Holiday refund hopes grounded
As airlines prepare to restart flights, experts warn it could now be even HARDER to get your money back if you’re not able to travel...
THOUsAnDs of holidaymakers risk losing their right to a refund as airlines plough on with plans to restart flights.
A raft of UK carriers have now said they plan to resume summer routes despite government advice against foreign holidays and plans to quarantine travellers for two weeks.
Many passengers with health concerns, and those unable to take extra time off work to abide by quarantine rules on their return, will not be able to go ahead with holiday plans. But, if they cancel, they could forfeit their cash.
industry experts are urging the Government to step in, while MPs are calling on airlines to recognise ‘the terrible situation’ holidaymakers face and guarantee refunds.
Current rules mean travellers can only get their money back if the airline cancels their flight. Customers are not entitled to a refund if they cancel the trip themselves, even if advice against foreign travel remains in place.
Last week, the Government said anyone entering the UK from June 8 will have to self-isolate for 14 days.
All passengers arriving in the UK will have to provide details of where they are staying and anyone found breaching the rules in england faces a £1,000 fine.
in scotland, there are still no regulations to enforce the quarantine and ministers face a race against time to get them through Holyrood by June 8. it is thought fines could be softer than south of the Border, and set at the same rate as fines for breaching social distancing rules — £30 in scotland, rising to £60 if not paid within 28 days.
Airline bosses warned the quarantine plans could cripple the travel industry as they announced plans to restart international flights. easyJet has said it will reopen its Gatwick to nice route by June 15, and more are expected to follow.
ryanair has said it plans to resume 40pc of its service by July 1, while Wizz Air has said it hopes to offer a large summer network, with flights to Portugal by June 16 and Greece by July 1.
Jet2 and British Airways have said they are looking to restart flights by July, but British Airways is reviewing its options following government plans to quarantine passengers. M inisters hope to strike quarantinefree pacts with summer destinations — such as France, spain and Greece — by August, and possibly as early as July, but travellers could lose out if no compromise is found.
Martyn James, of consumer complaints website resolver, says current plans ‘set airlines against government advice’.
He adds that ‘a worst case scenario’ could see airlines refuse even to offer vouchers or allow customers to rebook trips without charge.
Karen Davies, 58, from Oldbury in the West Midlands, booked a trip to Corfu, leaving on June 24, with Jet2. But nHs radiographer Karen has been told to shield until the end of June, as she has the lung disease sarcoidosis. the Greek government has also said it is not accepting international flights until July 1.
However, Jet2 told her the flights are going ahead and, if she cancels, she will lose her £120 deposit. Karen says: ‘the firm is hoping people will cancel so it can take the deposit. it’s just a game it is playing.’
Following Money Mail’s intervention, Jet2 agreed to pay a full refund. A spokesman adds: ‘We are continuing to proactively contact customers to discuss their options, one of which is rebooking their holiday to a later date.’
Former tory aviation minister theresa Villiers tells Money Mail: ‘if they [customers] can’t take a flight because of the pandemic, not to mention the Foreign Office advice against all but essential travel, they must get a refund.’
rory Boland, editor of Which? travel, says the Government’s plans ‘risk creating further confusion’ and urged it to ensure airlines could refund customers.
He adds: ‘some people with a holiday booked in the coming weeks may have to cancel their plans, without any entitlement to a refund, rather than face quarantine and a potential loss of work.’
Kane Pirie, a former board director at the Association of
British travel Agents (ABtA) and campaign leader of pressure group right to refund, says the proposals ‘would only add to the legal disputes piling up by the billions already’ over refunds. it is estimated that airlines are sitting on around £7billion in unpaid refunds as they face severe financial pressure from global travel restrictions.
Around 20pc of Britons said they travelled abroad without insurance last year, according to the Association of British travel Agents. those that do have policies face lengthy battles to claim money from insurers if airlines won’t pay out, while some may require a doctor’s note.
easyJet has confirmed it will continue to waive its rebooking fee for those wishing to change flights.
A British Airways spokesman says: ‘We follow all the guidance from the UK Government and global health authorities.’
A Wizz Air spokesman says its flights to Portugal and Greece are along new routes and are not restarted flights and the company ‘is working with and in full support of the Government’.
A ryanair spokesman says: ‘For any cancelled flight, ryanair is giving customers all of the options set out under eU regulations, including free moves and refunds in the form of cash or vouchers.’