Eurostar facing backlash after charging for cancellation
Eurostar is facing criticism after it refused to offer passengers that had prebooked a chance to cancel to cancel or postpone without incurring a penalty. The train operator allowed travellers to change the date for their holiday following attacks in Paris. But that only applied to those who had booked up to this weekend.
Anyone who had planned to visit after that date had to pay a fee of £30 per person, per journey, as well as any difference in fare. A family of four could find themselves paying £240 which could even be more than their initial tickets.
If someone travelling on a cheaper fare changed their mind, they could lose the full value of their tickets. The Foreign Office has not warned against travelling to France, meaning that Eurostar is not required to change its fares policy or offer refunds.
One passenger from Scotland decided to cancel his planned trip to Paris. He was given a refund by Disneyland Paris, the Premier Inn near Ebbsfleet where he would stay before his train, and the parking provider at the station. But Eurostar declined to refund any passenger travelling on a non-flexible ticket.
It told passengers seeking a refund on Facebook to get in touch with their travel insurer. But that may not be what passengers are looking for.
“Cancellation due to what is termed ‘disinclination to travel’ is not covered by travel insurance,” the Association of British Insurers told The Independent. “It appears that not even the travel insurance sold by Eurostar itself covers the current circumstances.”
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