COVID Cancellation rights - KLM 24 January 2022 at 10:15AM edited 24 January 2022 at 10:15AM in Coronavirus travel help & info 20 replies 504 views

baggies1

Hi,  7 friends are planning to book our yearly Amsterdam trip via KLM from Norwich.
Were aiming to travel in Sept 22.
However some are still a bit reticent about COVID cancellations. 

The KLM page states:

Am I entitled to compensation (EU Regulation 261/2004) if my flight is cancelled?

Unfortunately, you are not entitled to compensation based on the EU Regulation 261/2004. The cancellation of flights due to the coronavirus is considered an extraordinary circumstance, which exempts airlines from paying compensation.

Can anyone provide some advice or guidance?

One option is we could book the flights on my Barclaycard.  Would that help?

emmajones1976

Well if the flights are cancelled, you get the money back dont you? Booking on a credit card is good advice anyway but doing that wont get you any extra compo, if KLM cancel the flight themselves you get refunded, regardless of payment method.

baggies1

Thanks but their site clearly stated cancellations because of COVID (our only real concern) arent refundable.

emmajones1976

Can you link me to that? Surely that means if YOU cancel, not them.

In any case, if you cant go on the flight, and the flight departs as scheduled, your credit card wont help you. KLM would have fulfilled their contractual obligation by operating the flight, and you would need to speak to your insurer.

comeandgo

They mention compensation, you don’t get compensation but you surely get your flight costs back.

emmajones1976

comeandgo said:

They mention compensation, you don’t get compensation but you surely get your flight costs back.

Yes I think the OP has misread their site.

baggies1

Yes you are correct it states compensation not the flight cost my bad.

Someone also stated the rules might change for flights booked after June 1st?
Anyone heard anything about this?

I would find it hard to believe we wouldn't get our costs back if "they" cancelled however just checking really.

https://www.klm.co.uk/information/covid-19/refunds-travel-vouchers

emmajones1976

Can I get a cash refund?

If your flight was cancelled by the airline, you can rebook your flight, or request a cash refund. We’ll try our best to process your request as soon as possible.

All bold writing is from the KLM link you provided. Surely that is all you need to know.

As said, if YOU cant get on the flight, for whatever reason, and the flight goes as scheduled, you would need to speak to your travel insurance. Some airlines will allow you to rebook, and it seems KLM are one of them:

You can request a refundable travel voucher via the link below. You can request a voucher if you bought a ticket with a departure date before 1 July 2022, and you decided to postpone your trip.

Sandtree

baggies1 said:

Thanks but their site clearly stated cancellations because of COVID (our only real concern) arent refundable.

You'd be offered an alternative flight or a refund, you can decline the alternative flight if you want to for a refund.

If the flight was cancelled within 14 days of the departure date then you typically would get compensation in addition to the refund however there are exceptions for things totally out of the airlines control and for which they cannot plan for... their text is just highlighting that they are saving covid falls under this exception and so you get a refund but not compensation.

CKhalvashi

baggies1 said:

Thanks but their site clearly stated cancellations because of COVID (our only real concern) arent refundable.

Any terms will not override the legislation, which is clear.

Under my understanding of EC261, if the cancellation is less than 14 days before, the country at the other end is happy to let you in (with reasonable stipulations such as being vaccinated and/or tested) and the country you originate from is happy to allow you back, then this will be a commercial decision and subject to normal rules.

Other airlines are now working on the basis of 2 weeks (UIA is one of these, I met with friends in Georgia last week, the return was cancelled just over 2 weeks out and they flew back via Wizz to Krakow and Ryanair to Odesa on separate tickets, Ukraine implements EC261 compensation in domestic legislation), and there is no reason why KLM are not in a position to do so also.

Likewise my flight to Luton from Krakow on Saturday with Wizz was cancelled and I ended up flying in last night instead with more than 2 weeks notice of this change.

Westin

baggies1 said:

Hi,  7 friends are planning to book our yearly Amsterdam trip via KLM from Norwich.
Were aiming to travel in Sept 22.
However some are still a bit reticent about COVID cancellations. 

The KLM page states:

Am I entitled to compensation (EU Regulation 261/2004) if my flight is cancelled?

Unfortunately, you are not entitled to compensation based on the EU Regulation 261/2004. The cancellation of flights due to the coronavirus is considered an extraordinary circumstance, which exempts airlines from paying compensation.

Can anyone provide some advice or guidance?

One option is we could book the flights on my Barclaycard.  Would that help?

"However some are still a bit reticent about COVID cancellations."

By this do you mean if the airline cancels (which others have covered what your entitlements are) or if one of your group catches Covid and can not travel on the trip?  

If the latter, some airlines will offer travel waivers - but not all - to allow for a further travel credit. Check KLM's website for their current policy. The airline is not obligated to refund on a non-refundable ticket purchase if a passenger has covid and unable to travel.

The other option is a travel insurance claim. This is another reason why travel insurance with the appropriate cover should be taken out as soon as you start to booking your travel arrangements.