EasyJet cancels all package holidays to France – but flights will continue
EASYJET has cancelled all package holidays to France until the end of August after the country was placed on the UK quarantine list.
Flights will continue, however, although passengers can move them to a different date for free.
The decision to cancel all holidays follows the last minute announcement made by the UK government to place France on the UK travel ban list.
From 4am on August 15, Brits will be forced to quarantine for two weeks when returning to the UK, and all non-essential is advised against – ending any plans for holidays this summer.
The country was removed from the UK air bridge list after cases of coronavirus continued to climb. France has 209,365 overall infections and 30,388 deaths.
An easyJet spokesperson said: “We heard the news from the government on Malta, France and the Netherlands being added to the travel quarantine list and the FCO advice changing to all but essential travel for these countries at the same time as everyone else.
“Despite another late night announcement, we were able to contact our affected customers very soon afterwards to let them know we have cancelled their holiday and will be processing full refunds as quickly as possible.
“Our holidays to these destinations are currently cancelled up to the end of August.”
“For anyone with bookings beyond this date we’ll keep this under review but customers with holidays booked to these destinations in September can also choose to cancel their holiday and receive credit on their online easyJet holidays account for a future holiday with us without incurring any fees.
“We really feel for our customers who were looking forward to a well-deserved holiday.”
However, flights will continue, with a spokesperson adding to Sun Online Travel: “We plan to operate our full schedule in the coming days.
“Customers who no longer wish to travel can transfer their flights without a change fee or receive a voucher for the value of the booking.
“Should any flights be cancelled for later in August customers will be notified and informed of their options which includes transferring to an alternative flight free of charge, receiving a voucher or applying for a refund via a webform on our dedicated Covid Help Hub at easyJet.com.”
What are your rights for a refund?
Firstly, speak to your airline or holiday firm about a refund or rearranging your plans.
You are entitled to a cash refund if they’ve cancelled your holiday but many have large delays or may offer vouchers instead.
If the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises against all but essential travel to countries or regions, you may also be covered for cancellations by your travel insurance if the holiday provider or airline is not helping you.
Keep in mind the travel insurance must have been taken out before the FCO advice changed, otherwise you won’t be covered.
If you don’t have travel insurance, you may be able to claim your money back through your credit or debit card provider.
Credit card payments between £100 and £30,000 are covered under Section 75 of the Consumer Rights Act.
Debit card claims or credit card claims of under £100 may be covered under similar Chargeback guarantees.
Some 400,000 holidaymakers have trips booked to the country, while 500,000 Brits currently in France have until tomorrow to get home before the quarantine rules.
Seats on a British Airways flight from Paris’ Charles De Gaulle airport to Heathrow quadrupled in price – from £100 to £407 – after the Government’s announcement.
Brits with separate flights and hotels booked are likely to lose out on the total cost of trips unless airlines and hotel providers cancel holidays.
If flights continue and hotels remain open, it will be hard for holidaymakers to claim refunds as technically providers are still giving you the service you paid for.
Meanwhile, with package holidays, FCO advice should mean you are due a full cash refund but as seen with Spain, some tour operators have refused to cancel trips making it difficult for people to claim a refund.
Malta and the Netherlands have also been added to the UK quarantine list from tomorrow along with France, as has Monaco, Aruba and the Turks and Caicos.
Boris Johnson said earlier this week that he had to be “absolutely ruthless” over imposing the travel rules, “even with our closest and dearest friends and partners”.
The PM added: “I think everybody understands that. We can’t be remotely complacent about our own situation.”