Many of us will be preparing to head abroad this summer for the first time since Covid began in March 2020.
However, Advice Direct Scotland (ADS) has issued an urgent message to Scots heading abroad for their summer holidays.
ADS, the national consumeradvice.scot service, said people could be impacted by Brexit changes and staffing shortages in the aviation industry.
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The charity has encouraged all Scots going on holiday to purchase travel or medical insurance – or to check if they are already covered – and to know their rights if their flights are delayed or cancelled.
Here's everything you need to know before flying abroad:
Travel insurance
Advice Direct Scotland said holidaymakers should purchase travel insurance as it offers extra protection and solutions if things go wrong.
It also pointed out that Brexit has had an impact on people’s health cover when travelling in the EU.
Travel insurance can offer cover against delays in departure, cancelled or shortened trips, medical emergencies, and accidental damage. It can also help if a travel provider goes out of business.
Delayed or cancelled flights
Legally, airlines must help passengers when their flights are delayed or cancelled, or if they cannot board a flight due to overbooking. This includes offering a refund or rerouting them to their destination.
After Brexit, the European Union’s EC261 regulation was transferred to British law and highlights that airlines must give passengers the option of rerouting to their destination at the earliest opportunity. This includes the offer of a flight on an alternative airline if this is the most appropriate option.
For EU-regulated flights that are cancelled, and where “extraordinary circumstances” like severe weather or security risks do not apply, customers can ask for a refund or choose to take an alternative flight. Compensation can be claimed where less than 14 days’ notice was given for the cancellation. The amount will vary but usually starts at €125.
Customers facing delays of two hours or more for short haul flights may be entitled to assistance including free meals and refreshments and free accommodation or hotel transfers if an overnight stay is required.
For medium haul flights of two to four hours, the delay must be three hours or more to claim compensation, rising to four hours for long haul journeys.
If the delay lasts longer than five hours, customers may be able to choose between being rerouted on a different flight or getting a refund.
Lost or damaged luggage
Travellers may be entitled to make a claim against an airline if their luggage is lost, stolen or damaged after being checked in.
The airline will consider the age of any items, and they are unlikely to cover the cost of replacing an old item with a new one.
If a person has travelled with multiple airlines on their journey, it would normally be the last airline they used that they would make a claim to.
The maximum amount for any claim would be £1,000, however it is rare than an airline would pay out this much.
Bank card fees
Banks charge fees of up to 3 per cent for most foreign transactions. This applies when people use their debit card to withdraw cash or buy things while they are abroad.
Some banks might also add an extra charge, known as a ‘non-sterling purchase fee’, which are often flat fees of between £1 and £3 that are applied to every transaction.
Passports
UK passport holders may need to renew their passport earlier than planned.
The UK Government now recommends people should have at least six months left on their passport from the date of arrival in most EU countries, not including Ireland.
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