Fuel crisis stops flights – here's how you can get compensation

TT

Published 11.49

In the wake of the ongoing fuel crisis triggered by the Iran war, airlines have begun to cancel flights. Archive image. Photo: Oscar Olsson/TT

Check your insurance. Make sure you have a buffer in case your flight home is canceled. And if you're traveling on several flights, book a combined ticket, according to the Swedish Consumer Agency.

Here are some tips if you're going to fly.

Airlines have already begun to cancel flights in the wake of the fuel crisis. And even if the war in the Middle East ends relatively soon, analysts see that the aftermath will be long-lasting.

This is what Henric Jonsson, legal advisor at the Swedish Consumer Agency, says about what applies when the flight doesn't depart.

An airline cancels a flight and reports a fuel shortage. What then?

– Regardless of why your flight is canceled, you always have the right as a traveler to be given a choice by the airline. You should be able to choose between rebooking to another flight so that you arrive as quickly as possible under the same transport conditions. Or you should be able to choose a refund for the flight ticket.

– If you have a flight canceled less than 14 days before you are due to travel, you may in some cases be entitled to compensation, he continues.

There may be exceptions

So you can get both the money back for the ticket and compensation in addition to that for the inconvenience, so to speak?

– Exactly, but there are exceptions to the compensation, and these are for extraordinary events that are beyond the airline's control.

Whether fuel shortages are considered such an event may need to be reviewed in court or by a regulatory authority.

What about an offer of rebooking?

– It depends a bit on where you are located. But it may involve compensation for transport home from the airport and back to the airport the next day. But if you are travelling and this applies to the return journey, then you may be entitled to food and drink during this time. And you may be entitled to accommodation in a hotel, says Henric Jonsson.

Review insurance

Another option that could arise in these times, you have two flights booked to get to one place. But one is cancelled. What happens then?

– If it is a joint ticket as it is called, that is, it is included in the same booking, then you may be entitled to rebooking or a refund so that you get to your final destination.

But if there are two separate bookings?

– Then you may not be entitled to a refund for the second flight if it goes normally.

What else should you consider?

– Check your insurance. And travel with a buffer so that you can cope if you get stuck in one place before you can receive or claim compensation afterwards, says Henric Jonsson.