As the coronavirus pandemic continues, travel plans, and summer holidays have been put on hold.
Those with plans to jet off for a summer in the sun may need to start looking closer to home with most flights currently grounded from Heathrow and Bristol Airport.
Airlines are hoping customers affected by cancellations change their flights or accept a credit note which can be used at a later date rather than taking cash refunds.
The policies vary for each airline, we have tried to make it a little easier to understand below:
British Airways
If you have a flight booked with BA, check the status of your flight here.
If you find that your flight has been cancelled, you will be able to rebook onto another flight, claim a voucher, or request a refund.
If you want to change your booking, you have a couple of options.
For bookings made between March 3rd and May 31st, 2020, departing up to December 31st, 2020, go to Manage My Booking to change your dates.
You will not pay any admin fee for making the change but if the fare is higher you will need to pay the difference.
If you no longer want to travel and want to change the date and destination of your current booking, you will be asked to complete an online voucher form.
BA will send you a voucher by email within seven days of your application and they will cancel your original booking. Your new trip must be fully completed by April 30, 2022, including departure and return.
If you prefer to request a refund, you can contact British Airways on 0800 727 800.
The UK contact centre is open from 8am to 8pm from Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Virgin Atlantic
If you have a flight booked with Virgin, check the status of your flight here.
If your flight is cancelled, Virgin will keep your ticket open as credit to use any time up to May 31st, 2022.
If you choose to travel on the same route up to November 30th, 2020, the change fee AND and difference in the fare will be waived.
Customers can only rebook flights up to 331 days in advance through this form.
Virgin says refunds are taking much longer to be logged and processed than usual but will be credited back to the original form of payment.
The company’s contact centre is operating between 7am and 10pm in the UK.
EasyJet
Like many airlines, EasyJet has grounded all of its aircraft and are currently cancelling flights on a seven-day rolling basis.
If you have a flight booked which is not yet cancelled, you can currently switch your booking to any flight at any time with no change fee. You are also able to change your flight as many times as you like, onto any route, for any date up to May 2021.
If your flight has been cancelled, you have more options available.
You can either transfer onto any other flight up until May 2021, without a change fee or difference in fare, claim a voucher for the full value of your ticket or claim a refund.
EasyJet says they are trying to complete refund requests within 28 days.
If you make a new booking which is greater than the voucher value, the difference will need to be paid by card, while if the new booking is lower, the remaining value can be used on future booking within the validity date.
TUI
TUI holidays have cancelled all holidays travelling on or before June 11th, 2020.
Customers will receive a refund credit for the full value of their holiday plus an additional credit or can also apply for a refund.
To speak to a call centre team, you can ring 0203 451 2868 between 9am and 7pm from Monday to Friday.
If you booked in a TUI store you can call 0800 009 3836 or 0203 636 1997 between 9am and 5.30pm from Monday to Friday.
If you have outstanding balance due and do no continue with your holiday payments, the holiday will be cancelled.
TUI Travel Promise
If you booked a TUI holiday or Marella Cruises sailing on or before March 16th, 2020, and are due to travel before July 11th, 2020, you can amend your holiday for free and your balance due date will move to 12 weeks before your new departure date.
If you made your booking after March 16th, you can pay your balance four weeks before your departure date. Click here for more information on the TUI coronavirus policy.
Ryanair
Although they have some flights travelling each day, Ryanair has said the vast majority of its fleet will be grounded until July at the earliest.
If your flight has been cancelled, you will be given the option of a travel voucher valid for 12 months, you can rebook onto another flight or you can request a refund.
Flight change fees have been waived up until May 31st and flights can be changed to any date up until August 31st. Any increase in flight fare will still be charged.
If you are looking for a refund, Ryanair has warned customers to expect delays due to the high volume of claims.
If you opt for the voucher and have not used it within 12 months then you will still be able to apply for a refund.
A spokesperson said: “For any cancelled flight, Ryanair is giving customers all of the options set out under EU regulations, including free moves and refunds in the form of cash or vouchers.
“The process time for cash refunds is taking longer due to the fact we are having to process 10,000 times the usual volume of cancellations and have fewer staff available due to social distancing measures.
“Ryanair is offering vouchers and free moves as these are automated and would give customers an alternative. Customers who choose a voucher but don’t redeem it within 12 months may still apply for and obtain a refund after this 12 month period. This also includes partial redemption, as the portion of the unused voucher will be refunded.
“Customers who choose not to accept a free move or voucher will be refunded in due course, once this unprecedented crisis is over.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and we thank our customers for bearing with us.”
Click here for the Ryanair refund application form.
