Jet2, Ryanair, TUI and easyJet have reported a surge in bookings for foreign travel following the easing of a number of covid travel restrictions.
Earlier this month, the requirement for UK to arrivals to self-isolate was dropped.
Following the announcement, several holiday providers and airlines announced a rise in bookings, especially for trips away this summer.
READ MORE: UK Foreign Office changes travel rules for Australia, Spain, Greece and others
A number of destinations that are popular with British tourists have also recently relaxed restrictions.
Spain introduced a huge change for holidaymakers as children over 12 from non-EU countries, such as the UK, now do not need to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus to enter the country.
The change came into force on Monday, February 14, ahead of the school half term.
Adults who are fully vaccinated and travelling from the UK can enter Spain without needing to test or quarantine regardless of your reason for travel.
Greece recently updated its rules so that fully vaccinated travellers will be exempt from covid test requirements.
Anyone over the age of 12 will need to fill out a pre-departure passenger locator form.
While there is plenty of cause for optimism, it can be handy to know what your rights are should circumstances change.
Here are the latest refund rules for Jet2, Ryanair, TUI and easyJet.
easyJet
easyJet will continue to offer protections under its "Protection Promise" policy in 2022.
This means all customers can make changed to their flights without a change fee for up to two hours before departure, for flights due to depart between now and March 31.
Customers can transfer to any flights currently on sale up to the end of September 2022, and to any other destination on the airline’s network which spans 35 countries across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
This means that if there are some travel restrictions impacting their destination country, customers can easily change their trip to another country on easyJet’s network.
The airline's "Travel Restriction Protection" will remain in place until December 31 - so should a trip be impacted by a lockdown travel ban or mandatory hotel quarantine customers can receive a refund for their flights, even if they are still operating.
All easyJet holidays also continue to be covered by its Protection Promise until further notice - meaning you can request a full refund for your trip up to 28 days before you were due to travel.
Deposits will be refunded as a credit.
Ryanair
Once a Ryanair flight is operational, and does not have a delay exceeding 5 hours, then it is not possible to get a refund.
All Ryanair flights are changeable but they cannot be cancelled.
In response to Covid-19, its website said, Ryanair has been forced to process a number of flight cancellations.
If your flight has been cancelled, you will be given the option of a travel voucher valid for 12 months, or refund, or to rebook your journey.
TUI
TUI is offering offering fee-free changes on all holidays due to depart before April 30.
If you're travelling from May 1, and new travel rules are imposed in the country you're flying to, you can make a change for free within 28 days of travel.
The holiday provider's "Covid flexibility" policy also means you can make free changes to your holiday date, hotel, flight, or destination if:
- you or someone in your party tests positive for COVID-19
- you’re officially required to self-isolate
- there’s a local lockdown in the area you live in and you’re unable to travel
- vaccination, testing or quarantine requirements have changed since you booked and you are therefore no longer able to travel
This policy is applicable for all holidays departing on or before October 31, 2022.
Jet2
Jet2 will automatically give customers a full refund if a flight is cancelled because of covid, or if UK government advice changes and it becomes illegal for you to go on holiday abroad.
Customers can amend flights for free or cancel and request a full refund if:
- in the seven days before your outbound departure date, the UK Government enforces hotel quarantine (i.e. because of Red List restrictions)
- in the seven days before your outbound departure date, the government in your destination requires you to self-isolate on arrival and there’s no option for you to release yourself from this, by either providing evidence of a negative Covid-19 test or proof of full vaccination.
Customers can amend holidays for free or cancel and request a full refund if:
- the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to your destination in the seven days before your departure
- there’s a significant change to your booking and Jet2 cannot offer an equivalent holiday
- in the seven days before your outbound departure date, the UK Government enforces hotel quarantine (i.e. because of Red List restrictions).
- in the seven days before your outbound departure date, the government in your destination requires you to self-isolate on arrival and there’s no option for you to release yourself from this, by either providing evidence of a negative Covid-19 test or proof of full vaccination
- in the seven days before your outbound departure date, the government in your destination requires proof of full vaccination for children aged 17 and under who are currently not able to receive the vaccine in the UK
Flights and holidays can be amended without a fee if:
- the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to your destination in the seven days before your departure
- you, someone you live with or someone on your booking receives a positive COVID-19 test, taken in the 10 days before your departure
- in the 10 days before your departure, you’ve been told by the Government or NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate
- in the 10 days before your departure, the area you live in goes into local lockdown and you’re advised not to travel.
- in the seven days before your outbound departure date, the government in your destination requires proof of full vaccination for children aged 17 and under who are currently not able to receive the vaccine in the UK
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