http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/insurance/2013/12/uk-storm-rights
My trains have been affected. What do I do?
In the wake of Friday's storm, services in Kent and East Anglia have been among the worst affected. Southeastern has cancelled all its services until midday.
There was also disruption to services across the country on Christmas Eve.
If your train is cancelled, here are your options.
- Can I get another train? If your ticket is open, you can just get on the next train to your destination, whatever the weather. If your ticket is restricted, you can't get on the next train if yours is delayed; but if it's cancelled, you should be able to.
- Can I get my money back if I don't travel? Yes, you are entitled to a full refund if the weather means your train can't run so you can't use your ticket. This applies whether your ticket is for a specific train or if it is an open-ended ticket.
- How do I claim? You can pick up a form from the appropriate company's stations, or visit its website. Make sure you keep hold of your tickets, as you will need these when applying for a refund. You need to apply within 28 days.
If your train has been delayed, or a cancellation meant you had to take a later train, here are your options.
Technically, you are not entitled to money back where a delay is caused by bad weather. But some firms may still pay out, so it's worth giving these tips a try.
- What if I now don't want to travel? You are entitled to a full refund if poor weather means services are disrupted.
- What if I'm late arriving? If you travel and the delay is over half an hour, you may be entitled to a refund, but the amount varies. If you are booked on a specific train, you have more rights than if your ticket is open-ended.
- How much can I get? The minimum is 20% of your fare for more than an hour's delay. However, you can receive more, depending on the train operator. You may even get cash for delays between 30 minutes and an hour from some firms.
- How do I claim? Collect a form from the company’s stations or visit its website. Make sure you keep hold of your tickets, as you will need these when applying for a refund. You have 28 days to apply. Refunds are usually in vouchers, unless you didn't use the ticket, in which case you will be refunded via the payment method you used to book.
If train problems cause you to miss a flight, you may be able to get compensation from your travel insurance provider, though check first as different firms will have different rules. You will need to show you allowed a reasonable amount of time for your journey to meet the flight. If you're heading to Gatwick, remember that engineering works mean there is no Gatwick Express train service – there are more details on the Southern website.
My flight's been delayed. What are my rights?
Gatwick Airport says it has "additional teams of engineers, electrical staff and volunteers at the airport to minimise the risk of disruption from potential further flooding".
If your flight itself is delayed, you aren't eligible for compensation if it's not the airline's fault. But if you're held up for more than two hours, whatever the reason, you may be entitled to food, drinks, calls and accommodation. If you paid for these, keep your receipts, then claim. See Flight Delay Rights for full information.
My flight's been cancelled. What are my rights?
When a flight is cancelled, however long before it was due to take off, you have a right to either a refund or an alternative flight to your destination. See Flight Cancellation Rights for more details.
