Flight only May

Caz1671

Hi
we have flights only booked in May for Canada to visit family with Air Transat even though the Canadian borders are closed, they will only transfer our dates to another time and not refund, I can cancel @ a cost of  £250 per person they will only refund £450 of the £950 paid, tried the credit card company I booked with they cannot help, trying insurance co, waiting for a call back, they want a cancellation invoice but cannot do that until I know they will pay the cancellation fee. We are stuck and need help please, 

Caz3121

when in May are you due to travel?....working on the basis you will not be travelling, just wait for the airline to cancel the flight or, if flight still scheduled, check the FCO/Canada rules closer to date of travel

NoodleDoodleMan

Is it ABTA covered ?

If so you are entitled to a refund, despite what Air Transat would like to be the cse.

Alan_Bowen

Airlines are not members of ABTA or ATOL and direct bookings have no financial protection at all. If you booked through Canadain Affair which sells Air Transat flights in the UK you may be in a stronger position but the airline itself is relying on Canadian law which has been changed so airlines do not have to give a refund. Although UK law is different your only way to a cash refund may be to make a chargeback against the card you used to pay for the flights

realaledrinker

"Airlines are not members of ABTA or ATOL and direct bookings have no financial protection at all."

Incorrect. A flight from the UK is covered bu EU law, irrespective of the airline's domicile.  See this:

https://www.caa.co.uk/Passengers/Resolving-travel-problems/Delays-cancellations/Your-rights/Your-rights-when-you-fly/

Voyager2002

realaledrinker said:

"Airlines are not members of ABTA or ATOL and direct bookings have no financial protection at all."

Incorrect. A flight from the UK is covered bu EU law, irrespective of the airline's domicile.  See this:

https://www.caa.co.uk/Passengers/Resolving-travel-problems/Delays-cancellations/Your-rights/Your-rights-when-you-fly/

ABTA and ATOL hold funds that can be used to reimburse passengers if they are let down by their travel provider. No such funds are held by any body in relation to EU law: the only protection is a legal requirement that the airline issue a refund under certain circumstances. That is not what most people understand by the phrase "financial protection".

Alan_Bowen

All Canadian airlines are following the advice of the Canadian authorities that said refunds did not have to be given. In the last 48 hours PM Trudeau, faced with a petition to the Canadian Parliament by disgruntled voters, has agreed to review the situation but if things do not change your only prospect of any refund is by a chargeback from the card issuer. Presently the airlines believe they are justified in ignoring EU law and unless you want to spend a year taking them to court, just request a chargeback