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Cancelled flights? How to claim money back in a few simple steps

Expert tips on how to get a refund if your flight is cancelled

We all love a good holiday in the sun, but cancelled flights can not only spoil a much-anticipated trip, but they can often leave us out of pocket too.

The good news is that if an airline grounds a flight, passengers can usually claim compensation, according to Citizens Advice, particularly if their plane was:

Leaving from the UK, regardless of the airline
Arriving in the UK and was with a UK or EU airline
Arriving in the EU and was with a UK airline

Richard Williams, head of transport at the Consumer Council said: “Passengers who have been affected by cancelled flights should be offered a full refund within seven days, or re-routing via alternative transportation at the earliest opportunity by the airline.”

Passengers who have been affected by cancellations will have to complete an online form available on all the official airline websites. According to the Consumer Council, travellers should receive compensation unless the problem was caused by “extraordinary circumstances”.

Martin Lewis, founder of TheMoneySavingExpert.com, pointed out that airlines aren’t always forthcoming about the right to compensation, so affected passengers will likely have to put in some legwork themselves.

He said: “First thing is, anyone whose flight is cancelled, you’ll find it very easy to get the return flight or an alternative flight.

“But they won't tell you about cancellation and that you're entitled to compensation on the back of that.”

A full refund should be offered within seven days, and passengers whose flights are delayed by more than 5 hours are also entitled to their money back. It’s worth making a claim for shorter delays too, Mr Lewis said, as some airlines have been known to fork out a couple of hundred euros for less than five hours.

If your flight doesn’t meet the Citizen’s Advice criteria, you may still be entitled to compensation, but it’s best to check with your carrier as the rules vary depending on country of departure and arrival.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

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