Travellers have been told ‘not to panic’ if they have flights planned for the summer
Many travellers are worried that their summer flights may be at risk as the jet fuel supply disruptions have left some airlines cancelling and rescheduling flights. Now, hantavirus has also trigger some anxiety as passengers fear they may be facing the same disruptions they experienced during the Covid pandemic.
While health experts have been assured the public that hantavirus is “not like Covid”, according to BBC’s Dr Xand, a travel expert explained exactly what rights you have if your flight is cancelled for these reasons.
Hannah Mayfield explained: “If your flight is cancelled because of a global health emergency or another major disruption outside the airline’s control, passengers are still entitled under UK261 to either a full refund or alternative flight.
“That obligation remains firmly with the airline, even in extraordinary circumstances. What may not apply, however, is additional compensation.
“We saw significant confusion around this during the coronavirus pandemic.”
The travel money expert with specialist travel insurance comparison website PayingTooMuch, urged people to learn the “crucial” distinction between these two as some travellers mistakenly believe that if they aren’t entitled to compensation then they aren’t entitled to anything.
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Ultimately, the expert assured everyone with upcoming flights: “The key message for travellers this summer is not to panic, but to understand where responsibility sits before problems arise. Knowing your rights in advance makes it much easier to act quickly and avoid unnecessary stress or expense if your faced with disruptions.”
She continued: “Airlines are responsible for passenger rights linked to the flight itself, including refunds, rebooking, and assistance during disruption.
“Travel insurance, by contrast, is there to protect against wider personal financial risks such as cancellation due to illness, emergency medical treatment abroad and repatriation as well as things like baggage lost items and in some cases irrecoverable costs that cannot be recovered from airlines or travel providers depending on the cover.”
Checking your travel insurance and how you paid for the flight before you leave can also add some extra protection. The expert urged: “It’s equally important to read the travel insurance policy carefully before travelling.
“Many people only discover exclusions relating to pandemics, wider disruption, or government travel advisories when they come to make a claim.”
Hannah explained that if you used a credit card to pay for your flight, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act can “provide valuable additional protection in some instances”. While those who paid with debit cards may have “less robust” protections.