Martin Lewis reveals how passengers can reclaim money on cancelled or missed flights

The Money Saving Expert has shared a little-known tip that could see passengers getting a refund if they cancel their flights

Martin Lewis, the renowned Money-Saving Expert, has delivered a savvy tip that could result in passengers receiving cashback even if they decide to abandon or miss their flights. In the latest instalment of his podcast, which now includes Adrian Chiles for a fresh segment, Adrian was put to the test against the tricky questions devised by Martin himself.

Intriguingly, Martin queried what the outcome would be if someone had to forfeit their flight to New York - one that's non-refundable and non-exchangeable - just two days prior to departure; is there any chance of getting cash back?

Defying common knowledge and surprising Adrian, who nonetheless answered correctly, Martin unveiled that travellers do have the right to claim back some money even if its they who pull out of the journey. He explained: "In those circumstances, you are entitled to the air passenger duty. Air passenger duty is not paid by the airline until you fly."

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Elaborating further, the savings supremo highlighted that some airlines might not include this fee in their ticket pricing as it is generally covered by the airports from which they operate. Moreover, there's no uniform charge the fee can differ considerably based on seat class and flight distance, with air passenger duty charges ranging approximately £7 for short-haul economy trips within the UK to as much as £607 for long-distance first-class journeys, reports the Express.

Martin pointed out that some airlines might impose an administrative fee for processing refunds, but noted that for long-haul flights or premium seats, pursuing a refund would likely be worthwhile. He also mentioned that most airlines have no time limit for claiming refunds, stating: "Most airlines go back as far as you like, so if you missed a flight 10 years ago you may still be able to claim. Some, Ryanair and Quantas especially, have much shorter time limits."

Martin encouraged individuals who had cancelled or missed long-haul flights, or those who had booked non-economy seats, to contact their airline for a refund: "Get in touch with the airline and ask them for the money back. Most of these are just a contact form on their website if you know where to look. You fill in the form and you will just get the money back."

He emphasized that this applied to situations where the passenger chose to cancel a non-refundable ticket or missed their flight. Martin also stressed the importance of knowing one's rights, saying: "This is if you chose to cancel and it wasn't refundable or you missed the flight. Golden rule: If you have a problem with your flight, go online and check your rights."

In the same podcast, Martin explained that if an airline cancels a flight within two weeks due to their own fault, passengers are entitled to "A full refund or alternative flight and compensation". However, if the cancellation was caused by circumstances beyond the airline's control, passengers can claim "A full refund or alternative flight but no cancellation".