With the arrival of a half-year holiday on February 16th, many British families want to finalise plans for the winter sun escape.
However, when Faced with cancellations or delays in flight, the stress of destroying your travel plans can weaken your mood and make it difficult to know where to head For help.
Kelly Johnstone, tourism expert at Avanti Travel Insurance, offers some important advice to help travelers make the most of their rights and minimize inconvenience in times of confusion .
Understanding the correct procedures to take early can make all the difference in reducing stress and ensuring compensation.
“When you face travel disruptions, the first calling port should be to contact your holiday provider,” she advised. “Travel providers such as airlines and cruise lines should provide you with the opportunity to refund or change your travel date if you cancel your booking.”
This important first step will help travelers begin the rebooking or compensation process before any other issues arise.
Johnston also suggested that travelers whose plans have changed due to delays should renew their travel insurance policy.
Avanti Travel Insurance warned that if tourists get injured abroad on a date while insurance is not covered, tourists could face costly fees.
“If they get injured abroad on an uncovered day, tourists who fall abroad will have to pay for treatment,” the company explained.
To avoid this, it is essential to renew your travel insurance when changing your travel date.
Additionally, insurance can help travelers secure coverage for future delays, and many businesses offer a fixed amount for every hour when flights are delayed.
“If your flight is 'significantly late', your airline needs to provide you with attention and support,” Johnston explained.
“The type of support and compensation you receive will depend on your waiting time and how far you travel.”
Due to delays of more than three hours, the airline must provide assistance, such as food and drink vouchers and, in some cases, overnight accommodation and transportation.
Johnstone recommended that travelers check the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) website to see if they qualify for compensation or assistance.
“You can easily check the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) website to see if you qualify for support or compensation,” she added.
In most cases, airlines will need to provide compensation if flights are delayed for more than three hours, ensuring that travelers have the resources they need to deal with the disruption.
By taking the right steps, knowing where to turn first, travelers can ensure that delays and cancellations don't ruin their travel and financial plans.
