Return cancelled after outbound has already been taken: what are my rights?
I'm trying to help out a stranded traveler in this thread. British Airways (one-leg) flight cancelled due to Covid
They flew to Delhi with BA but the return was cancelled due to Covid. I'm trying to find out what specific rules apply here. I wasn't able to find anything that covers the specific case where the cancellation happens AFTER the itinerary has already been started. Everything I found on "cancellation" seems to assume that the cancellation happens BEFORE the outbound flight which either results in a rebooking or a full refund.
I would assume that the airline is required to bring you back, but that can be expensive for them if they have to rebook you on a different (non code-share) airline, so they will drag their feet. For a partially flown itinerary, refund is very difficult since it requires pricing out the individual legs.
Specific questions:
- What are the passenger rights ? If location is relevant, lets assume governed under EU law. What specific laws apply?
- Is there a time limit on how much later (then the original return) the airline can rebook you, regardless of how expensive for them it is? In this example it seems to be 4 or 5 days later.
- Can the customer instead ask for a partial refund and how would that have to be calculated?
Any other tips & tricks would be appreciated.
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Can I get a refund if my outbound flight is Cancelled?
You can get your money back for any part of the ticket you haven't used. So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded. If you still want to travel, your airline must find you an alternative flight.What happens if my return flight is Cancelled?
If your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to a refund on any unused part of your flight ticket. As an alternative, you can be 're-routed' on to a different flight as soon as possible, or at a later date if that is more convenient to you (subject to seat availability).Can I get a refund if only my return flight is Cancelled?
If your flight is cancelled. You have the legal right to either: a full refund - including other flights from the airline that you won't use in the same booking such as onward or return flights. a replacement flight to get you to your destination.Can airlines cancel your return flight?
Primarily, airlines reserve the right to cancel a return ticket or the rest of the itinerary if the passenger does not check in for the outbound flight or an earlier leg.Airline Refunds - Flight Cancelled? Know Your Rights!
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