Vacationers are looking for a mix of dread and excitement over the Easter weekend as airport delays continue. Many flights were canceled and families lost their holidays despite arriving at the airports where they had plenty of time.
More than 100 scheduled flights from the UK were canceled on Wednesday. British Airways canceled at least 78 flights from Heathrow and easyJet canceled at least 30 flights from Gatwick.
People hoping to make the most of lax Covid travel rules are hurting their flights as the airline industry grapples with a coronavirus-related illness and a shortage of workers following job cuts during the pandemic. EasyJet’s employee absenteeism rate is doubly normal.
The situation could get worse this weekend as airports are used by travelers returning from a trip in the first week of vacation and those traveling in the second week of the school vacation. Some Easter holidays only start next Monday.
Manchester Airport was badly damaged when its chief executive Karen Smart resigned on Tuesday after passenger delays. Passengers have also reported long queues at Heathrow and Birmingham airports.
Why is there so much delay?
Airports are grappling with staff shortages and surging demand as many families travel abroad for the Easter school holiday, the first since the UK’s joint restrictions on international travel were lifted.
What is being done to reduce the impact on passengers?
To minimize the impact on passengers, most cancellations occur at least one day in advance with multiple daily flights on the routes, so that passengers can be offered alternative departures.
British Airways said many of the cancellations include canceling flights as part of a plan to scale back its decision last month by the end of May. This was done to increase credibility due to the rise in Covid-19 cases.
A previous statement from Manchester Airport said: “As we continue to recover from the pandemic and passenger numbers increase, security queues can sometimes be longer than usual. If you are planning to travel in the next few weeks, please arrive at the address as soon as your airline allows. We apologize to our customers for the delay.”
What do people carry?
Travelers face significant delays and chaotic scenes, queues outside stations to reach check-in counters, and throngs of people wait to pass through security and collect their bags.
A pile of bags was left at stations after passengers left the waiting room to return their bags and went home in return.
What to do if your flight is delayed or canceled during the Easter chaos
When can I get compensation?
The good news is that airlines are obligated to cancel if your plane is delayed or canceled due to their fault; The bad news is that it depends on where you’re going or where and to whom the plane belongs to. If the delay is due to you leaving the UK, you are covered. But if there is a problem at the response stage, you won’t get help unless you’re flying with a UK or EU airline. All of the following information refers to these two cases.
For any travel undertaken by an airline outside the EU to a destination outside the UK, you must check with a separate airline.
What are you entitled to after a few hours?
Most airlines offer food and beverage vouchers that you need to redeem at the airport, along with access to phone calls and emails if you’re abroad. For short trips (less than 1500 km), the delay should be more than 2 hours; three hours for the average flight (1500 km – 3500 km); The long distance (more than 3,500 km) is four hours. But don’t expect to go crazy – the money usually covers only the bare minimum.
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What are you entitled to after a long delay?
For long flight delays, you may need hotel accommodation (if your flight is rescheduled for the next day) and, in some cases, vouchers for future use. Again, the amount will depend on the flight delay and distance.
If your flight is more than five hours late, you can decide to cancel it and get a full refund, plus any other part of the flight you may not be able to afford. Alternatively, you can claim up to 20520 compensation if the airline is at fault.
What happens if the flight is cancelled?
In this case, you can request a full refund or you can ask the airline to book an alternative flight to reach your destination. Legally, you can also claim compensation if your alternative flight arrives more than two hours later than originally planned or if you are advised of a cancellation time of less than 14 days. In as little as seven days, you are entitled to £110 to £20,520.
How to file a complaint
First of all, contact your airline. If you don’t understand the answer, check if the airline is a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) panel. You can also report the case to the Civil Aviation Authority (caa.co.uk). It’s also worth checking your travel insurance to see if you’re covered. Other useful bodies include Citizens Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk)
Pay attention to God’s works
Unfortunately, if weather conditions or natural disasters are the cause of the delay or cancellation, it will be impossible to claim the airline. Instead, check the terms of your insurance policy.
Advice
If you’re traveling on a multi-hop flight with multiple airlines per leg, make sure all flights are included in the same shield. Claiming compensation will be easier if part of your flight is delayed.
Source: Belfastlive
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
