Are Jet2, Ryanair and easyJet cancelling and refunding flights to Croatia due to new quarantine rules?
HOLIDAYS to Croatia have been thrown into jeopardy after the government imposed new quarantine rules.
We explain what this means if you’ve got a trip booked with Jet2, Ryanair, easyJet or British Airways.
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The new travel rules mean anyone returning to the UK from Croatia will now have to self-isolate for two weeks, starting from 4am tomorrow.
This also applies to travellers coming back from Austria and Trinidad and Tobago.
It follows similar bans on all non-essential travel to France, Spain, Andorra, Belgium and the Bahamas due to rising coronavirus cases.
The shake-up has left many passengers no longer wanting to fly.
Generally speaking, you’ll be entitled to a refund if your airline cancels your flight or package holiday but if your tip is still going ahead, you may struggle to get your money back.
Here’s what it means for you, and what options are available to you, if you booked directly with an airline.
If you booked via a third party, you should contact them directly in the first instance.
Your travel questions answered
LOOK below for more answers to your travel questions:
Q: I had a package holiday booked – will I have to lose the money if I can’t quarantine on my return?
A: Anyone who has booked has the right to amend their booking or get a refund. You may lose at least part of the cost of your holiday if you have booked with certain travel agents – many online – who packaged up flights and accommodation. Many airlines are continuing to operate flights, even if a country is added to the quarantine list so agents are unable to get a refund on the flight part of your booking.
Contact your travel company or agent and ask what your options are. If you have insurance in place that was taken out before the pandemic there may be some chance of claiming on that if the country you are travelling to is also added to the Foreign & Commonwealth list of countries where they are advising against all but essential travel.
Q: I have flights booked but we’ll now need to quarantine on our return – can I get my money back if I don’t want to travel?
A: It very much depends who you are booking with. Easyjet and British Airways are both allowing customers who have flights cancelled the chance to either rebook, accept a credit note or get a refund.
They are also offering flexible booking policies which allow people to change dates and destinations up to the end of September if you no longer want to travel.
But Ryanair will not offer refunds – it will allow you to change your flights to a different date without having to pay a change fee.
British Airways – flights can be switched for a voucher
BA is still running a limited schedule of flights to Croatia, so you won’t be entitled to a refund unless it cancels your trip.
If you no longer want to travel but your flight is still going ahead you can ask for a voucher to use on a future booking – but there are a few catches.
This only applies to those with travel up to September 30, 2020, if booked before March 3, 2020, or for travel up to December 31, 2020, if booked after March 3, 2020.
Crucially, your flight must also be exchanged for a voucher before check in for your original trip closes.
Vouchers can be used on a future booking up until April 30, 2022.
If you’ve got a package holiday booked directly through BA, you have up to seven days after the government’s announcement to request a voucher.
BA is also allowing passengers to change flights, although you will have to pay any difference in price.
EasyJet – change booking or request a voucher
EasyJet is planning to run a full schedule to Croatia, so again, you won’t be entitled to a refund as your trip isn’t cancelled.
If you no longer want to travel, you can change your booking for free – but you’ll have to pay any difference in price.
You can also request a voucher for the value of your booking.
EasyJet hasn’t said if it’s cancelling all package holidays to Croatia, like it did with France.
Package holidays to Croatia are due to start again on September 1, 2020, and easyJet told The Sun it’ll be contacting customers to discuss their options.
For passengers due to fly in September, easyJet will be offering vouchers to use on a future trip if you no longer want to travel.
For any individual flight or package holiday that gets cancelled by the airline, you’ll be entitled to a full refund.
It’s crucial you wait for the tour operator to cancel your trip – if you cancel the trip yourself, you won’t get your money back.
See more information on your refund rights for Croatia holidays here.
Jet2 – change bookings with no fee
Jet2 hasn’t confirmed if it’s cancelled any of its Croatia flights or package holidays.
When The Sun checked on its website this morning, it was still selling flights to popular destinations like Split and Dubrovnik.
In previous circumstances, such as when quarantine restrictions were introduced for travellers coming back from Spain, Jet2 allowed customers to move their booking to another date without charge.
Alternatively, customers could ask for a credit note to use in the next six months.
We’ve asked Jet2 if these options will be available for travellers with a holiday to Croatia booked and we’ll update this article when we know more.
You won’t get a refund unless your flight or package holiday is cancelled.
Ryanair – flights can be moved but you may be charged a fee
Ryanair hasn’t said if it’s cancelling any of its flights to Croatia but it is still running some sort of schedule.
The airline was still selling tickets to Pula, Rijeka and Zadar when The Sun checked this morning.
If you no longer wish you travel, Ryanair is allowing passengers to change flights – although you might be charged a fee to do so.
You can change your flight for free if you made a booking after June 10, 2020 for travel in July 2020 and August 2020.
Trips made after July 16, 2020 for September 2020 can also be changed free of charge, unless the changes are made within seven days of departure.
All other bookings are subject to a change fee, which start from £30, and in both scenarios you’ll have to pay any difference in flight cost.
Vouchers and cash refunds are not being offered.
In better news for travellers, Portugal has been removed from the coronavirus quarantine list.
However, flight prices to Portugal have rocketed by 500 per cent with some return tickets costing over £1,000.
Got a trip to France booked? The Sun has rounded up your refund rights if you no longer want to travel.