We are in the midst of a medical emergency, millions of flights canceled, and we don’t know how long it will last. For this reason, I decided to write some tips about low-cost airlines during COVID-19. I’m working in an online travel agency for so long and I know the rules of this world very well, so I would like to make my contribution.
BE PATIENT
I know perfectly well that having a ticket booked and not knowing what to do until the day before is not a pleasant sensation. Unfortunately, airlines are currently handling a high amount of cancellation. My advice is to be patient, to wait for an email from the airline in order to manage your cancellation.
Avoid calling call centers, many companies e.g. Vueling, they deactivated this service due to the high number of calls. If you choose to send an email, know that they will not reply before a week or two.
WHAT TO DO WITH A CANCELED FLIGHT
The airline will send you an email notifying you of the cancellation of your flight always giving you 2 options: Exchange or Refund. The repayment is not always in cash, if not in vouchers to be used in the future. The only companies that refund in cash currently are: Ryanair and Easyjet.
While Vueling, Level, and Transavia give you the option of a gift voucher that you will use as a payment method. This option is not available yet, so it is not possible to use these vouchers for the moment.
Exchange is always the best option, especially in the case of EasyJet as refunds can take months.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU RESERVED THROUGH A TRAVEL AGENCY
If you have decided to book yours with a travel agency don’t worry the function is the same. The airline will surely notify you of the cancellation of your flight unless it is a non-low cost airline ex Alitalia.
Having booked with an agency, you will certainly have paid management fees, generally € 10-15 per passenger. In this case, you will have to ask for a refund or a voucher to spend in the future.
If you have any doubts or questions, leave a comment. Stay safe!
