Can I get a voucher or a refund?
This is one of the most searched questions on the internet in this period as passengers want to know what are their rights when the airlines cancel a flight for the Coronavirus emergency.
Indeed, almost all of the airlines offer just the possibility to buy another ticket using a voucher having the same value of the ticket price but they refuse to accept any refund claim.
On this point, the European Commission recently is taken part with the Recommendation of 13.05.2020 confirming the traveller’s right to get a full refund, but also stating that it is possible for the traveller to accept a voucher.
https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/recommendation_vouchers_en.pdf
In addition, The Commission recalled that “passengers have the choice between cash reimbursement and reimbursement in the form of a voucher”.
Finally, in the above Recommendation is stated that, even in this extraordinary situation, Regulations (EC) No 261/20046, (EC) No 1371/20077, (EU) No 1177/20108 and (EU) No 181/20119 of the European Parliament and of the Council (“the Union passenger rights Regulations”) shall be applied. In particular, in the event of a cancellation by the carrier, passengers have the choice, to be offered to them by the carrier, between reimbursement (refund) and re-routing. As re-routing is hardly applicable under the present circumstances, the “de facto” choice is mainly between the various possibilities for reimbursement (refund or voucher).
In case of refusal to refund the ticket or in case of no reply within the legal deadline, or, again, if you want to claim also for EU compensation, do not hesitate to contact us by sending an email to info@theitalianlawyer.com with the subject “Coronavirus – right to refund”. Our travel claims team will be able to assist you in protecting your rights.