Travel to France, Ireland, Italy and two dozen other countries has been banned as a result of the more infectious variant of the coronavirus in the UK. The ban applies to holiday, leisure and essential travel.
It means trains, ferries and flights to many European countries have been cancelled.
Customers will be due a full refund, within seven days for a cancelled flight or ferry and fourteen days for a cancelled package holiday.
For those returning to the UK borders are not closed. There are still inbound Eurostars from Paris, and ferries from France and Ireland to the UK are running. But some countries have banned all travel, including Belgium, meaning departing flights and Eurostar trains have been cancelled.
The length of the travel ban varies by country, from 48 hours up to a few weeks, but these are just interim measures. It’s likely travel will be suspended beyond 48 hours, with an announcement on a European Union wide approach expected later on December 21. Some countries may allow residents to return, if they take a test.
What do we know country by country
France travel ban: Eurostar and ferry
France has banned all travel from the UK to France until Wednesday. This includes a ban on French residents trying to return home. All ferries, Eurostars and flights to France have been cancelled. You are due a full refund.
DFDS, Stena Line and P&O are all still operating ferries from France to the UK for the next 48 hours to allow people to get home. The Eurostar from Paris is still operating. With no outbound passengers travelling to France, it’s possible that these services and flights may stop after Wednesday.
It’s likely that the 48 hour ban will be extended. France has indicated that it may allow residents to return home, and transit travel to take place if passengers get PCR tests.
Ireland travel ban: flights, Stena Line, Irish Ferries, Ryanair
Ireland has banned all travel from the UK to Ireland until Wednesday. This does not include Northern Ireland. All passengers with bookings on ferries to Dublin will not be allowed to travel. You can claim a refund or rebook. Rynair, Aer Lingus and all other airlines will cancel flights to Ireland. For cancelled flights you are due a refund in seven days.
Travel from Ireland to the UK can continue. Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have said that scheduled sailings from Dublin to Holyhead and Fishguard will continue at least until Wednesday. Wales is currently in national lockdown, but you are permitted to transit through the country.
As with France, it’s likely that Ireland will extend its travel ban.
I’m abroad. How will I get back?
For now, most flights, ferries and trains back to the UK are still operating. You can still return home.
It’s likely that if the bans are extended that ferry services and flight routes will stop. If you can, it would be a good idea to return to the UK early while services are operating.
Most airlines had flexible booking policies in recent months so it’s likely you can rebook, although date changes will likely be expensive in the next few days.
If you are on a package holiday, you don’t need to worry as your tour operator will ensure you get home. It’s likely that you can finish your holiday.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/12/france-ireland-and-europe-travel-ban-qa-your-refund-rights-and-what-to-do-if-abroad/