Experiencing a delay in your Vueling refund?
You’ve requested a complete refund due to flight cancellation, but the wait seems unending. Whether you’ve received an official message from the airline explaining about the delay, or haven’t heard back from them at all, it’s crucial to remember that the EU has regulations in place for such scenarios. According to these guidelines, your Vueling refund should be processed within 7 days.
Wondering what to do if the refund is delayed beyond this period?
Delayed Vueling Refund: A Comprehensive Guide
Are you entitled to a Vueling refund?
Airlines are obligated to offer a refund when they cancel a flight.
Specifically, in the European Union, if Vueling cancels a flight, they must provide you with a choice between a complete refund or a new flight. It’s vital to note that in certain instances, you may be entitled to only a refund, while in others you might get both — refund and flight cancellation compensation.
Step 1: Reach Out to Vueling
You should first get in touch with Vueling customer service through their website.
Unless there’s an unprecedented event, like the onset of a global pandemic, you should receive a response within a week. If a week passes with no communication, send a few more messages and repeat this every few days until you get a response.
Step 2: Use Social Media to Contact Vueling
If your attempts to contact Vueling are not successful, resort to social media.
If emails or messages go unanswered for weeks, leverage the power of Facebook and Twitter to get Vueling’s attention. Remind them of the 7-day refund deadline and reference Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Articles 5 and 8.
Step 3: Refuse Vouchers
Ensure that your Vueling refund is credited to your bank account.
Do not feel obliged to accept Vueling vouchers.
Step 4: Get in Touch with the National Enforcement Body (NEB)
Every EU member state has this institution.
You should contact the NEB of the country from which your flight was scheduled to depart. If your flight was to take off from Germany, get in touch with the Nationale Beschwerde- und Durchsetzungsstelle Fluggastrechte. If the flight originates outside the EU, you should contact the NEB of the destination country. The contact details for these organizations can be found here.
Learn more about this here.
Although the fourth option is the most effective, it is also the most time-consuming. It usually takes around 2 months for the respective NEB to take a decision. After which, you must wait till Vueling processes the compensation payment. For the best outcome, keep reminding them about your case on Vueling’s social media pages and other communication channels.
By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
Vueling Refund: When Are You Entitled To It?
According to EU regulations, you are entitled to a full refund if Vueling cancels your flight.
In case of a flight cancellation, Vueling must offer you a choice between a re-routing (new flight at no additional cost) or a full refund of your ticket. This rule applies irrespective of the reason for cancellation, even in the case of extraordinary circumstances. The refund for a cancelled flight must be processed within seven days.
If the airline delays the refund beyond this period, it is a breach of EU regulations, and passengers can consider taking further action.
What If You Are the One to Cancel the Flight?
Can you get a Vueling refund if you cancel your flight?
If you are the one cancelling the flight, refund policies can get a little complex. Here are some aspects to consider:
- Flexible tickets. If you’ve booked a flexible ticket, you are likely eligible for a refund. However, always review the airline’s terms and conditions.
- Non-refundable tickets. If you have a non-refundable ticket, you probably won’t get a complete refund. But, airlines may offer to refund the taxes you paid as part of your ticket fare.
- Travel insurance: If you have travel insurance that covers cancellations, you may be able to request a refund from your insurance provider, depending on the reason for cancellation.
- Cancellation within 24 hours of booking: Certain airlines may offer a complete refund if you cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking, provided the booking was made at least 7 days before the scheduled departure.
- Unforeseen events: If it’s an unforeseen event such as illness or the unfortunate loss of a family member, the airline may offer a refund or provide a credit for future travel. It is important to note that each airline’s policy may vary in such cases.
Flight Cancellation due to Extraordinary Circumstances: Can You Get a Refund?
Extraordinary circumstances are events that are out of the airline’s control.
When faced with extraordinary circumstances like extreme weather, airport staff strikes (excluding airline staff strikes), or safety risks, airlines are commonly not accountable for the cancellation.
However, as per EU regulations (Regulation (EC) No 261/2004), an airline is obligated to provide passengers with options between a complete refund and a re-routing, even when the cancellation is due to such extraordinary conditions. Hence, passengers still have the right to claim a refund even in these situations. It’s important to note that the refund should be made within seven days.
If the refund process takes longer, passengers are encouraged to adhere to the aforementioned step-by-step approach.
What is your experience with Vueling refunds? Have you ever received a refund from Vueling? Share your experience in the comments!