What you can do if holiday plans have gone up in smoke

IF YOUR plans for a getaway were scuppered by lockdown, you’re not alone. My inbox has been overwhelmed with questions about holidays now and in the future. I’ve devoted this column to answering the biggest concerns.

WHEN IS MY FLIGHT OR HOLIDAY OFFICIALLY ‘CANCELLED’?

THE number one question by far, is: “Am I entitled to a refund for flights and holidays now I can’t travel?”

The rules and legislation around travel, holidays and your rights have not changed.

You are entitled to a full refund if your flight or packaged holiday is cancelled: ■ Flights: If your flight is cancelled then you are entitled to a refund within seven days. ■ Packaged holidays: If your packaged holiday is cancelled, you are entitled to a refund within 14 days.

But when is something ‘officially’ cancelled? Deep breaths everyone.

Many people have assumed that if the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office advises against travel then your flight or holiday is effectively cancelled.

I’m afraid not. Even though you’re not allowed to break lockdown rules, your flight may still be taking off – and that means it hasn’t been cancelled.

So legally, the firm does not have to refund you.

Packaged holidays are a little different as there aren’t as many providers left and most are being reasonable and cancelling. Check with the firm you booked with.

WHAT IF MY HOLIDAY OR FLIGHT ISN’T CANCELLED?

JUST because there isn’t a definitive legal right to a refund doesn’t mean that you can’t have one.

More than 80,000 people contacted Resolver for help with a travel problem in the last six months and most of the complaints involved refunds.

The advice we’ve been giving right through lockdown has not changed. In short, if you can’t feasibly travel, you should be given a refund.

That’s the official stance of the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) too. It has been busy issuing warnings and threats of legal action to a number of travel firms.

Of course, we all want a holiday in the future, so helping travel firms stay afloat is really important – as long as you understand the risks.

VOUCHERS AND CREDIT NOTES

AIRLINES are likely to offer you vouchers or allow you to move the flight forward in time.

However, I’ve been disappointed to discover that some airlines have been refusing to allow people to ‘cash in’ their vouchers if they don’t feel they can use them.

Of course, huge numbers of people will have already accepted vouchers, then abandoned the idea of a holiday in 2020. Bear in mind that vouchers all have expiry dates. Most travel ones only exist in ‘virtual’ form, so check your airline account to find out when you have to use them by and pop it in your diary.

‘Credit notes’ are a little different to vouchers in that they may guarantee your cash if the firm goes bust. Check the documents to find out for sure.

FEES FOR MOVING BOOKINGS

DURING the first lockdown, airlines waived their fees for moving bookings. These vary considerably per airline.

Worryingly, in the summer months, as countries were placed on the ‘no fly’ list, some airlines reintroduced these fees. Again, this is unfair, given the support these passengers had shown their airlines.

Fees seem (in the main) to be being waived for bookings now, but don’t assume this will continue indefinitely.

Many of us have had to change travel plans

Struggling with a holiday horror? Go to resolver. co.uk for help.