PASSENGERS flying to Italy have slammed easyJet and Ryanair for not offering to change or refund their flights amid the coronavirus.
The country has locked down 10 regions after cases of the virus soared to 152, with three people dead.
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However, as there is no official warning from the government regarding Italy being unsafe for travel, airlines are refusing to allow passengers free changes or refunds to their flights.
Instead, passengers are being told they will be forced to pay for referral frees or simply not fly – with no refunds offered.
Concerned travellers took to social media for advice on what to do, with many areas such as Venice and Milan affected by closures.
Jade wrote: “Don’t think it’s much to ask for some common sense to be applied by airlines when it comes to passenger concerns surrounding #coronavirus. A little bit of leeway when it comes to being able to reroute/change flights without a fee would be helpful. @Ryanair I’m looking at you.”
Rachel said to easyJet: “I think its appalling you are not refunding flights to Milan this week. The Coronavirus has spread and already claimed lives and you would rather my partner and I fly there and potentially get it than refund us.”
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Another person added: “easyJet cares more for its profit than anyone’s health. They’d rather carry another super spreader than to lose any penny.”
Lowrie also complained: “How are you still flying when Venice is under quarantine ?!?! Please respond this is a money making scheme.”
Sara agreed, tweeting: “Venice and all the areas nearby are in lockdown for the #coronavirus and we had to cancel our flight. But only taxes were refunded! Just ridiculous. Are you pushing for people to travel in not safe areas?”
Others were concerned for their health: “I’ve just been on webchat with them and got told that there would be no refund if we chose to cancel!
“I’m due to fly to Venice next week and already being of poor health at the moment it’s obviously not top of my list to fly somewhere with a major infectious disease.”
Some airlines are allowing passengers refunds to Italy – Greek airline Aegean Airlines is not cancelling flights, but will allow passengers full refunds if they no longer want to fly.
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A number of airlines have cancelled flights to China due to coronavirus, but are unlikely to do the same to Italy until the UK Foreign Office update their travel advice.
To change a Ryanair flight, fees range from £35 to £95 depending on when and where the flight is going, while easyJet costs range from £25 to £52 – as well as the fare difference for the new flight.
Neither airline allow full ticket refunds, and travel insurance is unlikely to help either.
A Telegraph report claims that just nine per cent of travel insurance policies will pay out for coronavirus cancellations.
An easyJet spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: “We are aware that the Italian authorities are taking some additional measures in response to cases of coronavirus in the country.
“There is currently no change to advice for airlines or customers, so our flights are operating as normal and standard terms and conditions on tickets continue to apply.
“We would like to reassure customers that our existing policies and procedures are in line with the guidance provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and EASA. We remain in regular contact with the authorities and will amend our procedures if and when required if guidance changes.
“The health and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is the airline’s highest priority.”
We’ve explained what the latest travel advice if travelling to Italy, with Milan and Venice affected.
The Canary Islands is also suffering from a huge Saharan sand cloud, leaving hundreds without flights.
Sun Online Travel contacted Ryanair for comment.
