Holidaymakers are being urged to insure themselves ahead of travelling this summer over fears of flight cancellations due to jet fuel shortages.
Since the conflict in Iran began earlier this year, gas and oil prices have shot up, impacting the price of jet fuel. A barrel is currently trading at $181 – when in January 2026 it cost under $100.
As of May 6, 120 flights in the UK have been cancelled out of a total of 22,613 scheduled flights, according to data by aviation analytics firm Cirium, which found airlines cut 13,000 flights in May so far globally.
For the thousands of people who have booked holidays, flight cancellations could be a possibility, but what can you do to best protect your money if you find yourself in this scenario? We spoke to travel experts to find out.
Package holiday vs DIY
Booking a package holiday provides consumers with more protections than a DIY holiday – where you book your flight and hotel separate.
Tim Knighton, travel insurance expert at Compare the Market, said: “If a package holiday is cancelled, travellers will usually be entitled to a refund or suitable alternative from the tour operator.
“For DIY trips, recovering costs can be more complicated, particularly where flights, hotels and transfers have been booked separately or include non-refundable elements. In these cases, travellers may need to pursue refunds from each provider and will likely be dependent on the T&Cs.”
The Civil Aviation Authority – the regulator for the industry – confirmed even if a flight is cancelled because of a jet fuel shortage customers will still be eligible for a refund or a suitable alternative like re-routing you to another flight at the earliest opportunity, as they would if a flight was cancelled normally.
Refunds will also still apply for package holidays booked even if the flights are cancelled due to fuel shortages.
However, with DIY holidays where flights, hotels and extras like car hires are booked separately, each element stands alone.
Scott Dixon, consumer rights expert, said: “Hotel and car hire bookings are not covered because they are separate contracts. Providers will say that the accommodation and car hire remains available and can still proceed, and they are not responsible for flight disruption.
“That’s the choice and risk you take when booking DIY holidays.”
Dixon urged those in this position to check the terms and conditions, as in some cases providers may offer refunds, credit notes or allow you to amend the booking to a later date as a gesture of goodwill, even where they are not legally obliged to do so.
However, you will not be able to make a Section 75 claim on your credit card – which makes credit card providers jointly liable with retailers for purchases between £100 and £30,000 – as the card provider will likely say there has been no “breach of contract”.
Flight cancellation or delays
If your flight is delayed, your airline should be your first point of contact, as they have a duty of care to provide support such as meals, accommodation and rebooking, depending on the circumstances.
However, during major disruptions, travellers often have to pay out-of-pocket first – whether that’s for a last-minute hotel, food at the airport or even alternative flights to keep your plans on track.
If a flight is cancelled less than 14 days from the date of your departure, you are usually entitled to compensation. The amount hinges on when the flight was cancelled, distance of the flight and the rescheduled times.
If a flight its more than 14 days, you are not entitled to compensation although you are still entitled to a full refund or re-routing.
What have airlines said?
Easyjet has committed to its full summer schedule and said prices will not increase post-booking, protecting customers from rising fuel costs.
It said in the event airlines are forced to cancel any flight, customers are always guaranteed a flight voucher, refund or an alternative flight. For any holidays that are cancelled, customers will be offered an alternative holiday or full refund.
Ryanair said it had hedged 80 per cent of its jet fuel until March 2027 at $67 a barrel – less than half of current prices – and therefore said it did not plan to make any cuts to its schedule this summer as did Jet2, adding if it cancels a flight, customers are entitled to a refund.
Dixon said: “It’s unclear whether compensation on top of a flight refund would apply if it’s due to fuel shortages (which may be classed as an extraordinary circumstance).
“Airlines usually don’t have to pay compensation if delays or cancellations are caused by ‘extraordinary circumstances’. This definition usually covers strikes (but not airline staff strikes), acts of terrorism or civil unrest, disruption to airspace including drones, IT outages and technical issues.”
Rhys Jones, travel insurance expert at Go.Compare, added: “If you decide to rebook flights yourself without the airline’s agreement, there’s no guarantee you’ll be reimbursed unless you can show the airline failed to meet its obligations.”
Dixon emphasised the importance of always keeping receipts for claims. Photos, screenshots and texts of delays are also useful as evidence for compensation claims.
What travel insurance could cover
Travel insurance may help cover some unexpected expenses that cannot be recovered elsewhere.
Knighton said: “Insurers often won’t cover claims related to events that were widely known about before the policy was purchased. This is why it is important for travellers to read the policy documents before purchase to ensure the cover meets their needs.”
When choosing travel insurance, it’s important to look beyond the headline price and understand what’s included.
Standard insurance policies will usually exclude “acts of war” and other extraordinary circumstances in their terms and conditions like fuel shortages.
Alicia Hempsted, travel insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: “Where a cancellation is covered, insurance may cover the cost of unused flights.
“However, accommodation costs are less likely to be refunded if the hotel itself is still available and the booking cannot be used due to flight disruption, unless the policy includes additional protection, such as trip abandonment cover.”
How to protect yourself
If you haven’t booked a package holiday, then flexibility can be just as importance as price.
Jones said: “Prioritising flexible bookings, such as refundable hotel rates or amendable flights, can help reduce your risk if plans change.
“It’s also important to check the cancellation terms for each part of your trip, as the cheapest options often come with the least flexibility.”
Using a credit card will give you protection on purchases over £100 under Section 75.
Dixon also warned not to use third-party websites because they act as intermediaries.
“This means they break the direct contract between you and the provider, and you cannot make a Section 75 claim with your credit card provider. Booking direct gives you a clear contract with the business and makes it easier to enforce your consumer rights,” he added.
Travellers could be left thousands of pounds out of pocket if they have booked a DIY holiday, so paying a slightly higher fee for a package holiday could be the better option.
Jones from GoCompare.com, said: “To put this into perspective, a family of four booking a DIY summer holiday could easily spend close to £4,000 across flights, accommodation and extras.”
This includes transfers, excursions, overnight delays, food and other essentials with no guarantee of reimbursement.
Jones added: “The key issue isn’t usually losing the entire holiday cost, but the financial gaps between what airlines refund, what suppliers keep, and what insurers will cover. That’s where travellers can really feel the impact if they’re not properly protected.”
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