Flight delays, holiday refunds and consumer rights

UK consumer law gives buyers strong protection — under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the Consumer Contracts Regulations, retained EU air-passenger rules (UK261), and FCA regulation of credit and Buy Now Pay Later. This hub covers flight delay and cancellation compensation, package holiday rights under the PTRs, hotel and car-hire disputes, faulty-goods refunds and the 30-day short-term right to reject, online shopping and the 14-day cooling-off period, delivery failures, lost luggage rights, cruise complaints, timeshare exit, and how to use Section 75 and chargeback through your card provider when things go wrong.

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Flight Delay Compensation under UK261

When you can claim £220-£520, what counts as extraordinary circumstances, and the CAA route.

Package Holiday Rights under PTRs 2018

Refunds, repatriation duties, ATOL protection, and ABTA Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Hotel Booking Disputes

Overbooking, misrepresentation, Section 75 claims, and how to escalate.

Car Hire Disputes

Damage charges, CDW excess insurance, and the BVRLA conciliation scheme.

Cruise Holiday Complaints

PSA membership, PTRs 2018, Athens Convention, and ABTA escalation.

When You Cancel a Holiday

Lawful cancellation fees, extraordinary circumstances, and travel insurance claims.

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Section 75 (CCA 1974) vs Chargeback

All guides in this section

Flight Delay Compensation under UK261

When you can claim £220-£520, what counts as extraordinary circumstances, and the CAA route.

Package Holiday Rights under PTRs 2018

Refunds, repatriation duties, ATOL protection, and ABTA Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Hotel Booking Disputes

Overbooking, misrepresentation, Section 75 claims, and how to escalate.

Car Hire Disputes

Damage charges, CDW excess insurance, and the BVRLA conciliation scheme.

Cruise Holiday Complaints

PSA membership, PTRs 2018, Athens Convention, and ABTA escalation.

When You Cancel a Holiday

Lawful cancellation fees, extraordinary circumstances, and travel insurance claims.

Consumer Rights Act 2015 Overview

The 30-day right to reject, 6-month presumption, and the tiered remedies framework.

Refunds for Faulty Goods

Short-term right to reject, repair-or-replace, final right to reject, and the 6-year limitation.

Online Shopping and Distance Selling

14-day cancellation right under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 and exemptions.

Delivery Failures and the Consumer Rights Act

The 30-day default rule, missed agreed dates, and lost parcel claims.

Lost, Damaged or Delayed Luggage Rights

Montreal Convention limits, how to file a PIR at the airport, and what airlines will and will not pay.

Timeshare Exit and Mis-Selling Claims

14-day cooling off, banned exit fees, perpetuity contract challenges, and avoiding exit-company scams.

UK261 Extraordinary Circumstances Test

When airlines can avoid flight delay compensation — the Wallentin-Hermann test, what counts, and how to challenge a rejection.

ATOL Refund Route

How ATOL protects holidaymakers when a travel company fails — repatriation, refunds, ATOL Certificate, and Air Travel Trust.

Frequently asked questions

When can I claim flight delay compensation under UK261?
If your flight is delayed by 3 or more hours on arrival and the delay was the airline's fault (not extraordinary circumstances like weather or air traffic control). Compensation is £220-£520 depending on flight distance, regardless of ticket price.
How long do I have to return a faulty product?
You have 30 days under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to reject a faulty product for a full refund (the "short-term right to reject"). After 30 days, the retailer can offer repair or replacement first. The right runs from delivery date.
Can I cancel an online order after delivery?
Yes. Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, you have 14 days from delivery to cancel a distance contract for any reason. You then have 14 days to return the goods. Some items are exempt (perishables, personalised items, sealed digital content).
What is Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act?
If you paid for goods or services costing £100-£30,000 on a credit card, your card issuer is jointly liable with the seller. You can claim a refund from your card issuer if the seller goes bust, fails to deliver, or the goods are faulty. Debit card transactions may use chargeback instead.

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Disclaimer

This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always check official sources and seek qualified help where needed.