EasyJet holidays is to allow holidaymakers to Spain to cancel for free up to the end of this year following tighter entry rules affecting the family market.
The new, revised policy is aimed at holidaymakers who cannot meet Spain’s new entry requirements because there are 12 to 17 year olds included in the booking.
Previously, the operator was allowing free amendments or cancellations in return for easyJet holidays credit.
Spain’s new rules, which have sparked fears about family travel this Christmas, require UK holidaymakers over the age of 12 to provide proof of vaccination status to enter the country. Most 12 to 17 year olds in the UK have had only one vaccination rather than the two required for entry.
EasyJet holidays is now allowing families with children who are not double vaccinated to cancel and receive a full refund if they are booked to go to Spain up to December 31, 2021.
The operator has also pledged to extend its free amendments policy to December 31 across all destinations. The policy, which had been due to end on December 17, allows clients to amend their holiday for free or to cancel for easyJet credit. The offer is available for clients to take up until midnight on December 5.
Matt Callaghan, director of customer and operations, said: “We know just how special travelling at Christmas and New Year is for our customers, so we want to make sure we do the right thing.
“We’re introducing this new flexible policy to support customers with teenagers on their bookings who may not be able to provide proof of full vaccination which travelling to Spain currently requires.
“We’re also extending our cancellation for credit or free amend options for all other customers set to travel over the festive period.”
Customers due to travel in 2022 and beyond will be covered under easyJet holidays’ Protection Promise, which requires the balance to be paid 28 days before departure and gives customers the option to cancel 28 days before travel and keep their deposit as easyJet holidays credit.