Easter holidays: what to do if your flights are cancelled? UK News

Over the past few days British Airways and easyJet have had to cancel flights, and the chaos looks set to continue.

What happens if your flight is delayed or cancelled? Here’s an overview of everything you need to know about the Press Association.

Can you get compensation?

If your plane is delayed or canceled through the fault of the airlines, you will be entitled to compensation.

However, it depends on where you are flying and who owns the aircraft.

If disruption is caused departing from the UK, you are covered. But if a problem arises on the return journey, you will only get help if you are flying with a UK or European airline.

The information below applies to both of these cases.

For travel with a non-EU airline to a destination outside the UK, you will need to check with the individual airline.

What are you entitled to after a few hours?

Most airlines will give you food and drink tokens or vouchers that can be redeemed at the airport. They will also give you access to phone calls and emails if you are abroad.

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For short-haul flights (less than 1500 km), the delay must be more than two hours; for the mid-course (1500km-3500km) it is three hours; for long haul (more than 3500km) it is four hours.

What are you entitled to after long delays?

For longer flight delays, you may be entitled to a hotel room (if your flight is delayed overnight) and, in some cases, vouchers for future use.

This amount will depend on the delay and the distance of the flight.

If your flight is delayed for more than five hours, you can choose to cancel and receive a full refund, as well as reimbursement for any other parts of the trip that you will not be able to complete.

Alternatively, you can claim up to £520 in compensation if the airline is to blame.

What happens if your flight is cancelled?

If your flight is cancelled, you can request a full refund or ask the airline to rebook you another flight to your destination.

Legally, you can also claim compensation if your replacement flight arrives more than two hours later than originally scheduled, or if you were notified less than 14 days before a cancellation. For less than seven days’ notice, you are entitled to between £110 and £520.

How can you make a claim?

To make a claim, first contact your airline. If you don’t receive a response, check to see if the airline is a member of an alternative dispute resolution body.

You can also report the case to the Civil Aviation Authority. You can also check with your travel insurance to see if you are covered.

What about Acts of God?

Unfortunately, if weather conditions or natural disasters cause delays or cancellations, it will not be possible to file a claim with an airline. Instead, check the terms and conditions of your insurance policy.

Booking advice

If you are taking a multi-hop trip with different airlines for each leg, be sure to include all flights on the same booking. It will be easier to claim compensation if part of the journey is disrupted.