The expert view

There are lots of ways in which Brexit may yet affect travellers: from the risk that free mobile phone roaming and reciprocal healthcare arrangements will end, to the potential loss of compensation for flight delays and cancellations. Some of these protections may be rescued, but the most pressing concern – the fall in the value of the pound – has already hit, and was exacerbated last week by the election results.

Last Friday, sterling slipped further back against both the US dollar and the euro. Compared with this time last year, just before the referendum, it has now dropped from 1.30 to 1.14 euros so losing 12 per cent of its value, and from 1.49 to 1.27 US dollars, a fall of nearly 15 per cent.

That translates into more expensive travel. But there are two reasons to be a little more cheerful.

First, although the pound is weak against the euro, it is not so far off the level it has been trading at during many recent summers. In fact, it has traded below today’s level during half of the 10 years since 2007. So, although it’s not great news for travellers to Europe, it is hardly unfamiliar territory.

The dollar is a different story. After hovering around 1.55 to the pound over most of the past decade, Brexit and the hung parliament have now pushed it down to a historic low.

Secondly, competition between new credit and currency cards means that it is possible for travellers to get much better conversion rates now. The rates might not be great at first, but choose the right card and you can avoid both fees and being penalised by a buy-sell exchange rate “spread” that normally guarantees that you will lose out when changing money.

With all that in mind, here are five ways to cope with a weak pound: 1. Do not rely on buying currency at the airport. You are part of a captive market. Rates are rarely competitive. 2. Generally, when overseas, paying by credit card gives you a better rate than debit card or cash. This doesn’t apply if you are not able to clear the balance each month, as the interest will only add to your costs. 3. Get a competitive bank or currency card. I use the Monzo card (monzo.com) which charges no fees, offers near “perfect” exchange rates (i.e. no difference between a buy and sell rate) and allows you to keep the balance in sterling without converting into a specific currency in advance. Alternatively, the Halifax Clarity card is one of the best value traditional credit cards to use overseas (halifax.co.uk/travel). 4. The option to pay a card bill in sterling or the local currency is being offered more often at restaurants, shops and hotels, and at cash points. Choose the local currency – your card issuer is still most likely to give the best rate. 5. If travelling to the eurozone, or another country that you visit regularly, take some cash home with you so that you have a small float of that currency for your next visit.

overnight. It finally took off at 1.30pm the next day.

I applied to easyJet for €400 (£348) compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004 as the main part of the delay was due to a technical issue. EasyJet replied that the delay was due to bad weather and, therefore, out of its control. I replied that I wasn’t complaining about the four-hour delay due to bad weather, but the 21-hour delay initiated by a technical fault. In its final email to me, easyJet said: “Our report does not specify the delay you are referring to. All that reflects on our side is the delay based on weather.”

Is it really possible there is no record of this fault? JACOBINE WEST

AI note that you subsequently asked the CAA whether it could help you to make your case for compensation. It told you it dealt only with delays to flights from the UK. As the CAA’s European equivalents appear largely to ignore requests for help from UK passengers, I suggested you contact flight delay lawyer Bott & Co (01625 415850; bottonline. co.uk), which has a 99 per cent success rate in the delay claims it takes to court.

Bott & Co filed court papers on your behalf to find out what easyJet’s defence was. The airline blamed an unspecified air traffic management decision on an earlier flight, which would be a reasonable defence if it could be proved. However, easyJet never came up with specific evidence for this. According to Bott & Co’s flight data, there were weather issues in the region that day but other flights landed and took off pretty much on time.

Following the court hearing being listed for June 30, easyJet agreed to settle the case.

“This claim shows just how difficult it can be to obtain compensation for passengers,” said Kevin Clarke, the lawyer who handled the case. He added: “This has taken over 15 months of legal argument. Unless you have a good understanding of the legal system and airline behaviour it would be tempting to stop pursuing a claim of this type, and this is the challenge passengers still face in pursuing compensation.”

For flight delay claims, Bott & Co makes an administration charge of £25 and takes a fee of 25 per cent plus VAT of any award.

Airlines are now signing up with Alternative Dispute Resolution bodies (ADRs) to deal with passenger disputes over delay claims, damage to baggage, and unfair trading issues. EasyJet signed up with the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (020 7536 6099; cedr.com) in August 2016. The service is free if the claim is upheld; £25 if it’s denied.

Given that these ADRs are appointed by the airlines, it is not clear how much legwork they are prepared to do to get to the bottom of a complex claim.

I would welcome reports from readers who have used their services.

Questions should be sent by email to asktheexperts@ telegraph.co.uk. Please provide your name and nearest town and, if your query is about a dispute with a travel company, your full address, daytime telephone number and any booking reference. We regret that we cannot answer all the emails we receive.