Last Updated: 28 February 2026 | Next Review: 28 August 2026

In an ideal world, the only thing you’d have to worry about when your flying is the quality of the wine or the what movie you’ll watch next!

However, as recent events in the Middle East and shifting airspaces have shown, the global map can change while you’re away overseas or even in the air.

We have first hand experience of  how geopolitical tensions can create uncertainty and stress for travellers.

So we thought it would help if we shared what we’ve learnt over the past 40 years organising golf holidays and travelling the world.

Here is the straightforward guide to your rights when your flight is delayed, cancelled, or rerouted.

If you are flying with a UK or EU carrier (or departing from a UK/EU airport), your airline has a legal “Duty of Care.”

This isn’t a suggestion; it’s an obligation your airline has to you as a passenger adn your right if you flight gets cancelled or delayed.

• Meals & Communication: If your delay exceeds 2–4 hours (depending on flight length), the airline must provide vouchers for food and drink.

• Accommodation: If your new flight is the following day, the airline must provide hotel accommodation and transport to and from the airport.

• The Greencard Tip: In these situations often the airport is busy and patience are tested.  If your airline is failing to organise meals and/or accomodation for you and it is within your rights then you are entitled to book it yourself and claim back “reasonable” costs.

  • IMPORTANT: If you go down this route keep every receipt. Rememebr “No receipt, no refund.”

Make Sure You Know Your Rights if Your Flight Gets Delayed or Cancelled.

1. Secure Your Re-Route ASAP!

Don’t just wait for the airline’s automated app suggestion.

Under UK law, if a cancellation occurs, you have the right to be re-routed at the “earliest opportunity.”

If your airline can’t get you out, but a competitor can, you can insist they book you on that alternative carrier.

The Pro Tip: Keep your own “Live Departure” tab open. If you see a seat on another airline, present it to the desk agent immediately.

2. Trigger the “Duty of Care”

If you’re delayed for more than 2–4 hours (depending on distance), the airline must provide food and drink vouchers.

If the delay moves to the following day, they must provide hotel accommodation and transfers.

The Pro Tip: If the airport desk is overwhelmed, you can book your own “reasonable” accommodation.

Keep every receipt. Note: Airlines rarely refund 5-star penthouse suites or alcohol—keep it professional.

Instead of queing for an hour plus to be helped by airline staff and claim vouchers etc it is often quicker to organise your own accomodation and claim back afterwards – remembering the get and keep your receipt rule!

3. Activate your Section 75 Protection

If you paid for your trip (or even just the deposit) on a Credit Card, you have a second layer of defense.

Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, your bank is jointly liable with the airline or tour operator if the contract isn’t fulfilled.

The Pro Tip: If an airline refuses a refund for a cancelled flight, your bank is your next phone call.

4. Check your “ATOL” Safety Net

This is why we always say: book with a licensed Tour Operator.

For example if you’ve booked a Greencard Signature Event to Sicily for 2026, you are ATOL Protected.

This means if an airline or operator fails, you aren’t stranded. You have a government-backed guarantee that you’ll be flown home or fully refunded.

5. Document the “Extraordinary”

Geopolitical shifts and airspace closures are legally classed as “Extraordinary Circumstances.”

While this means you likely won’t get a cash “bonus” (compensation), it does not cancel your right to food, hotels, and a new flight.

The Pro Tip: Take a photo of the departure board and keep your boarding pass.

You’ll need these for any insurance claims regarding unused hotel nights or missed events at your destination.

If your flight is cancelled, the choice of what happens next is yours—not the airline’s.

This is not always clear in the stress of the moment. However, you should always have two options…

• The Refund: You can walk away and take a full refund for any unused part of your ticket.

• The Reroute: If you still want to get home (or to your destination), the airline must find you an alternative flight. Crucially, if another airline is flying significantly sooner, you have the right to be booked onto that carrier instea

Under UK law, airlines pay compensation (up to £520) for delays that are their fault (like mechanical issues).

However, disruption caused by geopolitical conflict, closure of airspace, or air traffic control strikes falls under “extraordinary circumstances.”

• You won’t get “bonus” cash compensation for these delays, but your Duty of Care rights (hotels/food) still apply.

• Never let an airline tell you otherwise just because the cause wasn’t their fault.

While the airline covers the flight and the immediate overnight stay, they won’t cover your “lost” nights at a resort or a missed car rental.

• Check your Policy: Look for “Travel Disruption” or “Scheduled Airline Failure” in your insurance documents.

• The Credit Card Safety Net: If you booked your flights using a credit card, you may have additional protections under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for losses the airline won’t cover.

In an era of DIY travel and “flight-only” bookings, the value of a protected Tour Operator or Travel Agent has never been higher.

At Greencard, we are fully ATOL protected, which is more than just a badge—it’s a government-backed financial safety net.

• The Protection: If a travel company ceases trading, the ATOL scheme ensures you aren’t stranded abroad and that your money is 100% safe.

• The “Package” Perk: When you book a “Signature Event” with us, your flights and accommodation are bound together as a protected package.
  This means if one element fails, the responsibility to fix it sits with us, not you.

• Our Tip: Never book a high-value trip without seeing the ATOL or ABTA logo. It’s the difference between a “solved problem” and a “lost investment.”

Even with ATOL protection, your choice of plastic matters.

When paying for your golf holiday—even just the deposit—using a credit card (Amex, Visa, or Mastercard) triggers Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

• The Double Layer: This makes your card provider “jointly liable” with the travel company.
  If there is a breach of contract or an airline goes bust, you can claim directly from your bank.

• The £100 Rule: As long as the total value of the trip is between £100 and £30,000, you are covered—even if you only paid the initial deposit on the card and the rest by bank transfer.

• Premium Card Perks: Many of our clients use Amex Platinum or HSBC Premier cards.
  These often come with built-in “Travel Inconvenience” insurance that pays out for missed connections or delayed baggage on top of what the airline provides.

During our events we monitor any possible travel disruptions or potential issues so you don’t have to.

We’ve proven in the past that we will go to great lengths and expense to make sure our clients always have a route home.

All our bookings are covered by our ATOL protection.

If you are overseas and need assistance please call us on +44 (0)208 191 7798 and we will do all we can, within our control, to act on your behalf and in your best interests.

We hope that give you some re-assurance before and during any holidays you book with us.

Please either bookmark this page, send a link to a traveller in your group or take note of these details, contact numbers and websites before you travel.

They are correct at the time of publication and will be updated on a regular basis.

1. Official UK Government Support

When geopolitics shifts, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is the primary source of truth for travel safety and evacuation protocols.

• FCDO Travel Advice: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

  • Action: Search by country to see current “Red” or “Amber” status.

• Emergency Contact (Overseas): +44 (0)20 7008 5000

  • Action: Use this for 24/7 consular assistance if you are stuck or in danger.

• Register Your Presence: Use the FCDO “Register with the Embassy” service if you are in a high-risk zone.

• What to do if you get stuck abroad: This is a step-by-step Government Guide for how to deal with a crisis while you are overseas
  www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-deal-with-a-crisis-overseas

2. Flight & Airspace Monitoring

Don’t wait for the airline’s delayed SMS. Use these “Data Primes” to see what is actually happening in the sky.

• FlightRadar24: flightradar24.com

  • Action: Track your specific tail number to see if the plane has even left its previous destination.

• Eurocontrol: eurocontrol.int

  • Action: Check for European and Mediterranean “Network Updates” regarding airspace closures.

3. Airline Crisis Lines (UK Premium Desks)

Standard customer service lines fail during a crisis. Use these dedicated numbers for re-booking.

• British Airways: 0800 727 800 (or +44 208 707 4484 from abroad)

• Virgin Atlantic: +44 344 874 7747

• Emirates (UK Office): +44 344 800 2777

• Qatar Airways: +44 330 912 7415

• EasyJet

  • • UK Support: +44 (0) 330 551 5151

    • On-Holiday Support (24/7): +44 (0) 203 8303 111

• Ryanair

  • • UK Desk: +44 127 935 0196

    • International (Ireland HQ): +353 1 582 5932

    • If the UK line is dead, call the Dublin HQ directly. They have more “back-end” control over re-booking.

• Finnair

  • • UK Desk: +44 (0) 203 684 3588

    • International (Finland): +358 300 871 160 (24/7 in English)

• Jet2

  • • UK Support: +44 (0) 333 300 0042

    • Emergency Abroad: +44 (0) 113 239 7836

    • Jet2 is known for high service standards; their “Assisted Travel” team (+44 333 006 8798) is often the fastest way to a real person.

• Aer Lingus

  • • UK Support: +44 (0) 333 004 5000

    • International (Ireland): +353 1 886 8202

• Air France

• • • UK Support: +44 (0) 207 660 0337

    • International (France): +33 (0) 9 69 39 36 54

Golf Travel Pro Tip: If you are calling from a foreign country and the “0800” or “0333” numbers aren’t connecting, always look for the London (020) or Dublin (01) geographical number. These are the “hard lines” into the call centers and bypass many international roaming blocks.

4: Protection & Insurance Verification

• Check ATOL Protection: atol.org/check-an-atol

  • Greencard Note: Always have your ATOL Certificate (sent with your booking) saved offline on your phone.

• Financial Ombudsman (Travel Rights): financial-ombudsman.org.uk

  • Action: Guidance on Section 75 claims if your bank refuses to help with a cancellation.

5. The Greencard Emergency Line

If you have booked through Greencard Golf here are the best contact details in a crisis

• Direct Support: +44 (0) 208 191 7798 ask for Richard

• Email:please click here to get directly to Greencard crisis management

  • Our Promise: If you are on one of our events or holidays, our team will know where you are, we montior travel situations and warnings constantly and will work hard to help you as best we can whatever the situation.