To ask for the official rundown on what happens if my flight is cancelled by high winds

[Everythingisnumbersnow]

I'm in the EU trying to get back to the UK, not on a package deal (although carrier is Jet2 and always find them quite benevolent), good chance there won't be another flight for several days.

Do I just have to either self fund or claim on insurance? (Reluctant to claim on insurance as dh has preexisting medical conditions and premiums already pricey)

Not quite the same but when we were flying out recently a lot of flights were delayed and some cancelled. We were 'lucky' only to be delayed (hours on the plane waiting on the runway!) Some cancelled 'flight only' people were given refunds (not received immediately) and had to book alternatives themselves.

On a previous occasion when flying home our flight was cancelled due to a storm - we were put up overnight and the flight was rescheduled the following day when the adverse weather had abated. Jet2 were really helpful, had staff walking round departures and keeping us updated. So no one answer in my experience Good luck OP.

What have Jet2 said? Airlines sometimes provide accommodation or alternative flights.

I've only had one flight cancelled while I was in the airport, for snow. It was with easyJet and they booked me a flight the next morning, coach transfer to a 4* hotel and half board meals included until it was time to go back to the airport.

The closest I've come to this was when stuck in Bangkok for 6 days with the Icelandic ash cloud - edited to add I was also there on an independent basis at that point

Flights were eventually rescheduled at no cost to me, and the insurers finally paid for extra hotel costs, etc - though not until there'd been a class action forcing them to, after the usual attempts to wriggle out of it

Looking on the bright side at least you're closer to home; if you need to get back urgently I'd suggest looking into trains/buses, since with only one flight being involved it shouldn't have pushed the prices of other providers into the stratosphere

From memory airline has a duty of care so should provide food and accommodation, if needed plus assistance with comms (e-mails, phone), and try to get you home as soon as practicable, that in theory should happen automatically so you need to keep nagging the airline/reps/ground staff for info.

If all else fails and nothing is forthcoming you many have to self fund short term and then go through whatever process is required to get the cash back from the airline.

That said I’d be slightly wary of rushing off and making your own independent plans for onwards travel too quickly, and certainly not until you’ve exhausted all available options today with the original airline…if you “beat” their recovery plan they may argue you haven’t given them opportunity to sort the problem out themselves.

They're definitely obliged to provide you with food and accommodation which in practice may mean vouchers - so be proactive and snag a reservation online before everything's booked up. Regarding alternative flights, I'd do a thorough search including ALL airlines, then ask the rep specifically about concrete routings that show availability and ask to be booked on them. Also, help desk queues can be atrocious so try by phone including your carrier's offices in other countries/cities.