Flights and ferry services already being cancelled as snowstorm nears
AIR and ferry travellers are likely to face disruption as the ‘Beast from the East’ approaches.
At least two dozen flights and ferry services were last night confirmed as cancelled, all of them between Ireland and the UK.
Cormac Meehan, president of the Irish Travel Agents Association, said: “Irish holidaymakers planning to travel over the next few days are naturally very concerned.”
Air travellers were warned that standard travel insurance may not offer much help, but they could be entitled to hotels, meals and compensation.
Several Irish Ferries Swift services for today and tomorrow have been cancelled due to adverse weather conditions on the Irish Sea. Irish Ferries’ Oscar Wilde vessel, sailing from Rosslare to Cherbourg at 9.30pm, was considered to be “in doubt”.
“Irish Ferries is advising customers intending to travel by ferry during the forthcoming week to be mindful of weather forecasts, to allow ample time to travel safely to their port of departure, make note of all important telephone numbers they might require, and to monitor ferry company websites for latest information about sailing times,” the company said.
Meanwhile, Dublin Airport yesterday said it was “too early” to say what, if any, disruption the weather would cause.
“So advice from our side is that passengers should check with their airline for latest flight updates before coming to the airport,” it said.
The airport is equipped to deal with snow and ice, but heavy volumes of snow could cause delays. Passengers should also allow extra time for travel to and from the airport.
Ryanair and Aer Lingus were last night saying that their schedules were operating as normal. However, passengers are advised to check airline websites before travel.
The over-riding advice is to check regularly with your airline or travel agent, monitor weather reports, and allow extra time for travel.
If your flight is cancelled for any reason, your airline must offer you the choice between rerouting as soon as possible, and free of charge, subject to availability; rerouting at a later date, or else a full refund.
If your flight is cancelled and you choose to be rerouted as soon as possible, then you are entitled to meals and refreshments, hotel accommodation and transfers between the airport and hotel as required.
If the airline does not provide these, and you pay yourself, keep the receipts – you are entitled to a reimbursement of reasonable expenses.
However, if you choose a full refund, then the airline’s obligations to you end there and then.
Financial compensation depends on the flight length and the reason for the cancellation. It ranges from €250 (shorthaul, less than 1,500km) to €600 (long-haul, more than 3,500km).
Standard travel insurance policies may not help, but ‘missed departure’ cover can help you secure a new flight, or an additional night’s accommodation.
If your policy includes extra “travel disruption” cover, you should be covered for additional transport or accommodation costs up to €1,000 per person, according to Ciaran Mulligan, managing director of Blue Insurance and Multitrip.com.
Travel disruption cover can be added retrospectively to a policy, but not for an event that has already happened. Storm Emma has already been forecast, so insurance taken out now won’t cover it.