Escape from Britain: Passengers cram into giant queues for Heathrow terminals while its departure lounges are PACKED as thousands scramble for flight out of UK before second lockdown descends

London Heathrow Airport was busy today with travellers rushing to leave Britain on last-minute flights before the new national lockdown comes in place tomorrow.

Photographs showed queues at Terminal Five as early as 6am as expats escape the UK, with travel experts saying elderly tourists and people who can work from home are also looking to get out before the new restrictions.

Terminal Two was also very busy today while an easyJet flight from Bristol to Fuertuventua was packed as people escaped for some sun before the new rules come into place at midnight tonight.

Bookings have boomed after the Government announced holidays in England and abroad would be banned from November 5 until December 2. Foreign nationals entering the UK are allowed provided they follow lockdown rules.

Mass crowds queue to get into at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Two today as passengers fly before lockdown

People queue for check-in at London Heathrow Airport today expats and tourists fly before lockdown comes in at midnight

Huge queues at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Two today before the lockdown comes in at midnight

Queues to get into London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Two today as passengers wait to leave Britain before the lockdown

Queues for flights at London Heathrow Airport Terminal Five this morning as travellers prepare to leave Britain

Passengers sit in waiting areas at London Heathrow Airport early this morning as they prepare to leave the country

Passengers at Heathrow Airport are having to follow social distancing rules with markers laid out on seating areas

Bristol Airport was also busy at 6am this morning as holidaymakers tried to get out of the country to beat the new resitrctions

An easyJet flight from Bristol to Fuertuventua - one of the Canary Islands - was packed as people tried to escape to the sun

The passengers on the easyJet flight from Bristol to Fuertuventua are leaving the country ahead of the new lockdown

What to do if your holiday plans are in ruins... again: Are you due a refund? Should you take a voucher? And dare you risk re-booking?

Can I get a cash refund?

If your flight or package holiday is cancelled, you are legally entitled to a full cash refund.

If you have booked a package holiday, you should receive this within 14 days. For flights it is seven days. But with firms being inundated with refund requests, you may have to wait longer.

Getting a refund for a non-package hotel booking can be trickier but you should argue that you deserve your money back if the company cannot provide the service.

Will my trip still go ahead?

The Government has not released full details on what trips will be allowed, although travel for work and education should be.

Not all flights will be cancelled, and if your plane takes off - even if you are not on it because of lockdown - you will not be automatically entitled to a cash refund.

British Airways says passengers can change their flights for another date in the next 12 months without incurring a booking fee, or take a voucher valid until April 30, 2022.

Virgin Atlantic customers due to fly before September 2021 can book a new departure date up to December 31, 2022, fee-free.

TUI says all customers flying from England and Wales over lockdown will get an automatic refund because the flights are now cancelled.

Those flying from Scotland can amend their bookings for free up to 21 days before departure.

However, if you do reschedule a trip with an airline, you may have to pay more if your new booking is more expensive.

Should I come home early?

If you are already on holiday, there is no law which requires you to rush home. But you should contact your travel operator or airline because you may need to take an earlier flight if they are running fewer services.

In August, Jet2 cut hundreds of holidays to the Balearic and Canary Islands short and refunded customers for unused nights.

However, if your travel firm insists that you travel back earlier and refuses to refund the difference, you could make a civil legal claim for 'frustration of contract'.

Could I cancel my holiday?

Wait for your airline or tour operator to cancel your flight, even if you know you won't be able to travel.

However, if you don't hear anything and your holiday is a few days away, contact the airline.

If you cancel your trip yourself, you will lose the right to an automatic cash refund and your insurer may not pay out.

What about staycations?

The Competition & Markets Authority says that if a contract cannot be fulfilled because of lockdown laws, it would expect the customer to receive a full refund in most cases. This could apply to staycations in hotels.

However, this does not mean you will be automatically entitled to a refund — and some hotels may instead offer vouchers or the chance to reschedule.

And what if the firm goes bust?

Airline regulator the Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed that any refund credit notes for cancelled holidays up until December 31 will be protected under its Air Travel Organiser's Licence scheme .

This means you will get your money back, even if the travel company or airline goes bust. You will only be able to get an RCN if your holiday or flight was ATOL-protected.

Travel Association ABTA offers similar protection for RCNs for package holidays that do not include flights.

Will insurers pay out?

Many insurers have made changes to their policies that mean they will not pay claims for trips which cannot go ahead owing to lockdown, so check the small print.

Allianz Assistance will not pay out if holidays are cancelled because of restrictions imposed by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

Aviva will pay out if they there were no UK or local restriction guidelines that would have prevented your holiday at the time of booking or when you bought the policy — whichever is later.

And Nationwide will pay out as long as there were no restrictions on travelling to your destination when you booked.

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick. Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o

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