Flight delay and cancellation compensation, Tui/Thomson ONLY

I just arrived back from Orlando in what can only be described as the flight from hell. We originally arrived at the airport for our 5.30pm local time flight on Friday a 3pm. We were greeted by a Thomson rep telling us no flight today due to Manchester bomb scare. Which quickly changed to technical fault as we were ushered into a room before being bussed off to a hotel.

At the hotel we were told that the flight would be some time the next day to be confirmed. It was no long before the truth why the flight had been delayed came out http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/thomson-dreamliner-forced-make-emergency-13163067
We know for a fact that the plane should have set off at 11am UK time because that was when we left 2 weeks earlier and that this would have brought people in from Manchester and us back out. We were given letters that said due to security issue and technical issues. This was a lie because the security issue happened long after the flight was due to leave and that passengers stranded in Manchester could not leave due to the plane requiring urgent repairs.

We were told the next day that we would not be flying on today and we were booked to fly Sunday morning at 9am. Later that day the flight was then moved to 11am. Later that day one of the passengers had found on the Sanford website that the flight was further delayed until 12.30pm. We were told were told that this was not true and we were still flying at 11am and the plan was to give us a grab and go breakfast and bus us out at 7am.

Having then woke up at 6am and gone for the grab and go breakfast consisting of an apple a cinnamon bun and a sunny D with E's than a 1990's raver on a Saturday night. More passengers questioned the whether the flight was going to leave at 11am and not 12.30 as per official Sanford airport website. We were again lied to and told it would be 11am.

Having then being dumped at the airport at 7.30am we were left to find out the flight had been delayed until 12.30. At this point myself and other passengers tried to ask to speak to a Thomson rep. Unsurprisingly they had all gone home and they were not answering telephone calls or social media. The airport could do nothing due to the 4 hour delay rule. So we were pretty much helpless some had nothing at all it was a disgusting act from Thomson who just wanted us out of the hotel and not costing them any more money.

Finally at 11.30 the captain and crew arrived. The captain gave us the company line came from the pilot about bomb scares (lie suspect package), technical fault (yep the engine nearly set on fire and plane was still in Manchester) the flight crews having to go home etc. We were then told from our Manchester counter parts via social media that the delayed Friday flight went out on much later that day and that and old lush who had got a little carried away with herself in the bar. The staff had issues containing her and then passengers witnessed an American Airlines style arrest with the old lush having her head smashed against the tarmac in Orlando by the Feds. So it was obvious that the staff been given time off to recover from the ordeal suffered coming back over.

We finally arrived back in Manchester 44 hours late with 2 letters one blaming the Manchester bomb hoax and the mention of a technical fault given to us in Orlando The other handed out at Manchester Airport directing us to our travel insurance.

As you can imagine I am pretty angry and fed up with Thomson right now . My question is can I claim off both travel insurance and Thomson? I have checked my travel insurance and its maximum of £1000 per person compared to the 600 euro per person from the airline compensation. My question is do I get 2 bites at the cherry.

1 Claim from travel insurance and airline?

2. Can I claim out of pocket expense from the airline?

JPears wrote: »

Welcome to the forum.
Perhaps you need some more sleep and re-write your very confusing post. I've read it twice and really can't make sense of it.
We need the facts, dates times, flights etc And the reasons given and the actual reasons for the delay.
And download Vauban's guide for much useful information.
Thanks

Thanks just edited hope that this makes more sense.

Can you direct me to Vauban's guide please.

Just Google Vaubans Guide

So after starting legal proceedings in November 2016 for flight delay in July 2016 after getting months of fob off, Thomsons have finally e-mailed me today:

"I have been handed the Judgement which has been filed in your favour and on behalf of the Airline would like to settle this claim."

It has asked for bank details and states will settle within days.

My main piece of advice is download Vaubans guide and stick to it exactly, it will take time but you will get there in the end.

I personally think its an absolute disgrace the way Thomsons have behaved in this case but the more barriers they put up the more determined it made me to continue.