Which? calls on airlines to extend flexibility over flight change fees
Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said:
“While more airlines are improving their cancellation terms and waiving flight change fees for new customers to encourage bookings, it’s disappointing that this is not being extended to customers with existing bookings who couldn’t have known how this outbreak would have an impact on their holidays.
“This lack of flexibility is inevitably going to lead to more cancellations from passengers too worried to travel – airlines should do right by their existing passengers and relax their policies so they can still fly at a later date.
“Until they do, we would remind passengers who do choose to cancel to make sure they claim the Air Passenger Duty back from the airline. This will usually be £13 on a short-haul flight to Europe and £78 for long-haul flights. Some airlines charge a fee to claim APD back, so check the amount you are claiming is more than the fee levied.”
-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
- Virgin Atlantic and BA have both announced they will waive flight change fees for new bookings amid concerns about travel during the coronavirus outbreak
Statement