Millions losing on flights they could not take
Around 2.3 million people across the UK have been left out of pocket for flights that were not cancelled, despite the circumstances often meaning they reasonably, or in some cases, legally, could not travel, Which? has calculated.
Its estimates were based on a survey of more than 2,000 people across the UK in February.
People were asked if they had booked a flight that had gone ahead since March 2020 but that they could not take, and whether they had received a refund.
Many passengers have been prevented from travelling because of local or national lockdowns, restrictions preventing entry at their destination, or the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advising against non-essential travel, although the airline may not have cancelled the flight.
All airlines should allow passengers the option to cancel for a full refund, as well as fee-free rebooking options, while these restrictions remain in place. This has meant customers were not legally entitled to a refund or guaranteed a successful claim through their travel insurance or bank, Which? said.
The pandemic pet ownership boom and customers drinking more coffee at home helped drive Nestle to a jump in sales over the past year.
The world’s largest food company revealed sales pushed 3.6% higher in 2020 as it was particularly boosted by a robust performance from its Purina pet care arm with strong growth from its Purina Pro Plan and Felix brands.
Coffee was also in strong demand from lockdown shoppers. Growth in these categories helped to offset slumps for products which are typically bought by shoppers “on the go”.
Sales of chocolate and other confectionery slipped lower as shoppers made fewer impulse buys while gifting was also impacted by restrictions.
Moneysupermarket suffered from the coronavirus pandemic last year as closed borders led to a collapse in travel insurance sales. Revenue dropped 11% to £344.9 million in 2020, the company revealed, with pre-tax profit falling by more than 24%. Global borders have been closed to slow the spread of Covid-19, and even where they remained open travel has been slashed.
The travel insurance segment normally accounts for a significant proportion of Moneysupermarket’s customers, and without it being in full swing the number of customers it served dropped from 13.1 m to 11.5 million in 2020. Revenue would only have dropped 4% if excluding the travel segment.
Streaming services have overtaken satellite and cable TV in popularity, according to cloud technology group Amdocs.
It said 83% of Britons have a subscription to a streaming service, such as Netflix, compared to 69% for satellite and TV packages. Amdocs said coronavirus triggered a surge in consumption, with 54% of people watching more TV and movies on streaming services than before the pandemic hit.
Households’ hopes for their personal finances over the next 12 months improved in February, reaching close to levels seen before the coronavirus lockdowns started, according to an index. The findings could signal a confidence among some households to spend as coronavirus restrictions ease, helping economic recovery.
The consumer confidence index compiled by market research company GfK (Growth from Knowledge), recorded an overall score of minus 23.
While this indicates that attitudes remain negative, it is a five point improvement on a reading of minus 28 in January.
The survey takes into account how consumers feel about their own financial situation as well as the wider economy.
The part of the index measuring how people feel about their financial situation over the next 12 months moved from a score of two in January to four in February – just two points lower than it was in February 2020, the month before the UK coronavirus lockdowns started.