Travel

Flights and ferries still suspended due to storm Ciara – here’s what to do if your trip is affected


STORM Ciara has battered the UK, resulting in travel chaos across the country following wind speeds up to 97mph.

Airports across the UK cancelled hundreds of flights and ferry crossings were also scrapped at the weekend with warnings of continued delays today.

 Ferry and flight passengers have faced severe disruption due to Storm Ciara

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Ferry and flight passengers have faced severe disruption due to Storm CiaraCredit: Bav Media

Travellers were forced to sleep on the floor of Gatwick Airport overnight after their flights were cancelled and Sun Online Travel reported earlier today that Ryanair passengers have been stranded in Brussels due to flight diversions.

Airlines operating to and from UK airports continue to be affected by the weather conditions.
British Airways and easyJet appeared to be the worst affected, although several other airlines were also hit.

By 11am, some 33 of Heathrow’s Monday departures were cancelled – equivalent to five per cent of flights – and a further 82 were delayed by at least 15 minutes.

 Passengers at Gatwick Airport have been left without flights due to the storm

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Passengers at Gatwick Airport have been left without flights due to the stormCredit: @DanielDryden3

British Airways said “safety is at the heart of everything we do” and stressed that the airline is “carefully assessing every flight”.
It added: “We are sorry for the disruption to your travel plans and are doing all we can to get you to your destination as quickly as we can.”
Passengers due to travel on domestic and European flights on Monday were able to re-book to an alternative date.
P&O Ferries has also been forced to cancel several sailings between Dover and Calais due to the knock-on effect of the weekend’s weather.

Brits with ferry or flight bookings are advised to check the travel situation before leaving home for any updates or disruption to schedules.

 Airlines operating to and from UK airports continue to be affected by the weather conditions

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Airlines operating to and from UK airports continue to be affected by the weather conditionsCredit: Getty – Contributor

Emma Grimster, spokeswoman at TravelSupermarket said: ““Remember, if you miss your flight due to road conditions or the failure of public transport to get you to the airport, this is your responsibility and the airlines are within their rights to charge you for a new flight.

“Missed flight cover in a good quality travel insurance policy will be able to help with this.”

We explain your rights on what to do if your flight or ferry service is cancelled due to bad weather and whether you can claim compensation.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled?

Passengers who have their flight cancelled due to extreme weather and are delayed more than two hours should be given food and drink by the airline.

Depending on the time of time and length of delay, the airline will also have to organise accommodation.

They must also put you on their next flight back to the same destination, although you may be able to fly with an alternative airline if it is sooner.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) explains: “If you still want to travel, your airline must find you an alternative flight.

“It’s up to you whether to fly as soon as possible after the cancelled flight, or at a later date that suits you.”

Will my insurance cover me if my flight was delayed?

If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.

Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.

Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.

If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance, with exclusions under “Acts of God” which includes bad weather or natural disasters.

However, you may get compensation if the delay is longer than 24 hours or you are not put on an alternative flight, according to Compare The Market.

“Although most airlines will book you onto another of their flights to the same destination, if an alternative airline is flying there significantly sooner then you may have the right to be booked onto that flight instead. You can discuss this with your airline.

“If you choose an alternative flight you are also entitled to care and assistance. This usually means food, drink, access to communications (this could be by refunding the reasonable cost of phone calls) and accommodation (if necessary).”

Can I claim compensation if my flight is cancelled due to bad weather?

Unfortunately, bad weather is deemed “extraordinary circumstance” by airlines – meaning it is out of their control – and therefore will not give compensation.

Other examples of this can include air traffic control strikes, while technical issues with the plane or airline staff strikes would be deemed worthy of compensation.

 Bad weather means most boat and ferry services are cancelled

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Bad weather means most boat and ferry services are cancelledCredit: AP:Associated Press

What are my rights if my ferry is cancelled?

Similar to flight cancellations, passengers must be given alternative accommodation as well as food and drink depending on the length of time delayed.

According to ABTA: “The Department for Transport suggests that reasonable refreshments for a delay of over four hours would be water or tea initially, with a snack or light meal.

“If the delay goes over eight hours, a hot meal should be provided.”

They also add: “Where a sailing is cancelled and an overnight stay becomes necessary, your ferry operator should offer you accommodation free of charge, if possible.”


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However, they explain that they may limit accommodation costs to €80 (approximately £66) per night per passenger for a maximum of three nights.”

This also may not be covered if the cancellation is due to bad weather conditions.

Can I claim compensation if my ferry is cancelled due to bad weather?

Compensation cannot be claimed due to extreme weather if it is cancelled due to the risk to the ship.

The maximum compensation which can be claimed in other circumstances is 50 per cent of the ticket price depending on the length of the trip and the length of the delay

‘Storm of the century’ Ciara sparks tornado alert, shuts M11 and grounds flights

A number of schools across the country have also been forced to close due to Storm Ciara.





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