The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for next week meaning that people should expect travel disruptions.
Britain is bracing itself for snow, ice, strong winds, fog, and mist within weeks as Siberian winds sweep across Europe, bringing back the Beast from the East and sure to impact flight schedules. For people jet setting off into the sun, the cold weather could be a hinderance on their trip as quite often planes end up grounded thanks to snow and frost.
Hundreds of thousands of passengers likely to be affected by flight interruption this winter, but many are unaware of legal flight rights. Bott and Co, the UK’s leading flight delay compensation law firm, forecasts thousands of flight delays and cancellations across UK airports over the coming months but fears many passengers are still unaware about their rights to compensation.
READ MORE: Met Office issues rare amber cold weather alert with 'severe conditions'
Coby Benson, flight delay compensation solicitor at Bott and Co said: “It’s a common misconception that bad weather is always an extraordinary circumstance, which would stop the airlines having to pay compensation. However, delays caused by weather conditions that are not considered ‘freakish’ or ‘wholly exceptional’ are indeed covered by the regulation and many passengers could be owed compensation of up to £520 each.
"With a cold snap around the corner, passengers flying should be prepared for delays and cancellations and know their rights under EU Regulation 261/2004, which has been written into UK law, meaning Brexit doesn’t affect people’s legal entitlements."
For cancelled flights with more than 14 days’ notice, passengers are entitled by law to a full refund of the cost they paid for the flight or a replacement flight or comparable transport arrangements at the earliest available opportunity. They also have the option of a free flight at a later date if they no longer wish to travel. For flights cancelled within fourteen days of the departure, the same applies but passengers may also be eligible for compensation if the reason for the cancellation is not extraordinary.
Regardless of the reason for the hold up, if a flight is delayed between two and four hours airlines have a duty to provide passengers with adequate care and assistance. This includes food and drink vouchers as well as two telephone calls and emails. Passengers delayed overnight must be provided with accommodation, including transport there and back to the airport.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
READ NEXT:
Martin Lewis warns workers to look out for 'X' on payslip
Christine McGuinness swoons as 'dreams come true' in emotional update
Strictly Come Dancing contestants who are no longer with us
Correct way to make poached eggs with 'perfect every time' method
