A Guide To Dealing With Flights That Have Been Cancelled Due To Coronavirus

With over 200,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the UK so far, schools being closed and a lockdown in progress, a lot has changed and that includes future plans, events, and holidays. So, how will the new coronavirus affect your future holidays and will are your flights be cancelled?

For those who have booked holidays, and flights abroad, new information has been set out by the British government. On March 17, The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) advised against all but essential travel (urgent family or business commitments, for example). As of May 11, this advice still remains in place. It also stated: “all British travellers abroad who are usually based in the UK advised to return now.”

How Do You Cancel Travel Plans Disrupted By The Coronavirus Crisis?

According to the FCO, if you need to cancel travel plans as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, you should firstly contact your airline, holiday company or travel accommodation provider and secondly, get in touch with your insurance provider. The easiest way to check if your flight has been cancelled is through the airline you booked with by entering your booking reference in their website. Most airlines will email if your flight has been cancelled.

Each company will have its own set of policies, and information for the UK's biggest airlines is detailed here.

• Easyjet grounded the majority of its planes from March 24 until further notice. If your Easyjet flight is cancelled, you will be able to choose another flight at a later date or exchange it for a voucher.
• Virgin Atlantic has significantly reduced its flying schedule and customers with cancelled flights will be contacted directly with alternative options. Virgin Atlantic tickets will automatically be kept open as credit for you to use any time up to May 31 2022.
• As of May 11, if you booked a flight with British Airways that's been cancelled, you can rebook or claim a voucher online.
• TUI are offering refund credits for the full value of your holiday, and, if you're unable to accept a refund credit you can apply for a refund. However, their FAQ page does warn customers to expect delays.
• Jet2 have decided to ground flights until June 17 2020. If that affects your flight, you are able to ask for your flight to be moved, or you can ask for refund credits or a full refund.
• As for Ryanair, passengers are being offered the option to rebook or to receive a refund. However, on May 1, Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary told the BBC that it may take up to six months to refund passengers for flights cancelled. O'Leary explained that the airline was struggling to process a backlog of 25 million refunds with reduced staff.

On May 11, The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) released a statement, saying: "We are reviewing how airlines are handling refunds during the coronavirus pandemic, and will consider if any action should be taken to ensure that consumer rights are protected." The BBC reports that, by law, airlines must refund customers within seven days of their flight being cancelled.

Accommodation provider Airbnb says those who made reservations before March 14 with a check-in date between March 14 2020 and June 15 2020 will be able to cancel and will either get a refund or travel credit. However, any check-ins after June 15 are not covered by their COVID-19 insurance.

If you cannot get a refund from the company with which you booked your flights or accommodation, the Foreign Office advises holidaymakers to get in contact with their travel insurers.

What To Do If You’re Stranded Abroad Due To The Coronavirus Crisis & Still Need To Get Home

For travellers who set off before lockdown measures were implemented, they may now find their flights have been cancelled or borders have been closed. Again, the best way to check if your flight is cancelled through the airline your flights are booked with.

The UK government has asked the Brits who are still abroad to come home immediately where commercial flights are still available

On March 30, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced a £75 billion plan to bring back British nationals who are stuck overseas. The FCO is working with Easy Jet, Virgin, Jet2, and Titan Airways – all of whom signed a memorandum of understanding – to bring people home. British Airways have "also made clear that they will work with [the FCO] in the national interest to get people home, and other airlines are expected to join," the gov.uk website states. On March 27, Raab and the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, wrote a letter to the airlines urging them to help UK nationals "find alternative routes or change their tickets."

Speaking at a press conference he said: “Where commercial flights are not possible, we will build on the earlier charter flights we organised back from China, Japan, Cuba, Ghana, and Peru. The arrangements agreed today will provide a clearer basis to organise special charter flights where Britons find themselves stranded. Our priority will always be the most vulnerable.”

The gov.uk website site says: “Special charter flights will operate in some countries to help British tourists and short term visitors and their families to return to the UK.” To find out if you are eligible to get one, you should go to the "Return to the UK" section of the FCO webpage dedicated to the country you are in. You can find a list of those places here.