How you can get a refund on your EasyJet flights after airline grounds ALL planes
EASYJET has grounded its entire fleet of 330 aircrafts and cancelled all flights due to the coronavirus pandemic - here’s what it means for customers with a flight booked.
The budget airline made the announcement on March 30, 2020,and said all staff will be given a two-month leave of absence.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
This means all flights are cancelled until at least June, although easyJet hasn’t given an exact date on when it expects to be operating again.
During this time, staff will be paid 80 per cent of their average pay through the Government job retention scheme.
The deal will be effective from Wednesday, April 1.
EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren said: "We are working tirelessly to ensure that easyJet continues to be well positioned to overcome the challenges of coronavirus."
But what does the news mean for customers with an easyJet flight booked?
Which airlines are still flying and to where?
British Airways
British Airways has stopped all London City flights, and are reducing their services solely operating from London Heathrow.
Limited flights to Europe are still flying as well as Tokyo and Singapore
Ryanair
More than 90 per cent of Ryanair planes are now grounded, with the remaining aircraft used to provide repatriation and rescue flights.
All flights could be suspended until June.
The remaining routes from the UK are to Dublin, as well as some destinations in Europe including Lisbon, Berlin and Budapest.
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic has stopped all flights from the UK apart from London Heathrow, after cutting the fleet by 85 per cent.
Some flights to the US, as well as to Paris and Amsterdam are still in operation.
The airline states on their website that they have "no further relief flights operating".
Jet2
Jet2 have stopped all commercial flights until April and May, depending on the destination.
The airline is only flying repatriation flights to rescue stranded passengers, with flights to France, Spain, Hungary and Austria.
I've got a flight booked - how do I get a refund from easyJet?
EasyJet says customers with a cancelled flight will be entitled to either a full refund, a voucher for the value of their original booking, or an alternative flight of the same price.
The airline says affected customers will be contacted to discuss their options.
You can also contact easyJet yourself, but the airline has warned that customers are experiencing long waits on the phone due to the huge number of disrupted flights.
EasyJet said: "We are experiencing higher than average wait times so we would thank customers for their patience and assure them that these entitlements will be available long after their cancelled flight has flown."
EasyJet's customer service team can be contacted on 0330 365 5000.
Alternatively, if you're struggling to reach an agreement with easyJet, you can escalate your claim to an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) body.
EasyJet is a member of the Consumer Dispute Resolution Limited group - you can find information on how to start a complaint here.
If you booked through a third-party company, you'll need to contact them regarding a refund or alternative flight.
Is there any other way to get my money back?
Your first port of call for a refund should be easyJet, but you may also be able to claim your money back through your credit or debit card provider.
Credit card payments between £100 and £30,000 are covered under Section 75 of the Consumer Rights Act.
To start a claim, you need to contact your credit card provider directly - Which? has a free tool that can help you do this.
If you booked by debit card, you may be able to claim a refund via your bank using the Chargeback scheme.
Chargeback can be used to reclaim cash for goods and services you didn't receive.
Claims apply for purchases made by debit card, or by credit card for purchases under £100, and must be done within 120 days of the transaction.
To start a chargeback claim, you need to contact your card provider but as it isn’t written into law there is no guarantee you’ll get your money back.
If you have travel insurance, it may be worth speaking to your provider but they're less likely to refund you as it should be the airline's responsibility.
Check the terms and conditions of your policy to see what it says regarding cancellations.
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS - STAY IN THE KNOW
Don't miss the latest news and figures - and essential advice for you and your family.
To receive The Sun's Coronavirus newsletter in your inbox every tea time, sign up here.
To follow us on Facebook, simply 'Like' our Coronavirus page.
Get Britain's best-selling newspaper delivered to your smartphone or tablet each day - find out more.
Can I get a refund for my accommodation and other parts of my holiday?
EasyJet is only responsible for refunding the flights it has cancelled.
To get the money back on other elements of the holiday, such as hotels or car hire, you'll need to contact each provider separately.
If you're struggling to get reimbursed, you may be able to claim through your travel insurance.
When it comes to package holidays, you should be protected by Package Travel Regulations (PTRs).
This covers you if any part of your package holiday or cruise package is cancelled or significantly changed.
The travel company may offer you vouchers to use against a future booking but you are entitled to request a full cash refund instead.
MORE ON MONEY
We've rounded up what to do if your airline refuses to refund you for cancelled flights.
It's not just holidays that have been disrupted due to coronavirus - supermarket delivery slots have been selling out at an unprecedented rate.
Most supermarkets are also rationing what you can buy.