Cancellation - consumer law?

WPC123

Yesterday Monarch Airlines/Holidays decided to cancel all their services to Sharm el Sheik for the summer season due to the fact that the Foreign Office advise not to travel there has remained in place for some time.


Accordingly they have advised passengers that they may re-book to any other destination within their network up to 31/10/16 (change fees waived but if there is an upwards difference consumer to pay) or customers may receive a full credit to be used with Monarch within 12 months.


I seek the forum’s views on this as I would have thought Monarch were obliged to refund in full (by the means paid) all of the amount paid due to the fact this was a cancellation on their part (albeit with FO jurisdiction) and they should not insist any alternative was provided by Monarch.

glentoran99

Yes it should be a full refund, they are chancing their arm

bagand96

Have they actually said you can't have a refund? They have probably advised people of the options to change the booking in the hope that a lot will, and they then keep their business.

Even their own T&C's say you are entitled to a refund. Call them and politely ask for one and I doubt you'll have any bother.

111KAB

Monarch have been quite crafty regarding this matter as they have not said they are cancelling flights but are allowing customers to cancel their flights but only if they re-book with Monarch.


Monarch know, in effect, the flights are not going to go ahead later in the year but it appears they cannot afford to reimburse/refund all the effected passengers so they are ensuring they do not 'lose' the money by customers booking alternative holidays/flights with another firm.


As so many people have decided not to go to Sharm even if Monarch did re-start before November their level of service (frequency/departure points) would be significantly curtailed.

WPC123

Yes as 111KAB says their information was 'well worded' as upon examination they have not said they are cancelling but they are allowing customers to cancel with the proviso they re-book with Monarch.


Thanks for your help guys (my post was for a friend) - much appreciated.

malkie76

That's not my take on it - they could honestly believe that flights will resume after 20th May (the current end date), but are fairly offering customers the option to rebook somewhere else to guarantee a holiday on set dates, and avoid customers making additional bookings (car parking whatever) which wouldn't be Monarch's responsibility to refund, but would annoy customers.

Nothing crafty - actually looks like they are being decent towards their customers and going beyond what they need to do.