Travel expert from Go.Compare comments on air traffic control disruption

Go.Compare’s travel insurance expert has commented on what flyers can do if their travel plans have been affected by the air traffic control issues, which have been impacting flights since Tuesday evening.

The problems, thought to be caused by a technical glitch, are affecting flights nationwide, having resulted in more than 1,700 cancelled flights on Tuesday.* Go.Compare’s travel expert has offered some tips on what flyers’ options are if their plans have been disrupted.

Rhys Jones, travel insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “If your flight has been delayed or cancelled due to the air traffic control issues over the last 24 hours, your first move should be to contact your airline. They have a duty of care to look after you, so they will have to provide you with alternative travel arrangements or accommodation if needed.

“This also applies if you’re stuck abroad and are waiting for a flight back to the UK. Your airline will likely offer you an alternative flight, other travel dates or potentially a refund, so it’s important to get in touch with them as soon as you can. They must also cover the cost of any food, drinks and phone calls you need to make because of the delays, as well as accommodation if you can’t get a flight on the same day. Make sure you record all the calls you make and keep all the receipts for any food or drinks you buy so that you can claim this back later.”

What if I’ve booked a package holiday?

Rhys continued: “If your flight was booked through a package holiday with a travel agent or tour operator, then your first port of call should be to get in touch with your provider. They should make alternative travel and accommodation arrangements for you, as your trip should be covered under ATOL or ABTA protection. You won’t have this type of protection if you booked your flights and accommodation separately.”

Can travel insurance help?

On how travel insurance can help in this situation, Rhys said: “Some travel insurance policies might cover these kinds of delays or cancellations, but the level of cover can vary depending on the length of the delay and the specific policy that you have taken out. For example, some policies cover delays of up to 12 hours while others only cover you if you have been delayed for 24 hours or more.

“Your travel insurance might not cover the cost of the cancelled flight ticket itself, but it will likely include protection for the costs caused by the cancellation, like missed connections. This will depend on the compensation from your airline though, as they should refund the flight costs and insurers tend not to payout for costs you can recover from elsewhere.

“There are lots of rules and regulations in place to ensure you’re protected in situations like this, so while you might be facing long delays as a result of the fault, you shouldn’t lose out financially.”

More information on protection against travel disruption can be found on Go.Compare’s website: https://www.gocompare.com/travel-insurance/guide/travel-disruption-cover/.