What to do if your flight is cancelled? As fuel crisis continues and jet fuel runs low amid Iran war, advice for air travel customers
As jet fuel runs low amid a fuel crisis caused by the war in Iran, advice for travellers whose flight is cancelled.
As the war in the Middle East continues, holidaymakers are being caught up in rising fuel prices and an impact on travel firms - with thousands of flights being cancelled or altered as a result of the US/Israeli action.
With fears jet fuel supplies could start to run low in the coming weeks due to the ongoing confusion over the Strait of Hormuz - an important oil route - and longer border checks for Brits across much of Europe, people are facing more troublesome travel than previously anticipated.
The Airports Council International (ACI) Europe said shortages of jet fuel and flight cancellations would be inevitable if the crisis continued.
Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist of investment firm Wealth Club, told the Guardian: “There’s a growing chance that leisure flights could start being cancelled from May if carriers are unable to source enough fuel from other producing nations."
What to do if your flight is cancelled?
If you were departing from a UK or EU airport, or arriving in to them on a UK or European airline, you must be given a refund or an alternative flight. Even if your flight is cancelled ahead of time, if it is less than two weeks before your departure date, you may still be entitled to compensation, as well as a refund or replacement flight, with the amount of based on how far you are travelling.
If you are stranded due to a cancellation, your airline is obliged to provide meals, transport and accommodation until it can fly you to your destination. Passengers on airlines not covered by UK and EU rules should check the terms and conditions of the flight.
What happens package holiday flight is cancelled?
Package holiday travellers are protected under the Package and Linked Travel Arrangements rules, with the operator responsible for the whole trip and if the flight is cancelled, have to offer an alternative holiday of the same value or a refund.
If flights and accommodation were arranged separately, the traveller is in a weaker position than package holiday makers. However, if your flight is cancelled, you will still be entitled to a refund or another flight, but there is no automatic right to claim refunds for hotels or other expenses.