Flights Cancelled more than 14 days from Travel

hBates

Hi 

If I understand correctly, if an airline cancels your flight more than 14 days in advance, they are only obliged to refund the cost of the ticket paid. My issue is this - we are flying to the USA in August and if the airline was to cancel 15 days before we fly, the cost to "replace" the flights so close to departure would probably be at least double the price we paid, if not more. So we'd have the choice to either take this financial hit or cancel the holiday incurring significant costs such as non-refundable accommodation, tickets to events, car hire etc. 

I contacted my travel insurer with whom we have an annual multi-trip policy and they said the policy does not cover for this type of event. 

My questions are: a) Is this normal for a travel insurance policy and then b) Is there any protection at all from this type of event happening and pretty much ruining the whole holiday? 

It feels like us travellers are hopelessly exposed to the decisions of the airlines which >14 days from travel can pretty much do as they please. 

Thanks for your thoughts/observations.  

onashoestring

Not quite correct when an airline cancels a flight they must offer you a choice of either a refund or alternative flight to the destination.  You are entitled to this  no matter how long before departure that they cancel . 

You get to decide which you want and if the airline doesn’t have a suitable alternative flight then you can request they book you a flight with another airline at their expense.

hBates

Thanks for your reply. Very interesting. Do you know if there is there a legal definition of "suitable alternative flight"? Ie how long before/after the original flight would it have to be to count as acceptable? 

eskbanker

hBates said:

Do you know if there is there a legal definition of "suitable alternative flight"? Ie how long before/after the original flight would it have to be to count as acceptable? 

The requirement is actually worded as "re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at the earliest opportunity [or 'at a later date at the passenger's convenience, subject to availability of seats']".

The regulations were originally EU legislation, and have now been incorporated into UK law, but it's unclear to me whether the EU's interpretative guidance is still likely to be applicable, in which there is further analysis of how the regulations should be interpreted - see section 4.2 at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/GA/ALL/?uri=CELEX:52016XC0615(01)

In these circumstances you should definitely expect the airline to book you onto another flight (at no extra cost to you) rather than it being an insurance job or a retrospective claim from the airline....

onashoestring

EU flight delay law says passengers whose flights have been cancelled must be offered "re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at the earliest opportunity".

It doesn't define what "earliest opportunity" means, but the CAA said: "It is our view that passengers should be re-routed on the same day as their original flight and via the same route, but where this is not possible, their airline should instead identify alternative re-routing options which minimise the disruption to the journey plans of affected passengers. This could include travel with a different airline."

There is more information in Section 3 of this MSE article : https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/flight-delays/

hBates

Thank you both very much. Seems we are better protected than I thought. Much appreciated. 

FightingSpirit168

Hi,

BA has cancelled our flight 16 days before departure and no alternative flights were available to us.  Can we claim for compensation as we have lost a substantial amount on our accommodation?

Thank you for any information in advance.

Westin

FightingSpirit168 said:

Hi,

BA has cancelled our flight 16 days before departure and no alternative flights were available to us.  Can we claim for compensation as we have lost a substantial amount on our accommodation?

Thank you for any information in advance.

No to compensation under EU261/UK261.

You can obtain a full refund on the flights or request a comparable re-routing/re-booking with the airline.