Low Cost Airlines Attracting Expat Fury Over Delayed Refunds

British expats on Spain’s Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca are furious three low-cost airlines are making them wait for refunds.

As the British government is being urged to help the many thousands of passengers get refunds for their cancelled flights, outrage is spreading across the Spanish Costas. A Which survey has revealed only 14 per cent of easyJet passengers were sent refunds within a seven day period, with some 63 per cent still waiting for their money. British Airways clients fared slightly better, with 23 percent of travellers getting refunds within the legal time frame, leaving 23 per cent of those affected by cancelled flights still to receive their refunds. Some 19 per cent of Jet2 customers are also not receiving a cashback on their cancelled flights.

EasyJet, British Airway and Jet2 are in the spotlight for tardy or non-existent refunds, in spite of legal time limits as to when they should be paid. British expats living and retiring in popular areas of the Costa del Sol and Costa Brava are also up in arms, as they’re not happy about accepting vouchers or even re-booking flights with the three airlines as they can’t be sure if or when flights will recommence on a commercial basis.

One local UK resident in Marbella told the media Spain has no organisations able or willing to speak out on expats’ behalf, leaving those affected to wait and see whilst the airlines hold their money. She added there are rumours of price gouging and is determined not to accept anything but hard cash as a refund, nor will she be re-booking as she’s now planning to travel back to the UK by car via the Channel Tunnel.