Everything You Need to Know About the EU Travel Ban
As more and more international flights resume, many countries have introduced bans on who can and who cannot enter their borders. For example, the United States has been banned from entering the European Union due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in the States. Here’s everything you need to know about the EU travel ban.
What is the European Union?
The European Union or EU consists of 27 countries. These countries have come together for economic cooperation.
The first step towards joining the EU is meeting certain criteria for the country.
Some of them:
Stable institutions guaranteeing democracy, rule of law, human rights and respect and protection of minorities;
A functioning market economy and the ability to withstand competition and market forces in the EU;
Ability to assume and effectively fulfill membership obligations, including commitment to the goals of a political, economic and monetary union.
Who can travel to the EU?
The EU has gradually opened up its border restrictions to allow entry to travelers from Canada, Japan and New Zealand. Americans are currently banned from traveling to any EU country due to the increased number of COVID-19 cases that have emerged here.
However, there are exceptions for:
- EU permanent residents with documents
- Healthcare professionals, health researchers and elderly care professionals
- Diplomats, employees of international organizations and people invited by international organizations, military and humanitarian personnel, as well as civil protection personnel.
- Passengers traveling for family reasons (life or death)
- Travel for study
Under these exceptions, you will be allowed to enter the EU, but you should double check with that country’s embassy.
For a complete list of exceptions, click here .
What about a planned trip?
If you purchased your ticket with a US airline, you will be bound by US law under the Department of Transportation. You will have to contact your airline’s support team, which will most likely redirect you for a callback due to the high volume of calls. To get back to you quickly, tag your airline on Twitter and describe the issue in detail.
In the event that your airline canceled your flight, you are eligible for a refund (as opposed to a flight voucher or credit). However, you will need to contact the airline support directly to get it, otherwise they will automatically provide the flight voucher.
Flight vouchers are great right now because they extend beyond the normal expiration date. However, many airlines require you to use them only for yourself and you cannot transfer them to someone else or combine the voucher / credit with cash.
European airlines policy
If you booked your flight with a European carrier, although you may not board the flight, you are still protected by the laws of the European carrier. This means that you will be claiming compensation, reimbursement or flight credit under European and not American laws.
According to Forbes , “If your flight … is operated by a European airline, regardless of destination, you are equally subject to Rule 261. Rule 261 provides for refunds on all flights that arrive, pass through or leave Europe.”
The European Union website goes on to say : “If your flight is canceled, the airline must offer you a one-time refund of the cost of your ticket.”
If you choose to receive a refund from a European airline, it must be sent within seven days. It must also be paid for by wire transfer, bank transfer, or bank check.