Holidaymakers who find themselves stranded overseas after their return flight to the UK is cancelled have legal rights that airlines must uphold.
These rights are protected under UK law for those returning on a UK or EU airline, such as EasyJet or Ryanair. Those travelling on a non-UK or non-EU airline, such as Qantas, are not protected by UK law and so may have different rights set out in their terms and conditions.
Below is a summary of what support airlines must offer under UK law. Full guidance can be found on the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) website.
READ MORE: How to check if your Ryanair, BA, TUI, Jet2 and EasyJet flight is cancelled
What are my rights if my return flight is cancelled?
Airlines based in the UK or EU are legally required to provide you with support if your return flight is cancelled. These rights include:
- The choice between a replacement flight or full refund
- Help with waiting costs
- Compensation (depending on notice)
Replacement flight
If you still want to travel, your airline must find you an alternative flight – often referred to as being "rerouted". This should be as soon as possible but can be at a later date if you prefer.
While most airlines will book you onto their next flight to the same UK destination, you may be able to opt for an alternative carrier if they are flying sooner. Discuss this with your airline.
Full refund
You can get your money back for all parts of the ticket you have not used. In this case, that would be the cost of the return leg.
If you are a transfer passenger and your connecting flight has been cancelled, you are entitled to a flight back to your original departure point.
Help with waiting costs
Airlines must provide "care and assistance" if your flight is cancelled. This means: a reasonable amount of food and drink; a means for you to communicate; and accommodation and transport if rerouted the next day.
In practice, many airlines provide food vouchers and book a hotel for you. If they cannot do this due to staffing issues, the CAA advises you to organise the care and assistance yourself and keep receipts to claim the costs back later.
Airlines are unlikely to refund any luxuries, so do not spend more than is reasonable. Some carriers provide guidance on this.
Compensation
You may be able to claim compensation if your flight is cancelled with less than 14 days' notice. This depends on the reason for the cancellation – extreme weather, employee strikes or other "extraordinary circumstances" will likely not qualify.
The exact figure you may receive varies depending on when the flight was cancelled, the length of the flight and the degree of disruption. Full price bands, up to the maximum of £520 for a long-haul flight delayed by more than four hours, can be found on the CAA website.
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