When flights are cancelled due to bad weather, you have certain rights that protect you.

Fog and severe weather conditions can cause major disruptions for air travel, leaving worried passengers checking the status of their flights. This was the case in the UK as thick fog blanketed the country, leading to delays and cancellations at Gatwick and Heathrow airports. Even Ryanair has issued a warning for all UK flights.

According to the Independent, 27 flights have been cancelled at Gatwick this morning, impacting up to 5,000 passengers. This raises the question of what rights passengers have in the event of a flight cancellation due to bad weather. Here's what you need to know.

Passengers have legal rights under UK law for many flights in and out of the country, but not all of them. The Civil Aviation Authority states that in order to be covered by UK law, the flight must either depart from a UK airport on any airline, arrive at a UK airport on an EU or UK airline, or arrive at an EU airport on a UK airline.

If your flight is cancelled, the airline is required to provide assistance such as food and drink, a means to communicate, accommodation if necessary, and transportation to and from that accommodation. This applies regardless of the cause or duration of the delay.

However, passengers may also be entitled to compensation if they received less than 14 days' notice of the cancellation. This depends on the reason for the cancellation, as disruptions caused by extreme weather or strikes are not eligible for compensation.

If your flight is cancelled and the airline is unable to provide care and assistance, it is advised to organize reasonable care yourself and keep all receipts for reimbursement later. It is important to not spend more than is necessary and to avoid luxury expenses that the airline may not cover.

If you are unsatisfied with the airline's response or decision regarding your claim, you can make a complaint. Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

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