urra! It’s time for summer vacation. You know, the time of year we hit on the sunscreen, get sand in our sandwiches and return from our vacations like overcooked lobster.
This year, however, people’s vacations could potentially be hampered by delays and cancellations at the airport.
After two years of Covid and pandemics, as well as travel passports, we really thought we would finally have a nice, relaxing getaway this year without interruptions.
Ai, we all know that dreams like these, for lack of a better word, are naive.
With the cost-of-living crisis spiraling in, and travel chaos leaving many travelers stranded at airports for what seems like an eternity, as well as a new wave of Covid leaving many home-bound, things can get a little hairy.
As a result of all this chaos, their flights were canceled for about 5,000 Heathrow passengers. In addition, staff shortages mean that Gatwick operates 50 fewer flights a day; BA also announced the cancellation of 124 short-haul flights from Heathrow, and EasyJet alone reduced 11,000 flights.
Furthermore, to further aggravate holidaymakers’ misery, hundreds of British Airways ground staff working at London Heathrow voted to strike in a pay dispute. The workers at Terminals 3 and 5 are expected to walk out in July, although no specific dates have yet been announced.
On June 30, travelers at Heathrow Airport were hit by fresh chaos after the airport ordered 30 flights canceled because he could not handle it.
Delicious! Here are some tips and tricks on how to combat delayed and canceled flights.
What should I do if my flight is delayed?
The boss of the budget airline Ryanair has warned that flight delays and cancellations will continue through the summer (PA).
/ PA wireAccording to the Citizens’ Advice website, if your flight is delayed long enough, your airline should give you:
- food and drinks
- access to phone calls and emails
- accommodation if you are delayed overnight – and travel between the airport and the hotel
How long the delay should be depends on the distance of the flight and the countries between which it flies. You can check the flight distance on the WebFlyer website.
The airline can give you proof of purchase to get this stuff at the airport. Ask someone who works for the airline if you are not offered any help.
If they do not help you at the airport, keep receipts for expenses and try to claim from the airline later. Airlines only pay for ‘reasonable’ expenses – you are unlikely to get money back for alcohol, expensive meals or luxury hotels.
Am I entitled to compensation if my flight is delayed?
Passengers wait at Pisa Airport as an Easyjet flight is finally canceled
/ Neil RylanceIf your flight is delayed by more than three hours and it is the airline’s fault, you are entitled to compensation from the airline.
It is unlikely that you will receive compensation if the delay was caused by something beyond the airline’s control, such as bad weather or a safety risk.
You are entitled to a fixed amount of compensation depending on both:
- the distance of your flight – check your flight distance on the WebFlyer website
- the length of the delay – what time do you get to your destination
What should I do if my flight is canceled?
Heathrow asked airlines to reduce 10% of flights at two terminals on Monday while easyJet began canceling thousands of summer flights (Ben Smith / PA)
/ PA wireIn the event that your flight is canceled, the compensation you owe is different. Here are your options.
You have the legal right to either:
- a full refund – including other airline flights that you will not use in the same booking, such as forward or return flights
- a replacement flight to get you to your destination
if you are halfway through a trip and you do not want a replacement flight, you also have the right to a flight back to the airport from which you originally departed.
Ask for a refund or replacement at the airport if you can. If not, you can claim from the airline later.
You also have a legal right to:
- help with costs – if the cancellation delays you 2 or more hours
- compensation – if you were delayed 2 or more hours by the replacement flight offered and you were given less than 2 weeks notice
Can I get compensation if my flight is canceled?
EasyJet announces that it ‘proactively consolidates a number of flights over affected airports’ (Matt Alexander / PA)
/ PA ArchiveIf your flight is canceled, you are legally entitled to compensation if the cancellation is the airline’s responsibility.
You also qualify as:
- the replacement flight delays your arrival by 2 or more hours
- your flight was canceled less than 14 days before departure
The amount of compensation you are entitled to depends on:
- when the flight was canceled
- the distance of the flight – check the flight distance on the Web Flyer website
- the departure and arrival times of the rescheduled flight
For your full rights, visit the Citizens’ Advice Website