You’ve probably seen the term force majeure buried in the fine print of booking terms or service agreements — but never really paid attention to it. Until something gets canceled. From flights and festivals to weddings and hotel stays, this little clause can have a big impact when the unexpected happens.
Let’s break it down in plain English.
❗ Been denied a refund because of a force majeure clause? Get in touch @LawyerMonthly — we might be able to help you push back.
Force majeure (literally “superior force” in French) is just legal speak for “something big went wrong and it wasn’t our fault.”
When natural disasters hit, a global pandemic shuts things down, or the government suddenly changes the rules, companies sometimes can’t deliver on what they promised. That’s where force majeure clauses come in — they’re a legal safety net built into many contracts that say, “if things get out of hand, we’re not on the hook.”
But here’s the thing: just because a company invokes force majeure doesn’t automatically mean you’re out of options. It all depends on the details.
Force majeure clauses tend to show up in more places than you’d expect:
They’re usually tucked away in the small print. You might never notice them until something gets canceled, and a customer service rep sends you a copy of the terms and conditions.
Sometimes? Yes. But not always.
A company can only lean on force majeure if the event that caused the disruption is:
And even then, they might still owe you something — like rescheduling, a voucher, or in some cases, a refund.
“In general, a party is not excused from nonperformance under a force majeure clause because performance has become burdensome or economically disadvantageous.” — Akerman LLP
“Every force majeure clause includes a description of the types of circumstances covered... ranging from very general terms to detailed lists of potential catastrophes.” — Venable LLP
“These clauses... state that if performance becomes impossible for reasons outside the control of the parties, obligations may be released.” — Marquette University Law School Blog
In March 2025, Heathrow Airport went into chaos after a fire knocked out the power. Flights were grounded. Thousands of people were stranded. Airlines pointed to their force majeure clauses, saying the outage was outside their control.
But here’s where it got interesting: it came out later that Heathrow’s bosses had been warned about substation issues days before the fire. If a risk is known and ignored, it’s not exactly unforeseeable — and that could mean force majeure doesn’t apply at all.
Don’t accept it blindly. Here’s what you can do:
What’s a force majeure clause, really?
It’s a part of a contract that says the company isn’t responsible if an extreme event stops them from delivering.
Does it mean no refund at all?
Not necessarily. It depends on what happened, what the contract says, and what consumer law allows.
Is a power cut or outage covered?
Maybe — but if it could have been avoided, the company might still be responsible.
Can COVID-19 still count as force majeure?
Sometimes. But companies are now expected to have plans in place. It’s no longer a blanket excuse.
What if the contract doesn’t mention force majeure at all?
You might still be protected under general contract law — but it’s more complicated.
Force majeure clauses sound intimidating — but they’re not untouchable. Companies can’t just wave them like a magic wand and get out of their obligations. If you’re being told you can’t get your money back, don’t just accept it.
Check the clause. Ask the hard questions. And if it doesn’t add up, get advice.
📞 Think you’ve been unfairly denied a refund? Contact @LawyerMonthly. We’ll help you figure out what’s next — in plain English.
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