THOUSANDS of Brits have been left stranded abroad as flights are grounded due to Storm Dennis.
At least 50,000 holidaymakers have had their travel plans disrupted as EasyJet, BA and Iberia have all cancelled flights.
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EasyJet customers in particular are struggling, with travellers tweeting that they’ve been abandoned at airports with nowhere to stay overnight.
Network Rail has also warned it’s braced for another weekend of disruption to its services.
If your holiday has been put on hold or you’ve been stranded abroad, here’s your rights including how to get a refund, whether your airline has to pay for a hotel room and if you can get compensation.
Can I get a refund if my flight is cancelled following Storm Dennis?
When a flight is due to depart from an EU airport, regardless of the airline, or where an EU airline is due to land at an EU airport you are covered by EU flight delay and cancellation rules.
This still applies to British travellers for now, even after Brexit.
When your flight is cancelled, you’re entitled to an alternative flight or a full refund – including a refund for the return leg.
If you opt for an alternative flight it’s up to you whether to fly as soon as possible after the cancelled flight or at a later date.
If you opt for a later flight, you are also entitled to care and assistance.
This usually means food, drink, access to communication – for example this could be by refunding the reasonable cost of phone calls – and accommodation if you have to stay overnight.
Your airline may give you a voucher for this in the airport.
If you’re unable to contact your airline, you may need to pay for accommodation yourself, you can claim the cash later, just make sure you keep the receipts.
If you were due to travel outside the EU, contact your airline as what you’re entitled to will vary.
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Can I get a refund if my flight is delayed by Storm Dennis?
If your flight has been delayed for more than five hours and it’s an EU flight, then you are entitled to a refund if you no longer wish to travel.
You will also get a refund for any unused parts of your booking – for example the return flight – and a flight back to your departure airport if you’ve already completed part of your journey.
If you opt for this, just keep in mind that you’ll generally no longer be entitled to any further care and assistance.
Can I get compensation if my flight is delayed or cancelled by Storm Dennis?
Generally, you don’t have a right to claim additional compensation if the cause of the delay or cancellation is bad weather, such as with Storm Dennis.
But there are a few cases where you may wish to pursue a claim.
For example, if you are told you can’t fly due to Storm Dennis but other flights are departing then you may want to raise this with the airline.
The airline doesn’t have to compensate you if you’re told about a delay or cancellation at least two weeks in advance.
It also doesn’t have to provide compensation if flights are cancelled and rerouted between one and two weeks of the day you’re supposed to leave or it gets you to your destination no more than four hours late.
If the delay is the airline’s fault, you can get up to £508 (€600) in compensation if you arrive at your destination more than four hours late.
Can I claim on travel insurance?
Flight delays and cancellations may be covered by your travel insurance – as well as associated costs, such as transport and accommodation.
But before submitting a claim, double check the excess fee because it will eat into any refund you get.
Can I get compensation if my train is delayed or cancelled by Storm Dennis?
You may be able to get compensation for train journeys that have been delayed or cancelled by severe weather, but you’ll need to apply as you won’t get it automatically.
Most train companies have adopted “Delay Repay”, a national scheme used to compensate you for unexpected delays even if you are a weekly, monthly or season ticket holder – and sometimes this includes bad weather.
Passengers are entitled to compensation each for any delay of 30 minutes or more, while season ticket holders need to submit claims for compensation for delays on specific trains.
You will need to apply for compensation from the rail company directly and how much you are entitled to varies with different companies.
Although generally, you’ll get a full refund of the cost of a single journey if you’re delayed by 60-119 minutes.
You’ll get a full refund on a return journey if you’re delayed even further.
You can find out details from different rail companies on the National Rail website.
Brits are braced for blizzards, eight inches of snow and 60mph gales to batter the country today after Storm Ciara has left a trial of destruction.
Met Office forecasters have issued severe warnings for snow, gales and ice.
Meanwhile, this is the shocking moment a child is blown into the road as parents take kids for a stroll in the 97mph storm.
