Hundreds of thousands of passengers were caught in major interruptions at Heathrow Airport after a night fire in an electric substation caused cancellations of mass flight.
Throughout much of Friday, travelers were advised not to go to heathrow unless they are guided by their airline. On Friday afternoon, the airport said some flights would resume that evening, but did not expect to be fully operational until Saturday morning.
For those who cling to chaos, here’s what you need to know.
Can I request compensation?
Despite flight cancellations, consumer experts warn that compensation from your airline for disruption to travel plans is not likely.
“If your flight is canceled, you will not be eligible for compensation, as these events will be considered an extraordinary circumstance,” said Rory Boland, whose editor? Travel magazine.
“But you will have the right to help from your airline, including overnight accommodation if needed.”
Should I choose a refund or reassessment return?
The affected passengers will have the choice of reassessment, or accept a refund. “If you set the first, your airline is forced to take you on a new flight as soon as possible, including with rivals from alternative airports,” Boland said.
“If instead of accepting a refund, be aware that your airline will have no further task to take care of you and you will need to make your arrangements,” he added. Citizens’ councils say you should get the refund within seven days from the date of the flight after you have claimed.
British Airways told affected clients on Friday to use his online “Manage My Reservation” option to reprint their flight, rather than call centers, due to high volumes of questions.
According to the Expedia travel agent, many airlines have issued waiver for closing -affected flights, allowing clients to make booking changes that would normally undergo fees or fines.
“Some (airlines) allow cancellations, while others only allow date changes within a specified time period,” Expedia said. “A good first step is to visit the airline website for the acceptability of waiver. We are also working closely with our airline partners to honor all applicable lifts.”
What about the other costs I do?
Given the degree of disruption, the other issue will face passengers is the duration of the time it may need to be booked on an alternative flight, and the costs they suffer while waiting.
Mike, 36, does not have a home to return to London as he had to move to New York for work on Friday.
“I would fly to JFK this morning, and then obviously was canceled, so I’m just waiting for British Airways now to tell me when I’m flying,” he told FT.
The food and drink dealer said he was not happy with the bid to reserve it on an indirect flight through Miami on Sunday instead: a 20-hour trip.
Reversed airline passengers have the right to require additional “reasonable” costs, such as hotel accommodation at night if there are no alternative flights, and travel costs if they are flying to another airport.
However, airlines will wait for plaintiffs to secure bills. In previous large -scale incidents, some airlines have encouraged affected passengers to claim through their travel.
“If your airline refuses to lead you to the destination your flight was booked to ‘earlier options’, you are within your rights to reserve a flight you want and pretend (cost) back,” Boland said, though some airlines make it a long process to claim this back, and often discuss it.
“I would do this only if the airline would say it would only come to me on their next flight available within two or three days, or if I had a really urgent reason to reach my destination,” he said.
Will my travel insurance cover?
It is worth checking your travel insurance conditions to see if you can recover any other expense incurred as a result of this incident, such as renting cars or airport parking fees – although traveling policies are not included as standards, so you may still be hitting for these.
Customers receiving aviva travel insurance are entitled to a late £ 25 launch benefit for any 12 -hour delay (up to £ 250 per person) or up to £ 5,000 per person for unused persons and accommodation costs already paid – but only if their travel provider was unable to provide appropriate alternative agreements and seize their travel.
Aviva added that clients stuck abroad, who intended to search for additional accommodation costs should ensure that these are of a standard similar to their previous accommodation, and should keep the bills.
What about my credit card provider?
By the UK law, if you make a credit card booking, costing between £ 100 and 30,000, and the provider fails to submit or has a contract breach, your credit provider is jointly responsible with the supplier. You can bypass the airline and submit a direct request to your bank application, along with bills and support tests – such as cancellation photos. If it does not work, you can escalate the demand for financial ombudsman.
Are you touched by Heathrow’s division? By email para@ft.com
