TUI issues travel update to passengers – how to get £200 if your holiday is cancelled in airport chaos
TUI has issued an update for travellers and revealed how passengers could get £200 if your holiday is cancelled amid the ongoing chaos at airports.
The company’s website blamed the long list of cancellations down to “a combination of factors causing significant operations disruptions”.
A lengthy statement said on its : "We would like to apologise to some of our customers who have experienced flight delays in recent days.
"As the UK’s biggest holiday company, our priority is to take customers on holiday safely. We continue to work closely with our airport partners to monitor the situation and continue to provide the best possible holiday experience for our customers.
"We are doing everything we can to limit any flight delays, which can happen from time to time for various operational reasons.
"On the rare occasion flight delays do take place, we will do everything we can to support our customers, through direct communications and providing overnight accommodation and transfers where needed, as well as meals and refreshments.
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"We’d like to remind customers not to arrive at the airport too far in advance of their flight, as this can contribute to terminal queueing delays.
"Standard check-in opens at least two and a half hours before departure time for short and mid-haul flights, and at least three and a half hours before departure for long-haul flights.
"At some airports, we are able to offer day before bag drop and self-service bag drop. You can find more information about these services, as well as our advice for making your airport experience as smooth as possible ."
Tui added: "Recently, due to a combination of factors causing significant operations disruptions, we made the difficult decision to cancel some of our flights.
"If you are affected by a flight cancellation and were travelling on a Tui package holiday, this means your whole holiday is impacted and thus cancelled.
"Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience and the disappointment that this decision has caused. Please be assured that we have not taken this decision lightly.
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"In accordance with EU Regulations, you are entitled to compensation payable per person. A claim can be made 72 hours after you were due to depart by visiting the site
"It is exceptionally rare that we must cancel a flight and your holiday in this way so we are extending our apology by offering a £200-holiday voucher per person and hotel that you will choose to travel with us again in the future. You should receive this voucher within 28 days.
"We will also be refund - in full - the total cost of your booking within 14 days."
The Sun Online has contacted Tui for comment.
WHY IS THERE TRAVEL CHAOS?
Tui Airways has been forced to cancel nearly 200 flights over the coming month as Brit holidaymakers have been struck by widespread chaos at UK airports.
Passengers have suffered long delays recently due to staff shortages.
A number of destinations have been hit, including Spain’s Canary Islands.
Other airlines have also been axing flights with passengers forced to wait in line at airports including Manchester, Heathrow, Gatwick and Bristol.
While the problem has been doing on for a number of months, the issue has worsened lately with a rise in demand sparked by the half-term school holiday and the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend.
The aviation industry is suffering from staff shortages after letting thousands of people go during the coronavirus pandemic.
Police had to step in and tell exhausted Tui passengers their flight was cancelled after eight-hour delays in the latest bout of chaos.
The airline is also set to cancel hundreds of flights next month too.
Meanwhile, EasyJet has announced it will cancel more than 200 flights this summer.
A statement from the airline read: "We are very sorry for the late notice of some of these cancellations and inconvenience caused for customers booked on these flights however we believe this is necessary to provide reliable services over this busy period.
"Customers have been informed and provided with the option to rebook their flight or receive a refund and can apply for compensation in line with regulations."
You'll have to go straight to your travel provider if you want to get back anything you're owed.
CAN I GET A £200 PAYMENT FROM TUI?
The £200 voucher is issued at the discretion of Tui, and it's unclear if all holidaymakers affected by the chaos will get a payout.
A claim can be made 72 hours after you were due to depart.
Anyone wanting to claim the £200 should visit the .
HOW TO CLAIM A REFUND FOR THE CANCELLED FLIGHT
If your flight is cancelled then you are able to claim a refund or rebook.
EasyJet customers can go to on its website or app, where you can switch your flight for free, get a voucher to use in the next 12 months or request a full refund.
TUI customers meanwhile, can do the same on its own .
If you're after a full refund you should get it back within seven days.
WHAT EU COMPENSATION IS AVAILABLE?
Flight delay compensation rules remain the same following the end of the Brexit transition period, as the Government has written EU261 into UK law, so you'll get the same cover you would if the UK had remained in the EU.
Customers who have a cancelled flights will receive a full refund within 14 days, offered a gesture of goodwill to apologise and, where applicable, in accordance with EU Regulation (EC) 261/2004, customers due to travel within 14 days are entitled to flight delay compensation.
To though, usually your flight needs to have departed from a UK airport, arrived into a UK airport and was with a UK or EU airline or arrived into the EU and was with a UK airline.
You could be able to claim for £220 per person on shorter journeys, and £520 on longer distances says one travel expert.
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There is one difference however – you'll now be paid in pounds rather than euros if you're claiming under UK law.
It's also worth bearing in mind that if you fly between two European countries, or fly on an EU-regulated flight which is nothing to do with the UK (eg, from Amsterdam to Australia on KLM), you'll still be covered under EU261 as the law doesn't require you to be an EU citizen to claim compensation.
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