A BBC expert has issued a crucial warning to holidaymakers booking with UK airlines such as British Airways, easyJet, Jet2.com, Ryanair, and TUI, urging them to make a key change to their booking habits to protect themselves from financial loss. Speaking on BBC Morning Live, consumer expert Rebecca Wilcox highlighted the risks of booking flights and accommodation separately, especially amid concerns that the Middle East crisis could lead to soaring costs and potential cancellations due to disruptions to jet fuel supplies.
Separate Bookings Pose Refund Risks
Ms Wilcox was responding to a viewer's question about what would happen if their flight was cancelled but their hotel was not part of a package deal. She explained that in such cases, travellers face a severe risk of not receiving a refund, as separate bookings are not protected under the same rules. "If you book your hotel separately, it is not the hotel's fault that the airline has cancelled the flight. And correspondingly, the airline is not responsible for reimbursing the hotel costs. It's on you," she said. "So please, please, please get travel insurance. They're separate bookings. A package holiday is one booking and they have more the onus is on them to protect you more."
Stronger Protection with Package Holidays
She emphasised that package holidays offer stronger protection, entitling travellers to a full refund or a suitable alternative holiday package within reasonable time frames. For those opting for DIY holidays—where flights and accommodation are arranged separately—she advised getting good travel insurance but warned that it may not cover extraordinary circumstances. "Also check with the hotel what their cancellation policy is like. Maybe they're quite flexible. Some comparison sites offer a slightly more expensive rate with free cancellation up to even the night before, but check because sometimes it's a week before. They usually cost a little bit more than the non-refundable ones, but in the end that might be worth it for your peace of mind," she added.
Current Situation and Future Outlook
Ms Wilcox noted that while there are no major cancellation problems currently, holidaymakers could still face disruptions this year. Airlines are working to ensure passengers do not experience last-minute cancellations, but the rising cost of jet fuel remains a significant challenge. "Jet fuel price has gone up through the roof. It started in late February at about $838 a barrel and now it's more than doubled to $1,800 in April. It's slightly come down a bit again to $1,500, but it's up and down all over the place. It's very hard to predict what's going to happen and this is a huge problem for airlines because fuel was already one of their biggest costs," she explained.
Industry Trends and Expert Advice
Personal finance expert Martin Lewis has also spoken out, highlighting that those who book flights and hotels separately might not get compensation if flights are cancelled. Jet2 reported that package holidays are now the top choice for travellers, with 51% opting for this booking method—a 5% rise since February. During the same period, those preferring to book through separate providers has fallen by six percentage points to 20%, while accommodation-only bookings have plummeted to just 2%.
Asked if people should be worried about their summer holidays, Ms Wilcox said: "I'm afraid it's not an easy answer. Potentially, it could do because what we're seeing is airlines are warning about higher ticket prices and long-term schedule changes all because of fuel costs. British Airways's parent company, International Airlines Group, says its fuel bill could rise by £2 billion to up to £9 billion a year. Industry analysts estimate that could add around 8% to some BA fares because they're going to have to pass on the cost or risk collapse. Some flights are already being cancelled as far ahead as autumn and winter. Lufthansa have gone all the way to October. The schedules are being reshaped so that disruption doesn't happen immediately, so that we're all aware of what's going to change and can plan. It's important to stress that airlines are still expecting the majority of flights to go ahead. The majority of summer holidays will be okay."
She concluded with advice for consumers: "If you're booking a DIY holiday—flight and hotel separately—check your cancellation terms really carefully. Consider a package holiday because you get stronger protections. And make sure you have as good travel insurance as you can possibly afford and book it ASAB—the moment you book it."
