Flight cancelled due to COVID? You’ve got less than a month to apply for a voucher If your flight was cancelled due to COVID-19, you may be eligible for a refund credit note. - Copyright ARNE DEDERT/AFP By Maeve Campbell • Updated: 23/11/2021 - 18:13 UK travellers who had holidays cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible for flight vouchers - but they need to cash them in soon. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced that a huge £132 million (€157 million) is up for grabs in unspent Refund Credit Notes (RCNs). These were offered by travel firms over the last year as an alternative to cash refunds and are ATOL-protected or, in other words, financially insured. But no new ATOL-protected refund credit notes will be issued after 19 December 2021, hence the urgency. Holidaymakers must redeem these RCNs by 30 September 2022 for them to be valid. The vouchers can be used towards the cost of a new holiday or exchanged for cash. So if you haven’t even got in touch about your missed flight yet, you’ve only got a few weeks to receive your voucher. “With over £130 million of ATOL refund credit notes yet to be redeemed, and international travel opening up again, we want to remind consumers to redeem any unused credits to make sure they do not lose out,” says Michael Budge, head of ATOL, which is run by the CAA. People waiting around in an airport after a flight was cancelled.CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP “The decision to end the scheme reflects the changing of international travel restrictions with significantly increased demand from consumers over recent months due to the opening up of more destinations.” He adds, “refund credit notes have been a fantastic tool to reassure consumers and support the industry.” Craving some winter sun? These are the 5 warmest countries to visit in Europe Australia is soon welcoming back vaccinated foreign students and skilled workers Where can I travel in Europe right now? A complete list of travel restrictions How can you redeem your RCNs? Travellers have three options. If a flight was cancelled solely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you can either: Receive a full refund Amend the original booking to a different date in the future For ATOL protected bookings cancelled between 10 March 2020 and 19 December 2021, receive a refund credit note. Refund Credit Notes may look different depending on your travel provider, but they should all have the following: An expiry date, which is the date until your money is protected, and is based on your travel company’s financial protection arrangements. You are entitled to re-book or have a cash refund by this date at the latest. The value of the Refund Credit Note must be equal in value to the amount you paid for the original booking (or less the amount your travel provider has offered you as a part cash refund). The Refund Credit Note must include the original booking details and reference. To claim your refund credit note, you should contact the tour operator you booked with directly. FLIGHT SECURITY COVID-19 TRAVEL TIPS TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS HOLIDAY TRAVEL INSURANCE Share this article You might also like TRAVEL NEWS What are silent airports and do they make travelling less stressful? TRAVEL NEWS Vaccinated foreign students and workers to return to Australia in 2022 TRAVEL NEWS 5-year-olds must be fully vaccinated to set sail on this cruise TRAVEL NEWS US tourists fined for breaking into Rome’s Colosseum to drink beer TRAVEL NEWS Wave goodbye to passport stamps in EU border overhaul TRAVEL NEWS Seven women are suing Qatar over 'invasive' body searches at airport TRAVEL NEWS Passengers face 'onerous' policy as travel agent sues Ryanair DESTINATIONS 7 ways you can explore the Bulgarian mountains during any season EXPERIENCES 6 extraordinary holiday rentals for history lovers in the UK EXPERIENCES Why you should visit this remote Japanese island in 2022 Most viewed UPDATED: Travel restrictions for every country in Europe. Explained: Half of holidaymakers confused by England’s new day 2 tests Green passes are needed to travel around these European countries These are the 5 warmest countries to visit in Europe this December This man is trying to visit every country in the world without flying Sign up for our Travel newsletter NEWS DESTINATIONS EXPERIENCES STAYS PEOPLE SERIES Terms and Conditions Cookie Policy English Visit Euronews English Français Deutsch Italiano Español Português Русский Türkçe Ελληνικά Magyar فارسی العربية Shqip Română ქართული български Srpski