Anyone who is due to fly from Heathrow today - what are you doing? What have you been told?

[HelenHywater]

I know there's another thread, but it's focusing on conspiracy theories which isn't helping me right now! I have a flight booked tonight to China and then an interconnecting flight from there. I have no information from the airline, and no information from my travel agent. My insurers say they don't know yet whether this is covered - ordinarily it isn't, as it's seen as a cancellation by the airline.

I don't know whether to book a new flight for a couple of days which I can't really afford. I've booked loads of trains in China, and hotels and other trips.

What have you been told if you're travelling today? It's such a shit situation.

My friend was meant to be flying in to Heathrow, she has booked an alternative flight to Gatwick tomorrow morning- luckily a work trip so she’s not losing any money on it. But airlines seem to think flights will be back on from tomorrow but aren’t committing to a time

Can you book a new flight and claim it on your travel insurance?

My travel insurance told me this wasn't covered as it's down to the airline cancelling the flight.

I can't get hold of the airline or the travel company I booked through and haven't heard anything from either of them.

Your airline should get in touch with you once they announce it’s cancelled, outlining your options. Might all take a while though. Sorry it’s a rubbish situation

I've been told when it's not the airlines fault - your not covered with insurance -it's a disastrous situation for those travelling - expecially for holidays when you have bookings onwards - pity those taking a cruise holiday and staring off from Heathrow.

True but the airline has a duty to get you somewhere or offer a refund?

If you're booked on a package with a tour operator they will be working to find you an alternative. Bear in mind that there are around 1500 flights cancelled though so it's going to be taking a while - planes are in the wrong place, flight crew are running out of hours and there aren't infinite seats on other flights. At the moment it's unclear how tomorrow will look as planes aren't where they should be.
If you've booked with a travel agent they'll be liaising with the tour operator on your behalf.

The airline will offer you a refund, just not compensation for your on-costs.
Lots of flights for sale tomorrow from Heathrow, so you could just book another one and the refund from the ori

ginal flight will pay for some of it…

If you booked the flight on a credit card, which hopefully you did, because this is what credit cards are for, the provider will pay for a new flight if no-one else will, due to section 75 protection.

Plus you only need the
credit limit to pay for it, not actual money.

I'm guessing that many airlines have no idea what's going on either.

So I could just book a new flight and someone will have to cover it? The problem is I booked the flights months ago and they were a really good price, and they're much more expensive now.

I think you’ll have to sit tight and see what china airlines offer. Martin Lewis had some advice you should check out.

Doesn't matter. Look on Moneysavingexpert.com home page, there's a link to your rights.

Not quite the same but Monarch went bust 2 days before we were due to fly with them and we lost a couple of £60 return flights. The replacements cost nearly £1k because hundreds of people were also fighting for the same flights with other airlines. My credit card paid the full extra cost, as they're required to do by law.

Nothing helpful to add but my god, insurers really are arseholes.

Thanks @Radiatorvalves Martin Lewis' advice is good - he says NOT to book a new flight as the airline has an obligation to give me a replacement flight if I want it.

Yes… just came back to post this, but you’ve prob read the same thing…

Just a quick summary of your basic rights if you're flight is being canceled due to fire at #Heathrow. Feel free to share.

1. You are entitled to choose between a) full refund including any unused part of trip (eg return) b) being put on next available flight, which includes with other airlines.

1. You are almost certainly not entitled to the standard fixed compensation as this is outside of the airlines control.

1. Knock on costs ( eg unused hotel/trips) are much trickier, for those best start point is see if you've free cancellation. If not travel insurance but whether this is covered will depend on your policy.

Update my friend has just been sent a replacement flight confirmation from her airline so sit tight!