STEPHEN LEWIS seeks advice on how to make sure you don't suffer holiday or honeymoon heartache because of delayed or cancelled flights.

HUNDREDS of passengers suffered holiday misery when a walkout by British Airways staff left them stranded at Heathrow airport - some for many hours or even days - as flights were cancelled.

No-one could have foreseen the dispute between BA staff and management over the introduction of swipe-cards blowing up so suddenly.

It meant holidaymakers and other passengers had no warning their flights were to be cancelled, and so added to the chaos and misery.

It is not just industrial disputes that can lead to problems with scheduled flights, however. Flights can be delayed or cancelled for many reasons, often with little or no warning, whichever airline you have booked with.

What appals York solicitor Jonathan Mortimer, head of commercial litigation at Langleys, is how few consumer rights passengers have when it happens.

If a flight is cancelled or there is a change to the schedule, the airline is only obliged to either provide an alternative arrangement (usually a seat on the next available flight, whenever that might be) or else to return the price of the ticket.

That is hardly sufficient compensation for a couple whose honeymoon was ruined because they missed their connecting flight as a result of the first leg of their journey being delayed, Jonathan says - or for a businessman who missed a vital meeting. Especially since it is quite possible that, at peak travel times, alternative flights may be fully booked, leaving passengers stranded for hours or days with no compensation.

"It seems to me that this is an obvious gap in consumer rights which should be considered as a matter of urgency," he says. "Is it right that consumers should be left helpless at airports for hours with no adequate redress regardless of who is responsible for the problem?"

There are signs that things may be beginning to change.

New European legislation means passengers who are "bumped off" their flight because of overbooking by airlines - a fairly common practice - should in future be entitled to expect not only a choice of either a full refund, another flight as soon as possible or another flight at a later date, but also cash compensation which will depend on the length of the flight and how late they are reaching your destination.

This does not, however, apply to passengers affected by cancellations or schedule changes.

So what steps can you take to ensure your holiday or honeymoon plans won't be completely wrecked by circumstances beyond your control?

One thing that is worth remembering, Jonathan says, is that if you book a package holiday, you will often have more protection than if you book your flight independently, for example over the internet.

"There is a growing awareness by consumers of how easy it can be to book a flight and other holiday requirements on the internet - sometimes considerably cheaper than with a travel agent," he says.

"However, package holidays do frequently provide consumers with more protection as the travel company has a greater responsibility to get you to your destination and provide you with a holiday unless exceptional circumstances exist."

If flights have been cancelled, it may mean they arrange for an alternative holiday of a roughly equivalent nature somewhere else; but at least you'll get a holiday of some kind, Jonathan says.

If you are determined to save money by making your travel arrangements independently, you have to accept it does carry a risk. There are still things you can do to minimise the risk of your longed-for holiday in the sun becoming a total washout, however.

If your journey involves making a connection, for example, make sure when booking that there is plenty of time between flights at the changeover; a good three hours or so.

That way, if your first flight is delayed, you may still have time to catch your connection. And if your flight from Leeds to Gatwick to catch a connecting flight is cancelled altogether, you may still have the chance to get to Gatwick by some other means and save your holiday, Jonathan points out.

It is also worth checking your holiday insurance cover carefully before buying it. Some policies will compensate you if there are flight problems, Jonathan says - but some won't. "So you do need to check on that," he advises.

If you have already booked your tickets, meanwhile, it may be worthwhile researching alternative travel arrangements in advance - just in case the worst happens. But you will need to look carefully at whether you will get all your money back if your scheduled flight is cancelled, Jonathan says.

Updated: 09:18 Thursday, July 31, 2003