To think the gov should be giving some proper advice re booking flights and holidays for next year post Brexit

[P3onyPenny]

I had no idea re the open skies issue or that insurance companies won't be insuring cancellations caused by Brexit. Having seen two threads on MN discussing it,I now do.

Not everybody can afford to lose the cost of holidays and flights,many need to book now for next summer as flights get released.

It's a bit late and a bit shit that consumers aren't getting warnings or advice.

There's a very informative thread on this over on the Brexit board >
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/eu_referendum_2016_/3339203-A-questions-about-brexit-flights?pg=1

For those saying there are bigger issues than people's holidays; correct, but Open Skies and the possible lack of flights after Brexit also impacts on freight flights (the ones bringing food and components to the UK) and of course vital medical supplies (isotopes, short-life medicines and medical equipment) that are flown in daily. Raab says that there is a plan in place for these vital medical supplies. As this cannot involve the use of commercial aircraft, he must mean that there will be a military airbridge to ensure supplies.

The EU have already spelled out the implications. No UK-registered aircraft can fly after 29th March. Nor can any UK-licensed pilot or aircrew. All UK airports, and airport facilities, lose their certifications on 29th March, as does UK Air Traffic Control, meaning that no commercial aircraft can use these.

You can read the long version >

ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/legislation/brexit-notice-to-stakeholders-aviation-safety.pdf

No they should ensure that consumers realise before they book that they may lose their flights and that they won't be compensated if that happens. To suggest any precautions they should take,if there are any.

Thanks Havana read on another thread that there really isn't time to set up our own system.

And yes the world won't end if consumers don't go on holidays. Consumers losing money when it could have been avoided is a whole other issue.

the world won't end if consumers don't go on holidays

True, but flights are not only for holidaymakers. Go to any UK airport on a Monday morning and you will see the army of 'suits' - men and women flying off to Europe and beyond to sell British goods and services, boosting export earnings and providing thousands of UK jobs in the British factories and offices that produce these goods and services.

And consumers coming here to spend money on holiday.

This is the reason I've put a deposit down on a place in Cornwall for next summer. We normally book the main summer foreign holiday around now for the following year. We usually pay £6-£8k for the holiday and we simply cannot afford to lose that sort of money on any Brexit uncertainty so decided not to book. The deposit for Cornwall was only £100 so should everything look fine post March 2019 we can always change our minds.
I'm really surprised that most of my friends and colleagues are taking the 'everything will be fine' approach and I'm sure that they won't be happy if they end up losing thousands.

The world may not end if people don’t get their holidays but there’s a whole travel industry out there that relies on people taking holidays to keep people in jobs. You can dismiss it because you personally have bigger concerns, but the concerns are widespread and potentially hit many thousands of people.

I wish I could book flights but Easyjet and Ryanair haven't opened up bookings yet!

The world may not end if people don’t get their holidays but there’s a whole travel industry out there that relies on people taking holidays to keep people in jobs

I agree

People are worried aboit their jobs and that is obviously more important than a potential holiday. But if my holiday goes thats a chunk of money for me which woukd be a shame....but some holiday company's will go under and have to tighten their belts and that will mean job losses as well

I don't think holiday planning advice is going to be high on the priority list of a government which has gone from 'sunlit uplands and huge financial dividend' to 'we will try and make sure enough food and medicine is available' over the past 2 years.

Just to confirm something here. If you book, the sky does fall in and there are no flights, the airline will have to refund the money you paid for the tickets.

What they don't have to do, because Brexit is outside their control, is eg reimburse you for the cost of linked hotel bookings etc.

There is confusion about what "force majeure" actually means. it does not mean the service provider can say "not my fault, I am keeping your money". It just means you can't sue them for other wasted costs you might have incurred.

I haven't booked anything yet, I've just provisionally booked a week off work for next June and will see what happens and book a trip nearer the time.

Of course this all affects holidaymakers coming into the UK as well. I wonder if they have been warned not to book eg from China or the US?

I'm almost glad sorry to see that these implications are now being more widely realised.

Travel.... the issue of the Irish Border , which is the subject of an international agreement between the governments of the UK and of Ireland which cannot be reconciled with one of those parties leaving the EU.

The impact on the £, anyone with any sense will be moving assets out of £sterling into other currencies. The value of the £ will drop, we will see holidays abroad and imports will become more expensive immediately but the impacts of the investment leaving us (lost jobs, lost tax revenue) will be felt for longer. Assets will be purchased and tbe profits will go offshore...oh yes, and they will be avoiding the EU regulations to crack down on corporate tax avoidance

JRM's setting up a fund in Ireland, oh well, thats one of us who will be OK, pity about the rest.

And yes, its the lack of advice around possible loss of the cost of a holiday that people can relate to.

But Satsuma it has follow on consequences. If your flight is cancelled( assuming you're right and they won't wriggle out of it under gov decisions) there won't be flights full stop so you will then lose accomodation costs and other expenses. You don't seem to be able to take out travel insurance now to cover all this. Yes some will be wealthy enough to take it on the chin but not everybody can.

satsuma

Really dont think the sky is going to fall in....i think we would stand to lose about 5-7k

But boy will i be pissed off

Small print from Shearings (Coaches) brochure...
(for the person who said just go by road/ferry/whatever)

Quite apart from the disruption, it's the "no refund/compensation" that will be the kicker. Unless the government is willing to underwrite losses from the public purse ? (That's the same public purse that's promising billions all over the place, as other start squealing. £92 million on a GPS feasibility study fgs ....)

I can't quite get my head around how businesses are supposed to operate with so much uncertainty. Not only passenger flights, coach travel, etc, but hauliers, etc.

But Satsuma it has follow on consequences. If your flight is cancelled( assuming you're right and they won't wriggle out of it under gov decisions) there won't be flights full stop so you will then lose accomodation costs and other expenses. You don't seem to be able to take out travel insurance now to cover all this. Yes some will be wealthy enough to take it on the chin but not everybody can

I am not saying they can. What I am saying is that if you book flights, the airlines will have to refund those flights. But if you have booked ancillary items, eg car hire, accommodation etc you will of course be on the hook for those, unless you book hotels/car hire/airport parking on a tariff that allows cancellations.

I pointed out the flights issue because people on the other thread were saying you wouldn't get your money for the flights back, which is wrong.

I can't quite get my head around how businesses are supposed to operate with so much uncertainty. Not only passenger flights, coach travel, etc, but hauliers, etc.

They can't. And they've been saying so for over a year. But until now, they've been drowned out by the Boris and Rees-Moggs and Farages of this world calling them traitors and worse, which hogs the headlines.

I pointed out the flights issue because people on the other thread were saying you wouldn't get your money for the flights back, which is wrong.

Are you a lawyer ?

The world may not 'end' because of disruptions to holiday plans but if planes don't fly and ferries all prioritise freight it will be symptomatic of such huge issues in all areas that life would quite simply not look like what we're used to. I really don't want to see it happen. I just can't get my head around the general apathy at the moment.