Advice ref. flights to Spain for End of July - what to do?

EdGasketTheSecond

Pre-Covid-19 I purchased return tickets to Spain to see family for 8 days beginning the end of July. The airline is Veuling which I believe is part of IAG group. So far they have twice offered me a voucher for a flight some other time which I don't really want; I would rather get my cash back. So my questions are:

1) Do you think the flights are likely to go ahead, Veuling haven't said they are cancelled yet but perhaps they will be which is why they are trying to get me to take a voucher now.

2) If cancelled, how much notice would I be likely to get? I don't want to find out at the very last minute after booking travel to the airport or airport parking whatever I decide.

3) Bearing in mind the insurance and isolation issues, would you advise I accept a voucher now or wait and see if, as I suspect, the airline cancels the flight and then pursue a cash refund?

Thanks

TELLIT01

Unless you have a flexible ticket you have no right to a refund unless the airline cancels the flight.  If that happens they must provide a refund if that is what the customer wants.  Airlines do leave cancellation as late as they possibly can, potentially for 2 reasons.  1.  It's more likely that customers will panic and cancel, thereby losing the entitlement to a refund 2. Various countries are changing their rules with approximately 2 weeks notice, so it makes no sense for airlines to cancel flights only to discover later that they could have flown.

If you have no plans to fly at a later date there is no benefit to you in accepting a voucher. 

EdGasketTheSecond

With flights only, am I right in thinking that if I get out to Spain and find the return flight is then cancelled, that they are obliged to get me home on a flight that is still going at their expense? i.e. they can't just give me a refund on the return part and leave it at that can they?

NoodleDoodleMan

First and foremost consideration - I'd be asking how all the challenges associated with safe social distancing on an aircraft are going to be resolved in practice.

Travelling confined together in a closed cylinder(ish) shape doesn't sound too clever when you think about it.

Ganga

NoodleDoodleMan said:

First and foremost consideration - I'd be asking how all the challenges associated with safe social distancing on an aircraft are going to be resolved in practice.

Travelling confined together in a closed cylinder(ish) shape doesn't sound too clever when you think about it.

Whilst i agree with your logic ref air travel if you want to holiday abroad in the future short of buying your own private jet you will have to get on an aircraft with others.

ess0two

Could all change from 29th June if quarantine is binned and an agreement is made with Uk and other countries

NoodleDoodleMan

Ganga said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

First and foremost consideration - I'd be asking how all the challenges associated with safe social distancing on an aircraft are going to be resolved in practice.

Travelling confined together in a closed cylinder(ish) shape doesn't sound too clever when you think about it.

Whilst i agree with your logic ref air travel if you want to holiday abroad in the future short of buying your own private jet you will have to get on an aircraft with others.

Yes, that's dilemma.

However, I should have been clearer - until a vaccine or other effective treatment is found.

Hopefully soon.

ess0two said:

Could all change from 29th June if quarantine is binned and an agreement is made with Uk and other countries

Quarantine is not going to eradicate the potential spread of the virus on a crowded aircraft.

Alan_Bowen

Everyone will be forced to wear face masks from arrival at the airport to leaving at the destination. Airlines claim that HEPA filters onboard mean over 99% of viruses are removed within 3 minutes as the air is replaced and flights have been operating throughout the period without any clear evidence of it spreading onboard planes.

The bigger issue I suspect is the statement yesterday by the Spanish minister that whilst they are opening their borders next week, it won't include the British due to our disastrous levels of virus and I wouldn't count on travel to Spain at all in July. However the second issue is Vuelings failure to offer refunds for flights that do not operate, the Spanish government announced a could of weeks ago that they were taking action against 11 airlines, including this one, for failure to comply with the law. Although the UK's CAA has said it will also act, so far there is has been no sign of action at all

EdGasketTheSecond

OK so now Vueling have cancelled the flight but issued me with flight credit! They say if I want a cash refund I have to phone them where previously they said 'please do not phone us' due to be overwhelmed with enquiries and to manage the booking online. Plus they say a cash refund will take 8 weeks which is breaking the law. Who can I report this to for a complaint?

EdGasketTheSecond

If anyone else is in this situation, I have found a useful thread here:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/transportation/vueling-not-refunding-cancelled-flight-offering-only-a-voucher-with-a-time-limit

Options to try are card company or EU small claim procedure:

https://www.gov.uk/recover-debt-from-eu

DCFC79

EdGasketTheSecond said:

OK so now Vueling have cancelled the flight but issued me with flight credit! They say if I want a cash refund I have to phone them where previously they said 'please do not phone us' due to be overwhelmed with enquiries and to manage the booking online. Plus they say a cash refund will take 8 weeks which is breaking the law. Who can I report this to for a complaint?

A credit card was used I hope ?

Go that route.