Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Sam Barker

British Airways and Ryanair cancel thousands of flights - your refund rights explained

Thousands of flights from British Airways and Ryanair have been cancelled over the winter, but passengers can get a full refund or rebook.

Earlier today British Airways trimmed more than 2,000 flights from its books from now until March 2022.

Earlier this week Ryanair cancelled all flights to Morocco until February 1, 2022, affecting 230,000 passengers.

The budget airline made the move due to a "lack of clarity" from the Moroccan government.

Morocco recently suspended all flights going into the country owing to the spread of the Omicron Covid variant .

The flight ban will last for two weeks from November 29 to December 13.

Ryanair has temporarily cancelled all flights to Morocco (AFP via Getty Images)

Has this affected you? Let us know in the comments below

Your refund rights if your flight is cancelled

Consumers will be offered a full refund or alternative flight voucher if their flight is cancelled.

You're due a full refund within seven days with most cancelled flights, or 14 days if your packaged holiday has been cancelled.

A British Airways spokesperson said: "Like other airlines, due to the continuing coronavirus pandemic we are operating a reduced and dynamic schedule.

"Where a customer's flight is cancelled, we always contact them to offer options including a full refund.

"Customers who are unable to travel, or choose not to, can continue to change their flights or request a voucher for future use as part of our Book with Confidence policy, which has been available since the beginning of the pandemic."

Ryanair has been approached for comment.

How to get your money back for cancelled trips

The good news is that there are several ways to get a refund for aborted trips - or those delayed because you have to self-isolate.

Travel insurance is one of them, but should be your last resort. It will only pay out when all other options have been tried.

The first port of call is to try to get your cash back from a tour operator or airline - or to rebook the trip for a later date.

If that doesn't work, you should try claiming the money back from your bank or credit card provider.

Only then would travel insurance step in.

Some insurance will pay out for Covid cancellations, though the terms of this vary from insurer to insurer.

The most useful policies cover four main risks:

1. Cancelling a trip because you test positive for Covid

2. Cancelling a trip because you have to self-isolate at home

3. Missing a flight and needing extra accommodation because you have to self-isolate overseas

4. Cover for medical treatment if you get Covid overseas

Most travel insurance will pay out for the last point, but not always the first three, so check with your insurer before you buy.

Travel insurers do this because if they cover more risks in their policies, they have to charge extra to customers.

Many customers would see that as unfair expense as they already have the protection elsewhere.

Most travel insurance will not pay out if overseas trips are scrapped over fears of getting Covid. Nor will it the government bans travel to a certain country.

If that happens, customers can ask for a refund from their airline, tour operator and accommodation provider, or rebook the holiday for another point.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.