Travel: 8 questions on flight cancellations, strikes and your rights, answered by Simon Calder

Summer time journey disruption, flight cancellations and strikes had been on the forefront of questions requested by readers throughout journey correspondent Simon Calder’s weekly ‘Ask Me Something’ on Friday.

The message of the day? Keep optimistic. Simon urged readers to be optimistic when reserving and reminded them of their rights ought to their flights be cancelled.

Let’s dig in.

It appears easyJet are actually cancelling some flights 20 days upfront. Do you’ve got any perception into how finish of August is trying ?

A number of million individuals booked on easyJet over the summer time we shall be wishing, as I’m, that the airline may finalise all its cancellations as quickly as doable. As you understand, the provider promised extra flights than it has the sources to ship, particularly to and from London Gatwick, and is now trimming the schedule by about 10 per cent. Meaning a major variety of individuals booked on July and August flights have, or will shortly, be taught their authentic flight is cancelled. However even whether it is, these fabulous European air passengers’ rights guidelines will stand you in good stead by requiring the cancelling airline to offer different flights.

I’m flying to Malaga by easyJet on the twenty ninth July, how seemingly is it that my flight shall be cancelled if the Spanish strike goes forward?

Flight may be very more likely to go forward, even when it doesn’t there shall be a number of different choices to get you there.

You’ve been formidable elevating consciousness that clients ought to be rebooked OR provided different flight/transport to their vacation spot in occasion of cancellation. Why does easyJet ‘handle reserving’ not make this clear? Are clients really getting via to buyer providers AND now getting different flights?

I don’t imagine any airline is doing what it’s speculated to do below the air passenger rights guidelines when it comes to rebooking individuals on the plain different flights. I hope I’m mistaken about that. I’m, after all, preserving data of when carriers have flatly refused to take passengers.

I’m as a consequence of lastly fly to San Diego in mid August (sixteenth) from Manchester by way of Heathrow on BA. How pessimistic ought to my hopes be?

Be extra optimistic, individuals! Regardless of floor employees at BA’s Heathrow hub overwhelmingly backing a walkout of their struggle to reverse pay cuts and the prediction from their commerce union that “holidaymakers face huge disruption,” as somebody holding 4 British Airways flights to and from Heathrow in July and August I’m pretty assured they may take off roughly as regular. But when I’m mistaken, then European air passengers’ rights guidelines supply strong client safety – within the type of a requirement for the cancelling airline to offer flights on the identical day, even when it means shopping for a ticket on one other provider.

I’m intrigued, although, that you’re flying from Manchester to Heathrow first to achieve San Diego slightly than connecting someplace in North America – akin to New York, Atlanta or Toronto – which doesn’t contain any doubling again.

With regard to the potential industrial motion by BA floor employees subsequent month, if a flight is cancelled greater than 14 days earlier than the scheduled departure date, is the airline nonetheless obliged to seek out passengers another flight on the scheduled day, or simply present a refund?

Sure, the one distinction 14 days makes is to keep away from having to pay compensation. Obligation to seek out another flight stays.

Any updates on the Ryanair strike throughout a lot of European nations this weekend and the seemingly influence on flights outdoors of those nations eg daughter flying again to Stansted tomorrow from Agadir?

By fastidiously studying the discharge that Ryanair has put out about its operations as we speak (Friday 24 June), it’s doable to determine precisely the place the issues are: Brussels (each the principle airport and Charleroi, generally known as “Brussels South”).

Fewer than 150 flights have been cancelled all informed.

Three out of 5 of Ryanair’s scheduled flights to/from Brussels are working usually.

“There have been no flight disruptions in Italy, Spain, Portugal, UK, France or Eire because the overwhelming majority of Ryanair crews are working usually,” an airline spokesperson stated.

The provider believes {that a} two-day strike at a French Air Visitors Management centre in Marseille can have extra influence.

There are some nice offers for journey with Inghams and TUI to the alps in early July. Though very tempted, I skilled the carnage of Manchester airport in mid-Might – and a two day delay for TUI to get us residence from Kefalonia on the finish. It hasn’t inspired me to go overseas within the close to future! However do you sense that Manchester/Birmingham are getting up to the mark? Am I being too pessimistic?

Sure, I feel you might be extra optimistic. At occasions in Might, Manchester airport was horrible when it comes to lengthy delays and overstretched floor employees resulting in some very quick discover cancellations of flights and whole holidays. Birmingham airport had its moments too, however I imagine they’re now on a sound footing and I might ebook with confidence.

I watched the recording of the Choose Committee you attended and couldn’t imagine how the easyJet and BA reps acquired away with their lower than truthful summaries of the refund expertise over the previous few months. With a minister denying info on lack of EU workforce and Committee Membership who appear to lack fundamental understanding of present points, god assist us all. Anyway, do you suppose the airways will construct up their schedules for July and August or is what now we have now, the very best we are able to count on?

Hello, as you point out I used to be warm-up act for the Enterprise Choose Committee on 14 June, when representatives of easyJet and British Airways had lots to say; the hyperlink for the transcript is on the foot. The BA witness stated: “For a refund of your flight, that ought to be completed inside seven days. We intention to do the EU261 compensation [for delayed or cancelled flights] inside 14 days.” The easyJet witness stated: “The shoppers obtain the e-mail, which … says, “You might be entitled to rebook your flight. Here’s a hyperlink to try this. You might be entitled to a refund. Listed below are the three clicks it takes to get your refund. You might be entitled to a voucher in the event you want.

“Listed below are your rights for extra compensation.”

Simon Calder holds a weekly ‘Ask Me Something’ to reply your burning questions. Be sure to’re signed as much as his journey e-newsletter to remain throughout the newest updates. To obtain it, put your e mail within the field on the high of this text or register by way of our newsletters web page.