Father had COVID symptoms before flight, I self isolated & now can't get a refund/voucher for flight

philreeduk

Hi all, 
On the 12th of September, I was due to fly to Turkey with Pegasus airlines. Unfortunately, the night before, my father who I live with became sick with COVID-like symptoms. As a result, I followed the UK government's advice and self-isolated with him and did not take the flight. I spoke with Pegasus on the phone who was quite understanding in my situation and told me to email their guest relations. I emailed them on the following Monday, highlighting my predicament and also the difficulties in getting a COVID test for my self and my father (something I have still yet been unable to get for us). I included screenshots and articles about the UK's testing capacity collapsing and the government advice to self-isolate. However, now Pegasus is stating that they will not refund or give me a voucher of equivalent value to fly with them. Is there anything that I can do to push them into this besides small claims court? Am I even legally entitled to a refund in this scenario? I have been unable to find any answers regarding this online and would like to go armed with some facts the next time I speak to them. 

Cheers for any responses in advance! 

comeandgo

Your travel insurance would be where to start.

bradders1983

About to say, you missed the flight and you dont have any recourse here.

Caz3121

philreeduk said:

 Is there anything that I can do to push them into this besides small claims court? 

Small claims court would only be relevant if you purchased a refundable ticket that they are not refunding or they had some sort of guarantee that promised a voucher etc if you changed your mind about travel. If not then the original fare rules of your ticket will apply, if non-refundable then no refund due and court will not change that.
What have your travel insurance said?

philreeduk

Thanks for your input guys, so instead of missing the flight I should have gotten on a plane knowing that an active coronavirus case was in my household? The only other expense which was instantly refunded to me was the train ticket I booked to get to the airport. I had no qualms from them about getting a refund due to the situation. 

bradders1983

philreeduk said:

Thanks for your input guys, so instead of missing the flight I should have gotten on a plane knowing that an active coronavirus case was in my household? The only other expense which was instantly refunded to me was the train ticket I booked to get to the airport. I had no qualms from them about getting a refund due to the situation. 

Nobody is saying you should have got on the flight. What people are saying is you are unlikely to get any sort of recompense from the airline given you have probably booked the least flexible ticket on offer, and you need to speak to your insurer. 

Westin

The offer of a credit voucher from the airline seems fair.

bradders1983

Westin said:

The offer of a credit voucher from the airline seems fair.

Think you must have misread the opening post 

Aylesbury_Duck

philreeduk said:

Thanks for your input guys, so instead of missing the flight I should have gotten on a plane knowing that an active coronavirus case was in my household? The only other expense which was instantly refunded to me was the train ticket I booked to get to the airport. I had no qualms from them about getting a refund due to the situation. 

No.  When your father's symptoms appeared, you should have read your insurance policy or contacted your insurer to see if you were covered. 

When did you book the trip?  If before March-ish, chances are you might have been covered. Since then?  Then such is the risk of booking a holiday in a pandemic. 

silvercar

philreeduk said:

Thanks for your input guys, so instead of missing the flight I should have gotten on a plane knowing that an active coronavirus case was in my household? The only other expense which was instantly refunded to me was the train ticket I booked to get to the airport. I had no qualms from them about getting a refund due to the situation. 

You said at that point your father hadn't been tested, so who had the active coronavirus? Someone else in your household?

mattyprice4004

Regardless of reason you didn't board the flight and it still operated without you, so you're not entitled to a refund. You were a no-show. 

Insurance is where you need to look, but that may not cover you either.