Air travel was severely disrupted yesterday due to Storm Isha, with flights having to land on mainland Europe as opposed to their intended destinations.

One particular flight from Manchester to Dublin was forced to land in Paris, much to the frustration and confusion of passengers.

The reason for the redirected landings is due to the severe turbulence caused by the extreme weather conditions of Storm Isha’s strong winds – causing the aeroplane to experience sudden changes in altitude or attitude.

Much to the dismay of weary travellers across the globe, delays and cancellations are expected to continue for the coming weeks.

However, a spokesperson for Claims.co.uk has shared passenger’s best options for rearranging and claiming any compensation should their flights be affected by Storm Isha.

They warned: “Whilst booking a package holiday can slash the cost of going away, if your flight is cancelled you can risk having your whole holiday cancelled or rearranged.

“If you have booked a package holiday and your flights are cancelled, you have the rights to either claim a full refund, a reroute of the trip destination and potentially compensation from the airline.  

“However, in these specific circumstances, delays and cancellations caused by air traffic control restrictions are considered an ‘extraordinary circumstance’ and therefore do not qualify for compensation,” the spokesperson added. 

“In cases of flight delays and flight cancellations due to an ‘extraordinary circumstance,’ the airline must provide you with additional services, depending on the length of your delay and waiting time.  

“These additional services include free meals and refreshments, which you are entitled to when your flight is delayed by at least two hours. Passengers should also receive a free overnight accommodation and a transfer to and from the airport if the flight is shifted to the next day,” they said.

“If a travel operator needs to cancel a package holiday for any reason, they are required to notify you as soon as possible and without undue delay. This is to ensure that you have enough time to help you make alternative arrangements or seek refunds.  

“However, in many people’s case due to the disruption, if you are at the airport when the flight is cancelled, it is advised that you contact your travel company straight away to talk through your options. 

“If the delay lasts more than five hours, but is not actually cancelled, you should also be able to choose not to travel and get a full refund on your ticket. If your flight cannot be rearranged, meaning your whole holiday must be cancelled, then the travel company must offer an alternative holiday if possible, or a refund of the full package price, not just the flight part.” 

If you are unsure whether you would like to claim a full refund or reschedule your holiday, it depends on your personal circumstances.

There are a number of factors to consider before making your decision, such as the refund amount – if you’re being offered a full refund by your travel operator then this can be financially appealing, especially if you’re uncertain about your future travel plans.

It’s also worth considering the availability of the alternative dates the travel operator offers you. If the new dates are suitable, then great, but if they don’t fit in with your schedule then rescheduling might not be a viable option. 

You should also check if the travel operator is waiving any change fees for rescheduling, as some operators might impose fees for changing travel dates.

Lastly, it is important to review your travel insurance policy to see if it covers cancellations or changes due to unforeseen circumstances. This could influence your decision to reschedule or opt for a refund instead. 

“If you received less than 14 days’ notice of the cancellation, you can claim compensation. This can be awarded in pounds or euros depending on where your flight was due to depart from,” the spokesperson for Claims.co.uk added.

The awards are according to the following scale: 

• £220 / €250 for all flights of 1,500km or less (e.g. Glasgow to Amsterdam); 
• £350 / €400 for all flights between 1,500km and 3,500km (e.g. East Midlands to Marrakech); 
• £520 / €600 for all other flights (e.g. London to New York).