Shanaz Musafer
Business Reporter, BBC News
Getty Images
Heathrow airport is closed all day on Friday due to a fire in an nearby electrical substation which provides it with energy.
The most frequented airport in the United Kingdom has warned of significant disturbances in the coming days, with at least 1,300 flights inside and outside.
What are your rights if your trip has been disrupted and can you recover your money?
What should I do if my flight is canceled?
Do not try to go to the airport, but stay in touch with your airline which can advise you on reimbursements or the reservation of alternative flights.
Can I get a refund?
If your flight is covered by British law, your airline should allow you to choose between obtaining a refund or being reserved on another flight.
You can recover your money for any part of the ticket you have not used.
So, if you have reserved a return flight and the outgoing leg is canceled, you can get the total cost of the return ticket reimbursed.
If you accept a refund, your airline no longer has a diligence duty to you. If you have to make other arrangements, you will have to do it yourself.
Can I get another flight?
If you always want to travel, your airline is forced to put you on a new flight as soon as possible, including with rival carriers of alternative airports.
Keep in mind, however, with so many canceled flights, other airports will also be stretched.
If there are other appropriate modes of transport, such as the train for domestic travel, you have the right to be reserved for this alternative transport instead.
If your flight was entering Heathrow to a non -UK airline, you should check the terms and conditions of your reservation.
What else has airlines to offer passengers?
If you are stuck abroad or at the airport, your airline is forced to offer you additional help, including:
Free accommodation, if you have to spend the night to fly the day after Daytransport towards and since the accommodation of a reasonable amount of food and drinks (often in the form of good) a way for you to communicate (often by reimbursing the cost of calls)
If your airline is unable to organize help, you have the right to organize it yourself and claim the cost later.
Civil Aviation Authority advises people to keep receipts and not to spend more than necessary.
Can I get additional compensation?
In this case, you will not be entitled to additional compensation for your airline, because the situation will be considered an “extraordinary circumstance” beyond the control of the airline.
What will my travel insurance cover?
If your travel font includes travel disturbances, you must be covered if you have to cancel your travel plans.
The association of British insurers advises you to check the details of your police and to speak to your insurer if you are not sure of what is included. You may be able to recover other expenses such as car rental or airport parking fees.
All reservations made via a credit card can also have overlapping costs.
My flight is reserved in the coming days. What should I do?
Stay in touch with your airline for more information.
Heathrow is closed until at least 11:59 p.m. Friday, but warned customers to expect “important disturbances in the coming days”.
The disturbance is likely to affect other airports as well as thefts are being detour.
When heavy snow closed Heathrow’s slopes for a day in December 2010, it led to the cancellation of more than 4,000 flights over five days.
Heathrow’s telephone assistance number is 020 8757 2700.
