The message from the travel industry is that refunds will not be awarded to holidaymakers living in areas of the UK where tough new coronavirus restrictions mean they’d be breaking the law if they went on holiday.
Some, however, including Jet2holidays and TUI, will waive amendment fees for customers who want to change their holidays. TUI is waiving its amendment fees for any customers who want to change their holiday due to local restrictions.
British Airways is offering vouchers for passengers who choose not to travel up to the date of departure, depending on when they booked, while easyJet is allowing free changes.
The whole of Wales has entered a 17-day ‘fire-breaker’ lockdown until 9 November, and that means there is a travel ban in place. Families won’t be able to travel over the half-term and indeed all travel is illegal for the duration.
Even though Cardiff Airport remains open the Welsh government has said that going on holiday is not one of the permitted reasons for people to travel outside their area.
Jet2holidays said in a statement:
“If a customer is directly impacted by restrictions caused by a local lockdown and is due to travel up to and including 30 November they can rebook their flight or holiday without having to pay an amendment fee.
“As always, we advise customers to make sure they purchase appropriate travel insurance before they travel.”
Across the rest of the UK there are no outright bans on travel, but people living in areas with Tier 3 restrictions – which will include Liverpool City Region and, from Friday, Greater Manchester and, from Saturday, South Yorkshire, have been advised by the government not to travel outside their area.
People living in areas with Tier 2 restrictions have been told to travel only with members of their own household. People in Tier 1 must not travel in groups of more than six, including children.
