The people of Bristol have awoken this morning to a white sheet of snow settled on the ground, along with ice in places. And with the snow still falling at time of writing, it is no surprise that Bristol Airport has cancelled or delayed all of its flights this morning.
On its website, the airport, which caters to people from across the South West of England and beyond, is displaying a notification which reads: "Bristol Airport is temporarily closed this morning for snow clearance operations which will continue until 11am. Passengers are advised to check with their airline prior to making their way to the airport, as some airlines have made proactive cancellations to their flight programme for the remainder of the day."
This information was later changed at 10:45am to read: "Bristol Airport is now open and operational but disruption across airline networks has resulted in some ongoing flight disruption. For the latest flight information, please check with your airline."
So if you were planning to fly out from Bristol Airport today, but have discovered that your trip is now delayed or your flight is cancelled completely, what do you do next? We've compiled some information to help you understand just what your rights are if your Bristol flight has been delayed or cancelled due to the weather...
READ MORE: Live: Flights grounded at Bristol Airport amid snow and icy conditions
EasyJet
You can stay up to date on the status of your easyJet flight with real-time information using the Flight Tracker which can also be accessed on the easyJet mobile app. You can also head to the easyJet website and use the message button in the bottom right hand corner of the window to ask the airline's helper bot for information.
EasyJet also has a page dedicated to your rights in the event of flight delays, cancellations and denied boarding.
Delayed flights
When it comes to delayed flights, this is what easyJet's terms and conditions say: "When easyJet reasonably expects a flight to be delayed beyond its scheduled departure time for at least two hours in cases of flights of 1500 km or less, or for at least three hours in cases of all flights within Europe of more than 1500 km, and of all other flights between 1500 km and 3500 km, or for at least four hours for flights greater than 3500km, you will be entitled to some of the rights set out in section 3(a) and (c)."
Section 3a and c relate to 'Right to Care', in particular the right to "meals and refreshments in reasonable relation to the waiting time" and "two telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or emails". It goes on to say: "If your flight is delayed by at least five hours, you will be entitled to reimbursement of that flight should you choose not to fly as set out in section 2a" (reimbursement of the cancelled flight).
"If your flight is delayed to the day after the original flight departure time, you will be entitled to the rights under section 3b (hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and the hotel, where a stay of one or more nights becomes necessary) and c" (two telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or emails).
"In the event that your flight is delayed by more than three hours from its scheduled arrival time, you will be entitled to the rights in section one (Right to Compensation), except where the delay is due to extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken, which may include (but not limited to) air traffic control, weather, civil unrest, terrorist alerts and security alerts, industrial action and unexpected flight safety shortcomings."
Cancelled flights
If your flight is cancelled, you may be entitled to the rights set out in sections two and three (Right to reimbursement or re-routing and Right to care). You may also be entitled to compensation except when:
- You are informed of the cancellation at least 2 weeks before the scheduled departure time; or
- You are informed of the cancellation between 2 weeks and 7 days before the scheduled departure time and are offered re-routing, allowing you to depart no more than 2 hours before the scheduled departure time and to reach your final destination less than 4 hours after the scheduled arrival time; or
- You are informed of the cancellation less than 7 days before the scheduled departure time and are offered re-routing, allowing you to depart no more than 1 hour before the scheduled departure time and to reach your final destination less than 2 hours after the scheduled arrival time; or
- The cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken, which may include (but not limited to) air traffic control, weather, civil unrest, terrorist alerts and security alerts, strike action and unexpected flight safety shortcomings.
Right to compensation
EasyJet states that you may be entitled to the following compensation if your flight has been cancelled, delayed so you arrive at least three hours after the original scheduled arrival time, or if you have been denied boarding involuntarily:
- £220 / €250 for flights of 1500 km or less;
- £350 / €400 for flights within Europe of more than 1500 km, and all other flights between 1500 and 3500 km;
- £520 / €600 for all other flights of 3500km or more.
Please note that the compensation will be reduced by 50% if easyJet is able to offer you re-routing on an alternative flight to your final destination, provided that you arrive:
- within 2 hours of your original flight arrival time, in respect of flights of 1500 km or less;
- within 3 hours of your original flight arrival time for all flights between 1500 and 3500km provided you are flying in Europe; or
- within 4 hours of your original flight arrival time for any other flights.
Please note that compensation is only payable where the cause of the delay or cancellation is for reasons other than extraordinary circumstances. The easyJet team will review relevant records to confirm your entitlements. Please go to www.easyJet.com/en/help/boarding-and-flying/delays-and-cancellations for more information.
Jet2
Jet2's guidance today says: "We wanted to let you know that all airports may be busier than usual today due to adverse weather conditions. Please allow extra time for check in and security procedures at the airport.
"Latest flight information is also available by entering your flight number here. Please go straight to security once you have checked in.
"To make sure you're prepared, please check the departure screens for your departure and gate number updates and allow extra time for passport control. We hope that you have a great flight with us."
You can find all of Jet2's terms and conditions, including those regarding delays, cancellations and re-routing, as well as how to make a compensation claim, on its terms page here. This is what Jet2 says: "The time of flight departures and the duration of flights are not guaranteed.
"For operational, commercial, safety, security, medical or health reasons, travel restrictions or any reason connected to COVID-19 (either directly or indirectly) or because of unusual or unforeseen and/or extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided by us by taking reasonable measures (including without limitation bad weather, air traffic control restrictions, strikes, volcanic eruptions or ash clouds, aircraft inspection required due to bird strike or other foreign object damage, unexpected flight safety shortcomings, passenger or crew sickness, potential health hazards, COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions, war/political instability, airspace closure or because of actual or prospective loss or restriction of air traffic rights available to UK airlines as a result of implementation of the UK’s decision to leave the EU) we may cancel, terminate, divert, re-route, postpone or delay any flight or cease operations on any route without liability to you for any compensation or damages due to loss or damage you may suffer as a result of such flight cancellation, amendment or delay.
"If we decide to cancel, terminate, divert, re-route, postpone or delay your flight, or cease operations on the route your flight forms part of, after your itinerary/receipt has been issued and this is known to us more than 48 hours in advance, we will try to notify you of such change using the email address you advised at the time of booking. You must therefore regularly check your email account and notify us if you change your email address.
"If we receive an email failure notice or no email address has been provided, we will send notification to the advised postal address. The lead name in the booking is responsible for notifying any changes to all other passengers in the booking.
"Where you have been notified by us in advance (to the contact details provided in the booking) of any change to your booking, we will not be liable for any missed departure by anyone in the booking. Except as provided for by law, including where applicable, Regulation (EC) 261/2004 (or UK law equivalent) the price paid for the booked flight(s) is non-refundable including any taxes, fees or charges which may have been collected in respect of such flights.
"We strongly recommend all passengers travelling put in place appropriate personal travel insurance from the date of booking. Jet2.com offers personal travel insurance to cover you whilst on your holiday and also cancellation cover should you be unable to travel. Customers can purchase a policy on-line via the link on the “Travel Extras” page on our website or by visiting www.jet2insurance.com."
Ryanair
Ryanair's guidance states that if your flight has been cancelled, you will be notified as soon as possible by email and/or text message to the email address and/or phone number provided at time of booking. You can also find more information about cancelled flights on the Ryanair website, like here on the 'Live flight info' page.
If your flight is cancelled, Ryanair states that there are two options available to you to choose from - you can either apply for a refund or change your cancelled flight for free. If you wish to claim a full refund for the cancelled flight, click on this link, to log into your MyRyanair account and follow the steps for a refund.
Refunds will be processed, within five working days, back to the form of payment used for the original booking. You can also change your cancelled flight (subject to seat availability) online by clicking this link to access your MyRyanair account and changing your flight for free.
Ryanair adds that the rules for re-routing are as follows:
- Ryanair will first try to accommodate you on the next available flight on the same route. If there are no available flights on the same or next day then Ryanair will assess flights from/to other airports within the same country
- If Ryanair are unable to re-book you on an alternative flight on the same or next day, then it will review other transport options. In order to assist you in reaching your final destination, Ryanair will review "comparable transport alternatives" including train, bus, airline or car hire.
You can find out more about Ryanair flight cancellations here. If you're flight isn't cancelled but has been delayed by two hours, you will be offered the re-routing option with assistance of airport or contact centre staff.
If your flight is delayed by five hours or more, you will be offered the option to re-route or to request a refund. You'll be notified of flight delays in the same way you would a cancellation, and you can also use the live flight information tools to keep up to date, in case you still wish to use your flight.
You can apply for a refund with Ryanair, here. However, it is worth noting that if you chose to make alternative transport arrangements i.e. car hire, trains, ferries etc. these are not covered under EU261 and therefore expense claims should be directed to your travel insurance company.
If your delayed flight leads you to decide to be re-routed on the next available flight to your final destination, or if your flight has been delayed overnight, the following expenses are covered by Ryanair:
- Meals and Refreshments in reasonable relation to the waiting time;
- Two telephone calls, fax messages or e-mails;
- Reasonable hotel accommodation where a stay of one or more nights becomes necessary;
- Reasonable transport between the airport and place of accommodation (hotel or other)
- Customers who wish to submit a travel/transport/refreshments expense claim or EU261 disruption compensation following a flight cancellation or delay over 3 hours on arrival - Click here to access our online expenses claim form
TUI
Delays
TUI's guidance says: "Depending on the length and circumstance of your flight delay, you might be able to claim under the EU flight delay compensation legislation EC261. You may be eligible for compensation if your flight's delayed over three hours.
"The delay duration’s calculated on the time that one of the aircraft doors is opened at your scheduled destination airport. But, not all flights delayed over three hours are eligible – it depends on the circumstance of the delay.
"If it’s caused by ‘extraordinary’ circumstances – think bad weather or an air traffic control strike – and the airline has taken ‘all reasonable measures’ to reduce the delay, then you won’t be entitled to compensation. If you’re eligible for flight delay compensation, the amount you’re due will depend on the length of your delay and the flight distance, as the crow flies – see the table via this link."
You can find out more on TUI's website, here.
Have you been affected by today's adverse weather? Or had a flight cancelled or delayed? Share your story with us in the comments below.
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