Ryanair and British Airways cancel flights – can you get a refund?

BRITISH Airways and Ryanair have cancelled thousands of flights.

British Airways has revoked more than than 2,000 flights from its schedule between now and March next year.

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Meanwhile, Ryanair’s cancellations mean more than 230,000 passengers face disrupted travel plans.

The airlines have cut the flights because of a reduced demand for flying as a result of the pandemic, as well as fears over the new Omicron covid variant.

But for the few who were planning on whisking themselves away, confusion surrounds whether they’ll be able to get a refund.

Can I get a refund?

Airlines do have to give a full cash refund or voucher if your flight is cancelled.

That applies to package holidays too, where customers are protected by Package Travel Regulations (PTRs).

If your holiday is cancelled by your tour operator, the money has to be refunded within 14 days, or seven days if the airline called off your flights.

But if your flight has been cancelled and it’s separate from where you’d booked to stay, you’re not automatically due any compensation.

When flight chaos ensued last year as cases picked up, a number of airlines and other travel providers would offer credit notes or vouchers instead of cash refunds for cancelled trips.

You don’t have to accept these credit notes or vouchers and can request a cash refund instead.

What about if I decide not to go?

If you cancel the holiday yourself, it’s a different matter.

You may lose any deposit or full amount you’ve paid if you cancel the holiday that you otherwise could have gone on.

You can ask for a refund, but you won’t automatically get one.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk