Simon Calder answers your travel questions from flight disruption to US jabs rules

Flight cancellations and passengers’ rights

Q: My return flight from Heraklion to London scheduled for 27 August acquired cancelled by Lufthansa. I’ve not been given a cause why. The choice flight is now scheduled for 30 August. No compensation for extra lodging prices has been provided. What do I do?

“Goldfish 1”

A: Sorry to listen to it. You might have made an fascinating selection of airline to journey between Crete and the UK. This tough summer time, with a lot disruption to flights, it’s more and more clear that any itinerary that requires a change of aircraft is particularly prone to being messed round. (Additionally, a connection in Frankfurt, Munich or another airport sharply will increase the possibility of checked baggage going astray.)

Having stated that, the sturdy view of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is that you ought to be provided a flight on the identical day on any airline that has seats out there. Whereas none on 27 August will get you to Heathrow (the place I presume you had been heading), easyJet can fly you to Gatwick, Jet2 to Stansted and Wizz Air to Luton.

In idea, a minimum of in accordance with the CAA, Lufthansa ought to talk about with you which ones possibility fits you finest after which pay for the ticket. Nonetheless, with a flight originating in Greece on a German airline, it could possibly be difficult to press residence this view – if you will strive, it will likely be enormously to your benefit if the journey on Lufthansa started within the UK.

It might be, in fact, that you’re not sad about extending your journey by three days and speaking the rescheduled itinerary you could have been provided. However in that case Lufthansa should definitely present lodging for you – or affirm that it’ll pay for a room that you just supply for your self.

In any occasion, do ask for €400 in compensation for the disarray, as stipulated below European air passengers’ rights guidelines; it’s all the way down to Lufthansa to show why it’s not liable to pay out.

Q: I used to be booked on Wizz Air from Luton to Lisbon on the night 22 June 2022, departing at 6.30pm. The airline instructed me by e-mail that departure was postponed to eight.40pm.

Based mostly on the desk of entitlements they supplied, I purchased a meal after which submitted my receipt to say again the associated fee. I used to be instructed that because the aircraft arrived 108 minutes late at Lisbon, I can’t get compensation. It sounds odd that delays ought to be measured relative to arrival time – which in fact is unimaginable to know earlier than departure. Is that this unsuitable?

Albert Ohadi

A: I can see the flight was ultimately delayed in departure by two hours and three minutes, and arrived (as Wizz Air says) one hour 48 minutes late.

When flights are anticipated to be delayed, European air passengers’ rights guidelines stipulate free “meals and refreshments in an inexpensive relation to the ready time”. That is purely calibrated on the delay in leaving, not arriving, and applies “when an working air provider moderately expects a flight to be delayed past its scheduled time of departure”.

Nonetheless, the time at which the entitlement to food and drinks kicks in is dependent upon the size of the flight. The 2-hour rule applies solely to flights beneath 1,500km, which might cowl Luton-Porto (1,340km) however not Luton-Lisbon (1,605km). For flights of between 1,500 and three,500km it’s a three-hour wait.

I’m not positive why an airline would wish to inform passengers that they’re entitled to a sandwich and a cup of tea when they don’t seem to be; I think about there might have been some confusion right here. In the event you can present proof that Wizz Air knowledgeable you it was obliged to pay on your sustenance, then you may proceed a declare.

Personally I wouldn’t trouble: since there is no such thing as a definition of what constitutes a “affordable” allowance, airways may restrict the sum to round £5 – which gained’t purchase a lot in an airport.

Lastly, to clarify why Wizz Air may deal with the arrival time: that is the metric for deciding if money compensation is payable. Something above three hours late and an airline should pay out for the delay, until it may well declare “extraordinary circumstances” had been accountable.

Anyway, after the annoying hold-up I hope the remainder of your journey went effectively.

Ferry irritating

Q: Can a ferry firm shut check-in and sail early? This occurred final week with our crossing. We acquired a textual content stating that check-in closed at 8.20am. We arrived at 8.10am to search out the gates locked. We had been placed on the following ferry at 2.30pm. Can we get a refund or compensation?

Nameless

A: In your place I’d be mightily cheesed off to adjust to a selected textual content message solely to search out that I had missed the boat. Ferry operators usually ask passengers to be on the port no later than 30, 45 or 60 minutes earlier than departure (the time can rely upon whether or not or not they’re taking a automobile). They often stipulate that you will need to have accomplished check-in formalities by this time, although in your case you seem to not have had the possibility to start them.

European ferry passengers’ rights guidelines, which nonetheless pertain for departures from British ports after Brexit, don’t sort out the precise place you discovered your self in. However from the information as you current them, you may moderately declare that you just had been delayed by round six hours regardless of turning up on time.

For ferry passengers, the entitlements within the occasion of disruption are far much less beneficiant than these for airline travellers; had you confronted a wait of greater than three hours for a aircraft, you’d be in line for a whole lot of kilos of compensation. However it’s best to be capable of safe a refund of half your fare – supplied that the ferry operator agrees your declare.

You will want to reveal that you just met the deadline in your textual content. The ferry agency might push again, by saying that the vessel sailed early due to the prevailing or forecast climate situations, or due to “extraordinary and unavoidable circumstances”. However the firm might want to present documented proof to substantiate its defence. Good luck.

American escapes for unvaccinated travellers?

Q: Do you suppose the US will speak in confidence to all passengers any time quickly?

Tudorfan

A: America has chosen to be a lot slower in opening its borders to guests who haven’t been vaccinated in opposition to Covid-19 than many different international locations have been. Having accomplished an preliminary course of jabs remains to be obligatory (although a booster dose shouldn’t be required).

A superb few unvaccinated travellers have pointed to what they are saying is the futility of vaccination, on condition that many Individuals from President Biden downwards have succumbed to Covid-19 regardless of being jabbed.

The Facilities for Illness Management (CDC), which is the US well being regulator, firmly advocates the advantages of vaccination – saying they’re “secure and are efficient at defending folks from getting severely in poor health, being hospitalised, and even dying”.

It says: “Getting a Covid-19 vaccine is a safer, extra dependable method to construct safety than getting sick with Covid-19.

“Covid-19 vaccines can provide added safety to individuals who had Covid-19, together with safety in opposition to being hospitalised from a brand new an infection, particularly as variants proceed to emerge.”

The CDC can argue that demanding guests have vaccinations helps to ease potential strain on the American healthcare system. Worldwide arrivals changing into severely in poor health from Covid-19 whereas on vacation may put stress on the system.

At current, the rule is: “In case you are a non-US citizen, non-US immigrant and never absolutely vaccinated, you’ll not be allowed to board a flight to the US.”

That isn’t fully true, as a result of there are some very uncommon circumstances wherein travellers could be allowed in. However the CDC says: “Solely restricted exceptions apply to the requirement to indicate proof of vaccination.”

The US was extraordinarily fast to construct obstacles in response to Covid 19, and really tardy in opening up – banning UK and European Union guests for 19 months. I don’t sense any nice hurry to speak in confidence to unjabbed folks.

In the event you twisted my arm, I’d say November – solely as a result of that was the month, in 2021, when the US lastly re-opened to folks from Europe.

Emergency exit seating guidelines

Q: Are there any aviation legal guidelines stopping somebody from having a exit row seat on a aircraft in the event that they require particular help to get via the airport?

The Jellyfish

A: Sure. Individuals seated in an emergency exit row are a part of the protection regime on any flight. Within the occasion that an emergency evacuation turns into needed, they’re anticipated to have the ability to open the door (which prompts the slide) and exit the plane, permitting others to observe rapidly. Whereas the cabin crew will help if doable, this might not be doable – which is why passengers seated in exit rows are specifically briefed and likewise requested if they’re prepared and in a position to assist.

The Civil Aviation Authority specifies a variety of passengers “who shouldn’t be allotted, or directed to, seats by emergency exits”. They embody:

It’s tough to think about circumstances wherein a passenger who requires particular help to get via the airport may probably be deemed appropriate for an emergency exit row. I infer out of your query, although, that you’re conscious of a scenario wherein a specifically assisted passenger was positioned by an emergency exit. In such a circumstance, a discreet phrase with cabin crew is certainly required.

A query of timing

Q: l’m hoping to go to Israel, when’s a superb time to go to please?

Julsey

A: Israel has a lot to supply the vacationer, from an awfully wealthy historical past to glorious seashores and nice delicacies.

Timing is all the pieces in journey, although: I desire to keep away from the warmth on the Mediterranean coast from early June to mid-September; April and Might, plus late September to late October, are glorious spells.

On the Crimson Sea at Eilat, although, November to March are one of the best months – with heat sunshine in the course of the day and funky evenings. The water is heat year-round right here, too – and you’ll discover into Jordan and Egypt if you are there.

Only a phrase about safety issues. The International Workplace says: “The safety scenario in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories could be fast paced, tense and unpredictable. You ought to be vigilant always and preserve updated with native media and journey reviews.

“Terrorists are very prone to attempt to perform assaults.”

The expertise of coming into and leaving Israel is not like wherever else on this planet, and could be traumatic.

Submit-Brexit guidelines for journey to the EU

Q: I’m hoping to drive throughout Portugal in January and February. I often keep 50 days however may keep 60. So I plan to e-book a return nearer the departure date. However do I’ve to have a return ticket? There’s information that I could be requested for one at border management.

T Toplis

A: What a stunning method to start the 12 months. Within the Brexit deal, the UK requested to be handled as third-country nationals, which implies that guests are obliged to hold proof of onward or return journey out of your EU vacation spot. This can usually simply be a reserving for a flight, prepare or ship – although in case your plans are fluid you may present you come up with the money for for “return to the nation of origin or transit to a 3rd nation into which she or he is definite to be admitted”.