Monarch goes into administration – your rights explained

02/10/2017 Monarch Airlines has gone into administration. Thousands of flights have been cancelled, leaving an estimated 110,000 holidaymakers stranded.

It also affects over 300,000 future holiday and flight bookings. The following companies have entered administration:

• Monarch Airlines Ltd
• Monarch Holidays Ltd (ATOL Number 2275)
• First Aviation Ltd (ATOL Number 4888) previously trading as Monarch Airlines
• Avro Ltd (ATOL Number 1939)
• Somewhere2stay Ltd

So what happens if you have a future booking, or you are currently abroad? We’ve put together some frequently asked questions (FAQs) to try to help you, and give information about how Resolver can help you with your claim.

Please note that these FAQs apply to any bookings directly made through one of the above companies. If you have booked a Monarch flight or Monarch holiday through another travel company, you should contact that company. Check for that company on Resolver first to submit your free claim.

I’m a Monarch customer and I’m already abroad

ATOL protected ticket owners will be provided an alternative return flight to the UK at no extra cost. If you are not ATOL protected then you will have to pay to return to the UK yourself – you may have other ways of reclaiming the money though. Read on to find out more.

I’m due to return to the UK on or before 15th October

If you were due to return to the UK by 15th October then you will be provided a new return flight at no additional cost. Your return flight will not be any earlier than your booked flight.

The CAA is currently arranging these return flights. Check monarch.caa.co.uk for further announcements. Flight details are being made available a minimum of 48 hours in advance of departure time.

I’m due to return to the UK after 15th October

Monarch’s flight-only tickets sold on or before 14 December 2016 are ATOL protected and will be provided a free return flight. Check monarch.caa.co.uk for further announcements.

Any other flight-only tickets sold after that date are not ATOL protected therefore you will have to make your own arrangements to return the UK. You may then be able to seek compensation via your credit / debit card, PayPal or travel insurance.

‘Monarch Holidays’ sold before 1st October 2017 are ATOL protected. You will be provided a free return flight. Check monarch.caa.co.uk for further announcements.

I’ve travelled with Monarch and already submitted a flight delay compensation claim

Unfortunately you are unlikely to get any compensation. The CAA will not be paying for any delay compensation claims on behalf of Monarch.

I’m a Monarch customer but haven’t yet travelled out of the UK

All bookings are cancelled as of the 2nd October 2017. This includes both flight only tickets and holiday packages purchased from Monarch and Monarch Holidays.

I booked flights booked with Monarch Airlines from 15th December 2016 onwards

Your booking is not ATOL protected and therefore you are not entitled to make a claim to the CAA. However, you may be able to make a claim on your debit/credit card, PayPal or travel insurance provider. You can use Resolver to submit your claim for free.

I booked flights on or before 14 December 2016 with First Aviation LTD

First Aviation LTD was trading as ‘Monarch Airlines’ and all tickets booked on or before 14 December 2016 are ATOL protected. You can submit your claim to the CAA. Check monarch.caa.co.uk for further information

I booked a holiday with Monarch Holidays

Holiday packages are ATOL protected and CAA will be issuing the refunds. Check monarch.caa.co.uk for further information

Submit your claim via Resolver

If you are not ATOL protected then you will have to look at reclaiming from your credit or debit card provider, or through your travel insurance. Resolver allows you to raise your claim quickly and easily.

I paid with a credit card

Under Section 75 of the consumer credit act, anyone that paid for a flight booking or holiday costing between £100 and £30,000 may be eligible to claim under Section 75.

I paid with a debit card

If you purchased your ticket with a debit card, you can submit a chargeback claim.

The chargeback scheme does not guarantee a refund, but it’s worth contacting your bank to find out if you are eligible.

Submit your chargeback claim via Resolver.

Paid with PayPal

If you purchased your ticket via PayPal and the payment was done in the last 180 days you can submit your claim to PayPal and ask for a refund. If you have made the payment before 180 days period then you will be required to contact your bank.

Claiming on your travel insurance

Check the terms and conditions of your travel insurance to find out if you are covered for airline failure. Unfortunately a large number of policies do not cover a company failing so do check before making a claim.

You can submit your travel insurance claim via Resolver.

To find out more about your consumer rights check our flight delays & cancellations guide.

For more information, see our page on Flight Delays.