Many EasyJet and British Airways passengers have faced travel chaos after more than 200 flights were cancelled over the weekend.
Both airlines suffered high levels of staff sickness due to the coronavirus pandemic. In total 62 easyJet flights and 60 British Airways flights were cancelled on Monday, with further flights expected to be grounded across the week.
EasyJet confirmed that Liverpool John Lennon airport saw ten cancellations in total over the weekend, and a further two flights grounded today on April 5. They issued a statement which said: "EasyJet will operate the vast majority of its 1525 flights today with a small proportion cancelled in advance to give customers the ability to rebook onto alternative flights. We are sorry for any inconvenience for affected customers."
READ MORE: Liverpool airport cancellations as EasyJet cancels more flights across UK
British Airways have also apologised to their customers, as they said: "We've apologised to customers who are affected by this and to limit the inconvenience have re-booked them onto earlier or later flights on the same day they were originally due to travel where possible. We're also offering them the opportunity to book onto an alternative flight or request a full refund."
Here is a round-up of your rights if you've been affected by the cancellations.
How do I find out what flights are cancelled?
EasyJet has said that it is contacting affected passengers to offer them options such as refunds and alternative flights. One of the easiest ways to check if your flight is affected by delays or cancellations is to use easyJet's flight tracker. British Airways also has their own tracker here. Simply enter your flight number, or the airports your flying to/from, and this will give you a quick overview of the flight status.
You can also log in to your easyJet or British Airways booking online where you can find the latest updates regarding your upcoming journey. Unfortunately the disruption has seen flights cancelled with short notice, so if you're due to travel within the next few days it's worth keeping an eye on your booking - although the airline should get in touch directly if your holiday is affected.
Usually in these cases, travel companies prioritise those due to travel imminently, so if your flight isn't in the next few days, you may need to wait until closer to the time for an update.
Am I due a refund?
According to the Money Saving Expert website, if you aren't booked onto another flight you'll be due a refund within seven days. It states that the standard flight cancellation rules (which have now been written into UK law) state that if your flight is cancelled you are entitled to choose between a full refund or an alternative flight. If you've booked a specific return deal with the same airline and one leg is cancelled, you would expect a refund for both parts.
Be warned that some airlines may push you to take a voucher rather than a refund but you are absolutely entitled to a refund in this situation.
You should be able to rebook or get a refund online
- British Airways - Visit Manage My Booking to find the options available to you. If you booked through a travel agent or a tour operator you'll need to contact them directly to discuss your options or request a refund.
- easyJet - You can request a cash refund, a rebooking or voucher for the full value of your reservation by logging into Manage Bookings. If you booked through a travel agent or tour operator you'll need to contact them directly.
Am I due compensation?
It's worth noting that if you were given less than two weeks' notice for the cancellation and you're offered a replacement flight that delays you by at least two hours, you may also be entitled to compensation. You can find out more on citizensadvice.org.uk.
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