Travel insurance specialist has issued advice, as cancellations and delays may happen
Holiday-goers urged to take out travel insurance before going away(Image: Getty)
As airlines continue to navigate fuel supply challenges caused by the Middle East conflict, some flights may be disrupted, or fares may increase. Some energy bosses have claimed Europe only has six weeks’ worth of jet fuel left. Tom Vaughan, a travel insurance specialist at Confused.com, has offered advice for passengers with summer holidays coming up.
He also warned that cancellations and delays may happen, and stressed the importance of preparing in advance and knowing what to do if a trip is axed. “For Brits planning to travel this summer, it’s worth being aware that flight cancellations and delays could happen as airlines respond to operational pressures,” he said.
“Disruptions like this can leave travellers unsure about their rights and what steps to take next if they are affected. The good news is that UK passengers have rights if their flight is cancelled.
“Airlines should offer a refund or an alternative flight, even if your ticket was non-refundable.” If passengers do experience disruption, Tom has shared some steps to follow.
Firstly, he says travellers should contact their airline as soon as possible to confirm their options, including rebooking or a refund. He also recommends: “Keep receipts for any essential costs like food, accommodation or transport, as these may be reimbursed”.
Tom said passengers may still be entitled to assistance (such as meals or a hotel stay) while waiting for a new flight. “If you booked a package holiday, check if it’s ATOL protected and contact your travel provider for support”, he added.
The travel insurance specialist went on to say that people who pay by credit card “may have additional protection if things don’t go to plan”. Lastly, he urged people to review their travel insurance policy and speak to their insurer to understand what extra costs they could claim back.
He also says it is “always sensible” to take out travel insurance before going away. “Even if you are able to claim directly via the airline, an insurer can guide you on how to make a claim,” he explained.
Tom continued: “With the right policy in place, you may also be able to claim back for other parts of your holiday that were affected as a result. If you’ve recently experienced flight cancellations, our flight compensation guide will help to break down your options.”
Inflation climbed higher last month as the knock-on effects from the Iran war started to hit the cost of living for UK households. The Office for National Statistics reported an annual rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation of 3.3% for March, increasing from 3% last month.
It meant inflation picked up to its highest level since December, with higher fuel prices a significant driver. The ONS indicated that fuel prices were the main area where the impact of the Iran conflict had already been reflected in their data.
While jet fuel costs have risen, the ONS said that air fares are based on previously booked flights, meaning that the March data was not yet impacted by inflation linked to the conflict. This means airfare inflation is likely to continue rising this year as higher jet fuel costs are passed on to passengers.
KLM has made several adjustments to its flight schedule for the coming month. The airline says: “This concerns a limited number of flights within Europe that, due to rising kerosene costs, are currently no longer financially viable to operate. There is no kerosene shortage. KLM will operate 80 fewer return flights to and from Schiphol, which is less than 1% of its European flights during that period.
“Passengers affected by these changes will be rebooked onto the next available flight. As these are destinations KLM serves multiple times a day — such as London and Düsseldorf — travellers can usually be accommodated quickly. KLM expects a busy May holiday period and is making sure passengers can travel to their holiday destinations as planned.”
In a new statement, Lufthansa has said: “The Lufthansa Group has secured (“hedged”) approximately 80 per cent of its kerosene requirements for 2026 and approximately 40 per cent for 2027 based, among other things, on the price of crude oil – both at pre-crisis price levels. With this level of hedging, we are in a better position than most competitors.”
Meanwhile, easyJet has said it is not currently seeing any disruption to flights and doesn’t plan to make any changes to its flight schedule.