Holidaymakers attempting to escape Storm Floris today have been advised to check their flights for any disruption.
Storm Floris has hit parts of the UK this morning, with the north of England, Scotland, north Wales and Northern Ireland set to experience the worst weather.
The Met Office say the storm has potential to cause ‘injuries and danger to life’ and will bring ‘unseasonably strong and potentially disruptive winds’.
Rail operators including Avanti and ScotRail have warned of fewer than normal services, while LNER have told customers ‘do not travel north of Newcastle.’
And, the delays have extended to the skies too, with Loganair delaying several flights this morning.
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The airline, which primarily serves the Highlands and an island communities, released a statement on its website which read: ‘We plan to fly all our scheduled services. Standby aircraft and crews are in place to help recover disrupted services as soon as weather permits.’
However, Loganair is also offering travellers a chance to reschedule: ‘You can choose to re-book on an alternative flight up to 7 days from your original travel date.
For up to date information and the latest updates on Storm Floris read Metro’s Live Blog.
‘There will be no change fee or difference in fare payable. If a seat is available on an alternative flight, you can transfer your booking to that flight without charge on a first-come, first-served basis.’
Elswhere, airlines are reassuring customers. Jet2 said on its website that ‘flights are expected to operate as scheduled’.
However, it added: ‘If your flight is affected, we will have the later updates here and also via SMS, email and the Jet2 app. You can log into Manage my Booking to ensure your details are correct. We look forward to welcoming you on board.’
Metro has also reached out to Easyjet and Ryanair for comment.
Can I cancel my holiday because of bad weather?
You can, but it’s highly unlikely you’ll be able to recuperate any costs.
If the flight or holiday you had booked is still scheduled to go ahead as planned, then normal cancellation rules still apply – which means you’ll at least lose some, if not all, of the money you paid.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled?
If you still intend to go on your trip, but your flight is cancelled, this is when you have some consumer rights.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority, UK and EU airlines must look after you if your flight is delayed or cancelled.
This includes everything from meals and accommodation to an alternative flight if necessary.
Citizen’s Advice says that airlines should also give impacted passengers access to phone calls and emails and, if they offer you a play to stay, organise the journeys between the hotel and the airport.
Sometimes, the airline will cover this by handing you vouchers at the airport. When in doubt, keep any receipts for expenses and claim them back afterwards from the airliner.
But an airliner will only cough up money for ‘reasonable’ expenses. The hotel minibar or penthouse suites likely can’t be expensed.
If you didn’t book with a UK or EU airline, you’ll need to check their terms and conditions. Though, for the most part, airlines should provide meals and accommodation as appropriate.
When am I eligible for this support?
Whether you’re eligible for the above depends on the distance of your flight and how long you have waited:
- For short-haul (up to 1,500km over two hours or less) you must have been waiting for two hours or more.
- For medium-haul (between 1,500km and 3,500km over two to four hours) it’s three hours or more.
- For long-haul (more than 3,500km over four hours or more) it’s four hours or more.
If my flight is cancelled, can I get a refund?
If your flight is covered by UK law, you can choose between either getting your cancelled flight refunded or being booked on an alternative route.
Any part of your ticket you haven’t used is eligible for a refund. So, if you were on a return flight to Heathrow, for example, and the outbound leg was cancelled, you can get that part of the journey refunded.
You’ll typically get your money back within a week.
But not everyone is up for being stuck mid-layover. If you still want to travel, your airline must find a way to get you to your destination.
This can include, say, if another airliner is flying to where you need to go soon or if there’s another form of transport you can take. All at no extra cost.
I booked a package holiday, what are my rights?
Check if the company you booked with is a member of ABTA, a trade association for tour operators and travel agents.
It has a guide here on what you can do if your flight has been cancelled.
Can I get any extra compensation?
What the law calls ‘extraordinary circumstances’ can include a fire, bird strikes, defects with a plane, or bad weather.
But none of these entitles impacted passengers to extra compensation, consumer watchdog Which? says. They’re largely considered outside the airline’s control.
In other circumstances, however, it’s a different story. You have several rights under the law if your journey is impacted by staff shortages, airline staff walkouts or if your flight was delayed because bad weather delayed a previous flight.
What you’re entitled to depends on the cause of the cancellation and how much notice the airline gave you.
This can range from £220 for short-haul flights, £350 for mid-haul and £520 for long-haul.
What about unused accommodation?
There might be things you do end up paying for. But you might be able to claim for them afterwards.
This can include unused accommodation, where you’ll need to contact your credit card provider or a travel insurance firm.
As much as 94% of travel insurance policies travel abandonment, only 30% include wider travel disruption, according to analysts Defaqto.
Travel insurance doesn’t cover any loss of earnings if the delayed or cancelled flight means you can’t work.
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