In the midst of the fifth wave of Covid-19, while the Omicron variant has made a sensational arrival on our soil, many countries including France are once again increasing travel restrictions.
And since Christmas weekend, tens of thousands of flights have been canceled across the world.
Whether related to Covid-19 or not, here are the answers to the main questions you have about canceling your ticket, whether it's a dry flight (booked separately) or a trip to package (flight + accommodation, generally booked through an agency or tour operator).
Read alsoPlane, hotel, stay ... Who to contact if my trip goes badly?
Cancellation of a ticket (dry flights) at the initiative of the traveler
Little chance in this case of being reimbursed and the cancellation of the flight will be at your expense. However, you can still obtain, directly via the airline's website, the reimbursement of two airport taxes (QW and QX). For the rest, it's more complicated and it depends on the fare conditions of your ticket.
Light, standard
or
flex:
at Air France, for example, only the last case allows cancellation with automatic reimbursement. At least in absolute terms: all Air France tickets are currently modifiable and refundable free of charge and without proof until the day of departure, for all tickets purchased before February 1, 2022 for travel before June 30, 2022. Conversely, at Air France's low-cost little sister, Transavia, tickets are never refundable in the event of cancellation by the passenger. Reread the general conditions of sale of your ticket carefully and do not forget to also check any travel insurance that may have been taken out and the insurance offered by your bank card.
Note: since the start of the pandemic, the vast majority of airlines have implemented more flexible pricing measures, accepting flight cancellations and / or postponements at the initiative of the traveler in the event of a Covid-related reason. .
For example, in the event of a travel ban due to a positive test, confinement or quarantine restrictions, EasyJet offers reimbursement of the ticket until December 31, 2022.
Cancellation of a ticket (dry flight) at the initiative of the company
With the pandemic waves, airline-initiated cancellations have become commonplace. Article 8 of European regulation n ° 261/2004 is clear and indicates that in the event of cancellation of a flight by the airline, the passenger has the right to a refund of the ticket within 7 days. A rule slightly modified, however, by the health crisis: since May 13, 2020, the European Commission has allowed carriers to offer a credit note, which it is possible to refuse and which is in any case refundable after 12 months if it has not been used. This rule only applies for flights canceled since March 1, 2020 due to Covid. Good to know: the National Institute of Consumer Affairs has drafted a standard letter requesting reimbursement of credit notes.
Read also Here is how to check the reliability of an airline
What about the
no show
?
An alarm clock failure, a passport problem, a taxi stuck in traffic jams… This nightmare for the traveler has a name: the no show
,
literally not showing up for boarding.
And the general rule is simple: you cannot be reimbursed for your ticket if you miss the flight through your fault.
At best, the airline will offer you an alternative, for a fee and the price difference of the new ticket.
At worst, you will have to request reimbursement of airport taxes, and check if you have taken out insurance that covers this risk.
Also read Do you have a plane or train ticket?
How to avoid the “no show” trap
What about a package trip (flight + accommodation)?
In the case of booking a package combining at least two different types of services in the same trip (transport, accommodation, car rental, tours, etc.) the situation is simple.
If the travel agency (or the booking site) cancels your stay, it is obligated to refund all payments to you within 14 days.
If you wish to cancel your trip of your own free will, you will not pay any costs and will be reimbursed within 14 days under two conditions provided for by the Tourism Code: if "exceptional and unavoidable" circumstances (bad weather, epidemic, terrorist attacks, etc.) occur on site or near your place of destination and if these have consequences for the performance of the planned contract.
What should I do if the borders of my country of stay are suddenly closed?
Hurricane, terrorist attack or epidemic… As in Morocco these past few days, the sudden closure of borders or deterioration of the situation there can also turn into a puzzle.
In the event of a package trip, it is up to your agency to take care of your repatriation.
If you had to organize your return yourself, request a refund.
If you buy a dry flight on your own, it's up to you to find and pay for a return flight, with the help of the company.
This can often turn into a nightmare, like French tourists trying to return from Morocco after the announcement of the suspension of flights on Monday, November 29.
In this case, Air France has set up additional emergency flights.
In more extreme cases, as in Ethiopia recently, the French state has organized returns via charter flights.
Doubt or litigation: who to turn to?
If the situation gets worse, in addition to the help provided by consumer associations, many solutions are available to you.
Starting with the very useful dedicated page on the website for consumer protection in Europe.
Numerous companies have also been created in recent years (AirHelp, Air indemnité, Flightright, etc.) to deal with requests for reimbursement or even compensation for the traveler, of course for a commission.
Finally, it is possible to contact a mediator via the Tourism and Travel Mediation.
Read alsoHoldings, plane tickets ... the number of referrals to the Tourism Mediator jumped "by 150%"
The main thing to remember
In these troubled times for the world of tourism, it is better to ensure your back.
In general, the tickets with the most flexible conditions are the most secure, but also, of course, the most expensive.
In general, too, regular airlines always offer better reimbursement conditions than their low-cost counterparts.
Travel insurance, or even Covid-19 insurance, will always be a plus.
Finally, going through a travel agency, physical or online, will be a pledge of serenity to modify or cancel your trip without unpleasant surprises.
Published in December 2021, this article is regularly updated
