Revealed: The airlines with the strictest refund policies – from the one that charges £1.45 per minute to claim refunds, to the one that won't even accept chickenpox as a reason to cancel

Travelers forced to cancel a flight face a refund lottery as some airlines refund the full amount, while others don't give a cent back.

And because it's left up to the airline to determine its own cancellation policy, some are throwing up all sorts of obstacles to keep you from filing a claim.

For example, Wizz Air customers who want a refund into their bank account can only get this by calling the customer service number – at a cost of £1.45 per minute plus any charges charged by their telephone company.

Customers who sign up online will have their money deposited into their Wizz Air account, where it can only be spent on future flights.

It's up to each airline's discretion whether to refund you, and they all have their own rules. Some will reimburse you if you or a loved one becomes ill, while others will not.

It's always wise to get travel insurance, which can pay out if you're forced to cancel, even if the airline refuses to refund you. You must do this at the time you purchase your ticket so that you are covered if you need to cancel.

And it's worth checking your airline's rules before making a claim. Airlines don't always play fair and refund you according to their own rules – and they have significant discretion over when they choose to pay out.

Earlier this month, Money Mail consumer champion Sally Hamilton was forced to intervene after Wizz Air refused to refund a customer the £364 cost of her flight when she had to cancel following the death of her husband.

Here we look at how airline refund policies compare.

British Airways

If you cancel a flight within 24 hours of booking, you can claim a full refund without penalty. Once you are outside this window, you should contact British Airways as soon as possible.

If you want to cancel a flight due to a serious illness or the death of a family member, you will need to provide documentation such as a medical or death certificate.

British Airways says it will refund the tickets of passengers diagnosed with a terminal illness. Those who are not seriously ill but cannot fly can usually put their tickets on hold for up to a year. But if they rebook, they will have to pay the difference between the two fares and any increases in aviation taxes.

EasyJet

Passengers who cancel an easyJet flight online within 24 hours of booking will receive a full refund, minus the £49 booking fee. Cancel online if you can, as the cost increases to £55 for those who do so by calling customer service.

Passengers suffering from a serious or terminal illness must submit an online medical declaration form. Once this form has been submitted, easyJet will review the case and may offer you a refund or flight voucher, which must be used within six months.

If you are sad, easyJet will review your case and offer a refund, a free flight change or a voucher for a future flight within six months.

Jet2

All Jet2 flights are non-refundable. The airline recommends that passengers purchase travel insurance at the time of booking to cover unforeseen events that prevent them from traveling as planned.

Jet2 says there may be certain situations where it can help, but this cannot be guaranteed. You can change the name or date of your flight for a €35 administration fee, plus the price difference between your original fare and the new flight price. To make changes to your flight, visit jet2.com/login.

Ryanair

You may be able to cancel a Ryanair flight and request a refund if someone you were traveling with or an immediate family member dies. Ryanair does not consider aunts, uncles or cousins ​​as immediate family members.

Depending on the circumstances, the airline may refund the total cost of flights for everyone traveling on the booking.

You may be able to get a refund in the form of travel credit if you become seriously ill and can no longer travel. All claims are considered on a case-by-case basis and the airline does not offer refunds for common illnesses such as chickenpox or routine medical procedures, including pre-planned treatments.

To sign up, visit refundclaims.ryanair.com.

Wizz Air

If you are diagnosed with a serious illness or an incurable disease, you may be entitled to a full refund once you provide an official medical certificate.

All refunds will be paid as Wizz Air credit, so if you would like the refund deposited into your bank account you will need to call the airline's customer service department. This costs £1.45 per minute.

Holidaymakers who are ill but not in a critical condition may be entitled to a 50 percent refund if they send the airline a copy of their medical certificate.

The refund applies only to the patient and not to other passengers included in their booking.

If your child is sick, you can request a 50 percent refund for his/her ticket and yours. And if a close family member dies within 30 days of flight departure, you can request a full refund by filing a claim online.

A Wizz Air spokesperson said: 'When booking we recommend using our WIZZ Flex service if you think your plans may change in the future.'

Claim your tax back

Even if you are not entitled to a full refund, you should be able to reclaim the air tax you paid on your ticket. This charge is paid by passengers and passed on to HMRC by the airline. However, the tax is only paid when you take the flight. If you don't, you will have to get the tax back from the airline.

Airlines don't automatically reimburse this and your airline may not even tell you that you have the right to claim it. Contact your airline and tell them you want to claim yours or they will pocket the money for themselves. The amount of Air Passenger Duty you pay per flight depends on the distance you travel and the type of seat you book.

A passenger flying from Edinburgh to London Gatwick in an economy seat will pay £7 in taxes, or £14 for a premium seat, such as those with extra legroom.

For a flight of less than 3,000 miles, to destinations such as Italy, Greece or Turkey, you'll pay £13 in taxes for an economy seat or £26 for a premium seat.

For further afield hotspots like the Bahamas or Costa Rica you'll pay £88 for a standard seat, but this rises to £194 for an upgraded seat.

A flight to a destination more than 9,000 kilometers away, such as New Zealand, costs £92 in air passenger tax for an average seat, or £202 for an upgraded seat.

Anna Bowles, head of consumer policy and enforcement at the Civil Aviation Authority, says if customers have a problem with their booking or flight they should first complain to their airline.

“If they are still not satisfied with the response they receive, consumers can seek redress through the accredited alternative dispute resolution service, which will independently assess their claim,” she says. Visit aviationadr.org.uk.