Coping with flight cancellations in a post-COVID world: What are my consumer rights? (Cardiff University Event)

What’s on offer?

This event workshop will outline the findings from a project on consumer rights and COVID flight cancellations. This will be followed by talks from consumer rights experts on what passengers can do when their flights are cancelled, and possible avenues of redress. The airlines representatives can share how they are responding to this crisis and provide an overview on recent changes on flight cancellation policies.  At the end of the session, the attendees will be given an opportunity to ask questions from our panel.  It is envisaged that the attendees will have greater understanding of their rights as air passenger and how the crisis is being handled by the airlines, which consequently will make travel less daunting. 

Bydd y gweithdy digwyddiad hwn yn amlinellu canfyddiadau project ar hawliau defnyddwyr a hediadau a ganslwyd oherwydd COVID. Dilynir hyn gan sgyrsiau gan arbenigwyr hawliau defnyddwyr am yr hyn y gall teithwyr ei wneud pan fydd eu hediadau'n cael eu canslo, a ffyrdd posibl o wneud iawn am hynny. Gall cynrychiolwyr y cwmnïau hedfan rannu sut maen nhw'n ymateb i'r argyfwng hwn a rhoi trosolwg o'r newidiadau diweddar i bolisïau canslo hediadau.  Ar ddiwedd y sesiwn, bydd y mynychwyr yn cael cyfle i ofyn cwestiynau i aelodau’r panel.  Rhagwelir y bydd gan y mynychwyr well dealltwriaeth o'u hawliau fel teithiwr awyr a sut mae'r cwmnïau hedfan yn delio â'r argyfwng, a fydd o ganlyniad yn gwneud teithio yn llai brawychus. 

What’s it about?

The COVID-19 pandemic saw mass flight cancellations, and even in this recovery period, travellers are still facing disruption and suffering the consequences (e.g., disappointment, stress, unrecoverable cost, lost holidays).  Our research, funded by LAWPL, reveals that consumers have a low awareness of their consumer rights and avenues for redress.  Consumers were found to generally trust airlines to look after them, but some consumers had negative experiences with claiming for refund and were nudged into accepting travel vouchers or rebooking. Due to the lack of knowledge on how to claim refunds, some have been left out of pocket.  

Although travel restrictions have been lifted and travel regulations become less complex, flight cancellations continue to be a major problem for many travellers.  It is crucial for both consumers and airlines to have a dialogue on this issue. This event, designed for the general public, will give the attendees the opportunity to understand their consumer rights as air passengers and for airlines to reach out to consumers.

Yn ystod pandemig COVID-19 cafodd niferoedd anhygoel o hediadau eu canslo, a hyd yn oed yn y cyfnod hwn pan fo pethau’n dod yn ôl i drefn, mae teithwyr yn dal i wynebu aflonyddwch ac dioddef y canlyniadau (e.e., siom, straen, cost anadferadwy, gwyliau coll).  Mae ein hymchwil, a ariennir gan LAWPL, yn datgelu bod gan ddefnyddwyr ymwybyddiaeth isel o'u hawliau defnyddwyr a'r ffyrdd o gael iawndal am sefyllfaoedd o’r fath.  Canfuwyd bod defnyddwyr yn ymddiried yn gyffredinol mewn cwmnïau hedfan i ofalu amdanynt, ond cafodd rhai defnyddwyr brofiadau negyddol o hawlio ad-daliad a chawsant eu hannog i dderbyn talebau teithio neu i ailarchebu. Oherwydd y diffyg gwybodaeth am sut i hawlio ad-daliadau, mae rhai wedi cael eu gadael ar eu colled. 

Er bod cyfyngiadau teithio wedi'u codi a bod rheoliadau teithio'n mynd yn llai cymhleth, mae canslo hediadau’n parhau i fod yn broblem fawr i lawer o deithwyr.  Mae'n hanfodol i ddefnyddwyr a chwmnïau hedfan gael deialog ar y mater hwn. Bydd y digwyddiad hwn, sydd wedi'i gynllunio ar gyfer y cyhoedd yn gyffredinol, yn rhoi cyfle i'r rhai sy'n mynychu ddeall eu hawliau defnyddwyr fel teithwyr awyr ac i gwmnïau hedfan estyn allan at ddefnyddwyr. 

Who’s leading the event?

Carmela Bosangit, Senior Lecturer in Marketing at Cardiff University  

Sara Drake, Reader in European Union Law and EU Competition Law at Cardiff University 

Dr Charlotte Rimmer, Lecturer and Researcher Bangor Business School, Bangor University.

Carmela Bosangit, Uwch Ddarlithydd mewn Marchnata ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd 

Sara Drake, Darllenydd yng Nghyfraith yr Undeb Ewropeaidd a Chyfraith Cystadleuaeth yr Undeb Ewropeaidd ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd

Dr Charlotte Rimmer, Darlithydd ac Ymchwilydd Ysgol Busnes Bangor, Prifysgol Bangor.

Open to

This event is open to adults from the general public.  

Mae’r digwyddiad yn agored i oedolion sy’n aelodau o’r cyhoedd. 

Of particular interest to

This is of particular interest to those who have been impacted by COVID-19 related flight cancellations and those with an interest in consumer law.  

Mae hyn o ddiddordeb arbennig i'r rhai yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan ganslo hediadau sy’n gysylltiedig â COVID-19 a'r rhai sydd â diddordeb mewn cyfraith defnyddwyr.   

Scheduling information

This event is hosted in collaboration by Bangor and Cardiff Universities. It will take place in two separate locations on different dates. If you would like to attend this event in Cardiff, please follow the link:  https://festivalofsocialscience.com/events/coping-with-flight-cancellations-in-a-post-covid-world-what-are-my-consumer-rights/