Flight cancellation chaos: How Brits can claim canceled flights to Spain – London Business News

British holidaymakers are facing yet more travel chaos amid severe flooding in Spain, with more than 100 flights canceled.

Barcelona has been placed on a red alert as catastrophic rainfall and flooding wreak havoc on the city and cause significant disruptions at Barcelona El Prat Airport.

A red ‘extreme danger’ alert is in place across Barcelona and people are urged not to travel unless necessary.

For those who have canceled or delayed scheduled flights and are seeking compensation, a company spokesperson said Claims.co.uk shares the best options:

“While booking a package holiday can reduce the cost of a departure, if you cancel your flight you run the risk of having your entire holiday canceled or rearranged.

“If you have booked a package holiday and your flights are cancelled, you have the right to claim a full refund, a rerouting of the travel destination and possibly compensation from the airline.

“However, under these specific circumstances, delays and cancellations caused by air traffic control restrictions are considered an ‘extraordinary circumstance’ and are therefore not eligible for compensation.

“In the event of flight delays and flight cancellations due to an ‘extraordinary circumstance’, the airline must provide you with additional services depending on the duration of your delay and waiting time.

“These additional services include free meals and refreshments, which you are entitled to if your flight is delayed by at least 2 hours. Passengers must also receive free overnight accommodation and transportation to and from the airport if the flight is rescheduled to the next day.

“If a tour operator has to cancel a package holiday for any reason, he is obliged to inform you as soon as possible and without undue delay. This is to ensure you have sufficient time to help you make alternative arrangements or request a refund.

“However, in the case of many people, due to the disruption, if you are at the airport when the flight is canceled, it is advisable to contact your travel organization immediately to discuss your options.

“If the delay is more than five hours, but is not actually cancelled, you should also be able to choose not to travel and get a full refund of your ticket.

“If your flight cannot be rearranged, resulting in the cancellation of your entire holiday, the tour operator should offer an alternative holiday if possible, or a refund of the full package price, not just the flight portion.”

What is the best option?

If you are wondering whether to claim a full refund or reschedule your holiday, this will depend on personal circumstances.

There are several factors to consider when making this decision: Amount refund – if the tour operator offers a full refund, this may be more financially attractive, especially if you are unsure about your future travel plans.

Availability – consider whether the dates offered to you by the tour operator are a suitable alternative date to your original trip. If the new dates do not fit your schedule, rescheduling may not be a viable option.

Change fees: Check to see if the tour operator will waive any change fees for rescheduling. Some operators may charge fees for changing travel dates, which may affect your decision.

Travel Insurance: If you have travel insurance, check your policy to see if it covers cancellations or changes due to unforeseen circumstances. This may affect your decision to reschedule or opt for a refund.

A spokesperson for Claims.co.uk added: “If you receive less than 14 days’ notice of cancellation, you can claim compensation. This can be awarded in pounds or euros depending on where your flight would depart from.”

The prices are according to the following scale:

• £220 / €250 for all flights of 1,500 km 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).