Flights and Section 75

eskbanker

The gist of my question is can an airline just cancel and refund the return leg without giving me an option of an alternative flight home. And also in that circumstance what coverage would I have, if any, from section 75.

The best way of looking at section 75 is to recognise that it grants you exactly the same rights against the creditor as you have against the supplier, no more and no less, so it's only really viable if you have a clear case against the airline for not doing something they were required to, and unless there's anything within the Chinese regulatory environment that would come into play, the airline's obligations will be defined by the contract terms.

Civvy21

Grumpy - I wondered if there was a chance airlines could start cancelling relatively large numbers of flights due to the massively increase costs of jet fuel. If they cancel before we go it would be disappointing. If they cancel when we are away if could be financially disastrous. Also, as I have just discovered, China and Japan occasionally have "disagreements" which often involve the cancelling of large numbers of flights. Apparently this happened as recently as January/February.

eskbanker - China Southern's terms aren't particularly clear. In one bit they state if they cancel a flight they will offer an alternative flight. Elsewhere they say if they cancel a flight they could "involuntary refund" me. In effect refund the cost of the return leg. That's what concerns me.

born_again

RE above. Good new price of oil dropped today.

Okell

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81954336#Comment_81954336

Sorry if this has already been said but I've only skimmed the thread.

If you aren't 100% sure what your travel insurance covers, why don't you do what I always do? 'Phone them and ask them the same question you are asking here. Nobody here knows what your insurance does and does not cover

It's always easier to ask these questions and follow up questions of a live human being rather than trying to work it out yourself from a website or - worse still - a chatbot.

(If you can't get through to your insurer on the phone you've picked the wrong insurer in the first place)

user1977

There is guidance elsewhere on this site: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/flight-cancellation-compensation/

(In short, you're probably relying on whatever the airline's terms are if your return flight is cancelled, given it's not a UK or EU airline and isn't departing from Europe - but you'd have more rights if it's your outward flight is cancelled, assuming you're departing from the UK).