TUI has issued an update for travellers and revealed how passengers could get £200 if your holiday is cancelled amid the ongoing chaos at airports.
The company’s website blamed the long list of cancellations down to “a combination of factors causing significant operations disruptions”.
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A lengthy statement said on its travel page: “We would like to apologise to some of our customers who have experienced flight delays in recent days.
“As the UK’s biggest holiday company, our priority is to take customers on holiday safely. We continue to work closely with our airport partners to monitor the situation and continue to provide the best possible holiday experience for our customers.
“We are doing everything we can to limit any flight delays, which can happen from time to time for various operational reasons. On the rare occasion flight delays do take place, we will do everything we can to support our customers, through direct communications and providing overnight accommodation and transfers where needed, as well as meals and refreshments.
“We’d like to remind customers not to arrive at the airport too far in advance of their flight, as this can contribute to terminal queueing delays. Standard check-in opens at least two and a half hours before departure time for short and mid-haul flights, and at least three and a half hours before departure for long-haul flights.
“At some airports, we are able to offer day before bag drop and self-service bag drop. You can find more information about these services, as well as our advice for making your airport experience as smooth as possible here.”
Tui added: “Recently, due to a combination of factors causing significant operations disruptions, we made the difficult decision to cancel some of our flights.
“If you are affected by a flight cancellation and were travelling on a Tui package holiday, this means your whole holiday is impacted and thus cancelled.
“Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience and the disappointment that this decision has caused. Please be assured that we have not taken this decision lightly.
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“In accordance with EU Regulations, you are entitled to compensation payable per person. A claim can be made 72 hours after you were due to depart by visiting the site www.tui.co.uk/destinations/contact-us/flight-delays
“It is exceptionally rare that we must cancel a flight and your holiday in this way so we are extending our apology by offering a £200-holiday voucher per person and hotel that you will choose to travel with us again in the future. You should receive this voucher within 28 days.
“We will also be refund – in full – the total cost of your booking within 14 days.”
The £200 voucher is issued at the discretion of Tui.
The Sun Online has contacted Tui for comment.
Tui Airways has been forced to cancel nearly 200 flights over the coming month as Brit holidaymakers have been struck by widespread chaos at UK airports.
Passengers have suffered long delays recently due to staff shortages.
A number of destinations have been hit, including Spain’s Canary Islands.
Other airlines have also been axing flights with passengers forced to wait in line at airports including Manchester, Heathrow, Gatwick and Bristol.
While the problem has been doing on for a number of months, the issue has worsened lately with a rise in demand sparked by the half-term school holiday and the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend.
The aviation industry is suffering from staff shortages after letting thousands of people go during the coronavirus pandemic.
Police had to step in and tell exhausted Tui passengers their flight was cancelled after eight-hour delays in the latest bout of chaos.
The airline is also set to cancel hundreds of flights next month too.
Meanwhile, EasyJet has announced it will cancel more than 200 flights this summer.
A statement from the airline read: “We are very sorry for the late notice of some of these cancellations and inconvenience caused for customers booked on these flights however we believe this is necessary to provide reliable services over this busy period.
“Customers have been informed and provided with the option to rebook their flight or receive a refund and can apply for compensation in line with regulations.”
You’ll have to go straight to your travel provider if you want to get back anything you’re owed.
EasyJet customers can go to manage my booking on its website or app, where you can switch your flight for free, get a voucher to use in the next 12 months or request a full refund.
TUI customers meanwhile, can do the same on its own refund request page.
If you’re after a full refund you should get it back within seven days.
To claim compensation though, usually your flight needs to have departed from a UK airport, arrived into a UK airport and was with a UK or EU airline or arrived into the EU and was with a UK airline.
You could be able to claim for £220 per person on shorter journeys, and £520 on longer distances says one travel expert.
If these don’t apply, you need to contact the airline to get back anything you feel you may be owed.
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