you. Most airlines base their policies on those the International Air Transport Association suggest. Therefore many will provide passengers the option of a later trip, alternate transportation, or a refund.
Additionally, see if the nation where the airline is headquartered has any compensation programmes comparable to those in the UK and the EU. Whether it doesn’t work, see if there are any compensation plans in the country where the flight originated, if that’s a separate one.
Flight Cancellation Rights – Cancelled With Under 14 Days To Go
As stated above, regulations entitle you to a refund or an alternate ticket. However, if the cancellation occurred within 14 days of your flight and was the airline’s fault, laws may also entitle you to additional compensation in the amount of £100s.
You are entitled to compensation since, staffing shortages are the primary cause of airline cancellations, which is typically considered the carrier’s fault. However, since this is outside of the airline’s control, it’s doubtful that you would receive compensation if your flight is cancelled as a result of Heathrow’s (or any other airport’s) decision to cap passenger numbers.
