UK air control chaos resolved but disruption expected to continue
U.K. travel was left in turmoil after Britain's air traffic control system suffered a major outage Monday, causing more than 1,500 flights to be canceled and thousands more delayed.
The mass disruption was caused by technical failures at National Air Traffic Control Services. This meant flight plans could not be properly processed, and instead, controllers needed to manually input them.
A statement released by NATS said: "The flight planning issue affected the system's ability to automatically process flight plans, meaning that flight plans had to be processed manually which cannot be done at the same volume, hence the requirement for traffic flow restrictions. Our priority is always to ensure that every flight in the UK remains safe and we are sincerely sorry for the disruption this is causing."
Related: TPG's guide to understanding EU261 flight compensation
Around 790 flights set to depart U.K airports were grounded, and 785 flights due to arrive in the U.K. were cancelled, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
The disruptions occurred during a bank holiday and one of the busiest days in the year for U.K. travel. It brought the worst flight disruption in the U.K. since 2010 following the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull.
While the issues have been resolved, the trickle-down effects have left many passengers stranded and numerous flights out of position as they work to get back on schedule.
A statement from Heathrow Airport (LHR) said: "Schedules continue to be affected by yesterday's restrictions on UK airspace. While the majority of passengers will still be able to travel, there will unfortunately be some disruption on some routes, including flight cancellations.
"It is important for all passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline before traveling to Heathrow. Teams across the airport continue to do everything they can to minimize the impact on passengers and support those whose journeys have been affected."
British Airways advises passengers to check their flight status online before traveling to the airport.
A spokesperson for the airline said: "Like other airlines operating in the UK, we are continuing to experience the knock-on effects of yesterday's NATS Air Traffic Control issue, which includes unavoidable delays and cancellations.
"Customers travelling today on short-haul services can move their flight to a later date free of charge if they wish, subject to availability. We've apologised for the huge inconvenience caused, which was outside of our control and thank our customers for their patience as we work hard to get back on track."
Virgin Atlantic emerged from the disruptions relatively unscathed, seeing the cancellation of only two flights, VS231 and VS232, between Heathrow and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson confirmed to TPG that the airline expects to operate a full schedule Tuesday and isn't expecting any significant delays. However, the airline advised anyone due to travel to check their flight status in advance.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's "Today" program, U.K. Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper warned that the disruption could take "some days to get completely everybody back to where they should be."
In the same interview, Harper also confirmed that the disruption is not believed to have been caused by a cyber attack.
My flight was disrupted. Can I claim compensation?
Unfortunately not. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, the NATS disruption falls under "extraordinary circumstances," meaning that passengers affected are unlikely to receive any compensation for their woes.
However, all is not lost. If your flight was canceled or significantly delayed, airlines must place you on the next flight to your destination free of charge (regardless of whether it is with a different carrier).
Airlines will also be expected to provide vouchers for passengers to buy food and drink and, where necessary, pay for transport or accommodation costs incurred due to the disruption.
The CAA advises that passengers can organize reasonable care and assistance themselves and claim back the costs at a later date.
"If you end up paying for things yourself, keep every receipt and do not spend more than is reasonable. Airlines are unlikely to refund you for things like luxury hotels or alcohol. Some will provide guidance on reasonable costs," read a statement from the CAA.
It further said that any passengers who are unhappy with the length of time it takes for either a reimbursement or response from their airline should visit this section of their website on how to make a complaint.
For more information on your rights as a passenger during cancellations and disruptions, please check out our guide to EU21 flight compensation.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.