Compensation expert explains Ryanair customers' rights after airline cancels flights due to strike
British holidaymakers taking trips to Italy have been urged to check their travel bookings after Ryanair was forced to cancel several flights due to planned strikes at Italian airports.
The budget airline announced cancellations to four airports across the European hotspot yesterday, including Bologna, Milan, Rome and Venice as 24hr strike action from 11.59pm on Monday (September 23) until 11:59pm on Tuesday (September 24) was put in place.
A compensation expert from Claims.co.uk has issued some advice to travellers who have been disrupted by the cancellations and explained what their rights are in this situation.
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The spokesperson warned: “For travellers going to or from Italy in the coming days, it is important to be aware of your rights if your flight is delayed or cancelled. If you have booked a package holiday and your flights are cancelled, you have the rights to either claim a full refund, a reroute of the trip destination and potentially compensation from the airline.
“However, in these specific circumstances, delays and cancellations caused by air traffic control restrictions are considered an ‘extraordinary circumstance’ and therefore do not qualify for compensation."
The expert added: “In cases of flight delays and flight cancellations due to an ‘extraordinary circumstance,’ the airline must provide you with additional services, depending on the length of your delay and waiting time.
“These additional services include free meals and refreshments, which you are entitled to when your flight is delayed by at least 2 hours. Passengers should also receive a free overnight accommodation and a transfer to and from the airport if the flight is shifted to the next day."
In terms of a travel operator cancelling the package holiday for any reason, the expert explained: "They are required to notify you as soon as possible and without undue delay. This is to ensure that you have enough time to help you make alternative arrangements or seek refunds.
"However, in many people's case due to the disruption, if you are at the airport when the flight is cancelled, it is advised that you contact your travel company straight away to talk through your options. If the delay lasts more than five hours, but is not actually cancelled, you should also be able to choose not to travel and get a full refund on your ticket.
“If your flight cannot be rearranged, meaning your whole holiday must be cancelled, then the travel company must offer an alternative holiday if possible, or a refund of the full package price, not just the flight part.
“We advise anyone that is due to travel in the next couple of days to continue checking the latest updates on their flight tracker, on the app, official website or on official social media channels before heading to the airport."
What is my best option?
If you are debating whether to claim for a full refund or reschedule your trips, your final decision should be based on personal circumstances.
There are several factors you should consider when making this decision:
Refund Amount
If the travel operator is offering a full refund, this could be more appealing financially wise, especially if you are unsure about your future travel plans.
Availability
Consider if the future dates the travel operator offers you are a suitable alternative for your original trip. If the new dates do not work with your schedule, rescheduling might not be a viable option.
Change Fees
Check if the travel operator is waiving any change fees for rescheduling. Some operators might impose fees for changing travel dates, which could impact your decision.
Travel Insurance
Review your travel insurance policy to find out if it covers cancellations or changes due to unforeseen circumstances. This may determine your decision to reschedule or opt for a refund.
The spokesperson from Claims.co.uk adds: “If you received less than 14 days’ notice of the cancellation, you can claim compensation. This can be awarded in pounds or euros depending on where your flight was due to depart from.”
The awards are according to the following scale:
£220 / €250 for all flights of 1,500km or less (e.g. Glasgow to Amsterdam)
£350 / €400 for all flights between 1,500km and 3,500km (e.g. East Midlands to Marrakech)
£520 / €600 for all other flights (e.g. London to New York)
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