Britons living under Tier Three lockdown will not get refunds for holidays and flights they were due to take – but could be allowed to switch dates at no extra cost.
The restrictions earmarked for Liverpool, Manchester, Lancashire and South Yorkshire ban all non-essential travel outside the affected region.
In Wales, households are banned from non-essential travel all together under the country’s 17-day ‘fire breaker’ lockdown which will begin on Friday.
The rules mean eagerly-awaited holidays for those living under Tier Three will have to be cancelled or postponed- with Britain’s most-popular airlines offering different rules to customers.
Jet2 is allowing customers planning on travelling up to or on November 30 to amend the date of their booking without an added change fee.
A Jet2holidays spokesperson said:’If a customer is directly impacted by restrictions caused by a local lockdown and is due to travel up to and including 30 November they can rebook their flight or holiday without having to pay an amendment fee.
Jet2 is allowing customers planning on travelling up to or on November 30 to amend the date of their booking without an added change fee (file image)
‘As always, we advise customers to make sure they purchase appropriate travel insurance before they travel.’
Alongside free flight changes, British Airways is allowing customers the option to take a credit voucher – worth the cost of their flight – for future travel.
Customers can apply for their voucher any time before their outbound flight.
easyJet is offering flight changes with no fee for the next 14 days.
A spokesperson said: ‘We understand that some customers may need to alter their plans where local lockdown measures are preventing travel.
‘Impacted customers flying within the next 14 days are able to change their flights without a change fee via our contact centre, seven days from the announcement date.
EasyJet is offering flight changes with no fee for the next 14 days. Pictured: File image of an easyJet plane
‘All other customers can make changes to their booking without incurring a change fee up to 14 days before departure online via Manage Bookings at easyJet.com.
‘Should any flights be cancelled customers are notified and informed of their options which include transferring to an alternative flight free of charge, receiving a voucher or applying for a refund via a webform on our dedicated Covid Help Hub at easyJet.com.’
Tui is offering amendments to any holiday currently on sale – with no fee incurred.
A spokesperson said: ‘We understand that there’s still a lot of uncertainty about travel plans this year, so we’re being as flexible as we can.
Alongside free flight changes, British Airways is allowing customers the option to take a credit voucher – worth the cost of their flight – for future travel (file image)
‘Any customers who cannot travel on their holiday as planned due to tier 3 lockdown restrictions, have the option to amend to any holiday currently on sale, free of amendment fees.’
Virgin Atlantic is offering the same free date change option.
The airline is also offering up to two changes of passenger names along with dates with no fees for bookings up to December 31 and due to travel by August 2021.
A spokesperson said: ‘Virgin Atlantic understands the difficulties that the Covid-19 crisis poses to our customers with upcoming travel plans, and we are offering as much flexibility as possible for those whose trips are affected.
‘We’re helping all customers with upcoming travel plans to rebook on an alternative date free-of-charge, with the option to change their destination, all the way until 31 December 2022.
Virgin Atlantic is offering the same free date change option. The airline is also offering up to two changes of passenger names along with dates with no fees for bookings up to December 31 and due to travel by August 2021
‘For all bookings ticketed up to Dec 31 2020 and due to travel by Aug 31, 2021, customers may also rebook with the date and names change fee waived, for a new travel date up until December 31, 2022 (including open ticket policy).’
Earlier today it was revealed that South Yorkshire is being upgraded to Tier Three with a £41million bailout package.
The news was confirmed after ministers hailed ‘very successful’ discussions with local leaders overnight, while talks with Nottinghamshire are still ongoing.
Sheffield’s Labour mayor Dan Jarvis said he had secured a £41million deal for contact tracing, enforcement and business support.
Alongside a ban on households mixing indoors, pubs and bars will have to shut from midnight on Saturday, as well as betting shops, casinos and soft plays.
However, gyms and leisure centres can stay open – with Liverpool also getting their rules eased after a protest at double standards between regions. West Yorkshire leaders say they have been told it will not be escalated into Tier Three this week.
Tui is offering amendments to any holiday currently on sale – with no fee incurred (file image)
The latest dramatic move – which means 7.3million people will be under the top level of restrictions by the weekend – comes amid a furious blame game between the PM and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham over failed negotiations on a bailout. The sum granted to South Yorkshire is in roughly in line with that handed to Merseyside and Lancashire, adjusting for population size.
But talks with Mr Burnham broke down yesterday after he demanded £65million for Greater Manchester, which would have been proportionally far more than accepted by other areas. He originally asked for £90million.
The daily number of coronavirus cases, counted by the date specimens were taken, has eased in key cities over recent days
Mr Johnson offered £60million, with ministers now threatening to bypass Mr Burnham to get the money to the region unless he swallows his ‘pride’.
In an apparent swipe at his Labour colleague today, Mr Jarvis said: ‘We all recognise the gravity of the situation and have taken the responsible route to ensure we save lives and livelihoods, and protect our NHS.’
In a round of interviews this morning, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick dismissed the idea that Mr Burnham learned news of the package during an explosive press conference last night. ‘He didn’t,’ he said, adding: ‘I phoned him and told him.’
Mr Jenrick also complained that the haggling with Mr Burnham had held up crucial action to protect the public. ‘We probably in honesty should have acted a few days ago but we hadn’t been able to reach an agreement with the mayor of Greater Manchester,’ he said.