Ash cloud threatens travel plans

Just over a year after the ash cloud paralysed air travel, the eruption of another Icelandic volcano is threatening the plans of millions of UK travellers.

Ash from the Grimsvotn volcano has already resulted in the airspace above Iceland being closed and weather experts believe the ash cloud will reach Scotland by lunchtime on Tuesday and spread over the rest of the country by Thursday.

Air passengers in Scotland and UK travellers in, or heading to, Iceland have already been affected. Icelandic airspace was closed at the weekend and a number of airlines including British Airways, KLM, Aer Lingus and Easyjet have cancelled flights to and from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Invereness and Aberdeen airports. Some flights from Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley are also affected.

While further disruption is likely, the effects aren’t expected to be as severe or long lasting as the chaos caused by the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull last year. The weather conditions at the moment are more changeable with yesterday’s high winds having already altered the path of the cloud. Also, the ash particles from Grimsvotn are reportedly larger and falling to the ground more quickly.

Nevertheless, with the half term break and Bank Holiday weekend only days away, millions of others will be worried that their plans will be affected.

Bob Atkinson from travelsupermarket.com said: “As the news of the Icelandic volcano eruption hits, it brings the same travel uncertainty we experienced in April 2010. At this stage, only those flying to and from Scotland or Iceland are affected but the situation is changing rapidly. I wouldn’t expect the same chaos as last year and there is no need to panic but anyone due to fly in the next few days should keep up-to-date with developments.”

The travel industry has learned a lot from the disruption and chaos we witnessed last year and I wouldn’t expect the same again.”

So what should you do if you are due to travel this week?

Check with your tour operator or airline for the latest travel information. The airlines and Civil Aviation Authority will do everything in their power to keep the UK’s airspace open and it currently looks unlikely that we’ll see the blanket closures we had last year. That said, if the situation worsens things could change.

Should airspace actually close, experts are urging travellers not to do anything without speaking to their airline or tour operator first.

What if I’m unable to travel?

If your flight to or from Scotland or Iceland has already been cancelled, or the ash cloud causes further cancellations to other destinations later in the week, the cost of your ticket will definitely be covered.

Under the EU 261 rule, which governs airlines, passengers will be offered an alternative flight or refund and possibly compensation (depending on circumstances) if their flight is delayed or cancelled.

If you’ve booked your trip through a tour operator, it will be responsible for offering you alternative travel arrangements or a refund.

However, if you have booked your travel independently, it is your responsibility to contact any companies you have bookings with such as hotels, car hire firms and excursion operators. You should do this as soon as possible after you know your flight is cancelled because it could affect your eligibility for a refund. It may also affect any insurance claim you make as your insurer will probably want evidence that you tried to cancel everything and get your costs refunded. Some of the things you have booked may be non-refundable which is where travel insurance comes in.

Will my travel insurance cover me?

If you have travel insurance, check that your policy covers natural disasters. If it does, this will entitle you to claim for irrecoverable losses incurred due to the cancellation of your flight.

However, you will only be able to claim additional costs such as your accommodation because your flight cost is covered by the EU rule 261 – so you will not be able to claim twice for that. Similarly, if you booked through an ATOL tour operator, your travel insurance will only kick in for things not included as part of your travel package.

My Insurance Super Market