FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS: Volcano ash from Iceland hits UK flight plans

Pelican_eats_pigeon

scottiepaul wrote: »

booked my mum onto an aer lingus flight via dublin on monday night.

they will keep hold of the continental flight just now incase its not cleared on Monday and aer lingus is cancelled and can't get them back earlier than friday.

Means that if Aer Lingus cancel they will at least get accomodation, and if it goes they can get a "refund" (I think its only travel vouchers) from Continental when they get back by cancelling prior to scheduled departure.

That sounds like really good thinking! Worth considering for anyone else stuck outside the EU who is being fobbed off by a non-EU carrier.

richardw

Ryanair cancels more flights http://www.ryanair.com/en/news/ryanair-expects-current-flight-cancellations-to-continue

isplumm

Cityboy wrote: »

I also saw reported on the BBC news website that Ryanair may not resume flights until 1300 on Monday.

If the ATC lift flying restrictions before then, Ryanair may leave themselves open to cancellation compensation claims as well as 'right to care' expenses if other carriers are flying the same routes before then!

I understand that Cityboy, but as someone who was meant to fly with BA yesterday & is rebooked for tomorrow & sees little opportunity of actually getting anywhere - I think what they are doing is quite good ....

if BA told me now that my flight is cancelled, then I could go somewhere else for a week - nip down to France on the ferry for a week - but at the moment I am sitting here waiting - if by 10:00 AM tomorrow they haven't cancelled, then I will need to go to Heathrow on the off chance they fly ... cause if they fly & I am not on it ... well no refund!!

Mark

blue_haddock

Cityboy wrote: »

I also saw reported on the BBC news website that Ryanair may not resume flights until 1300 on Monday.

If the ATC lift flying restrictions before then, Ryanair may leave themselves open to cancellation compensation claims as well as 'right to care' expenses if other carriers are flying the same routes before then!

Right my flight today was cancelled and i was rebooked for monday morning. I could accept losing a couple of days so no major issue but now ryanair have also cancelled my monday flight i would like to know where i stand. I have tried calling them but cant get through.

From what i have heard and read it would seem as if there may well be flights on saturday and sunday so where do i stand if i eithera) book a flight with easyjet and get and have my holiday as planned or b) say sod it to the whole thing and not bother going on holiday.

Surely if the NATS say its safe to fly and other airline are flying ryanair would not only have to refund me but also any consequential losses?

richardw

blue_haddock wrote: »

Surely if the NATS say its safe to fly and other airline are flying ryanair would not only have to refund me but also any consequential losses?

No, just what is due under the EC regs when they can't use 'Extraordinary circumstances' as a get out.

SnowWhiterThanWhite

Hi Guys,

We're currently in Las Vegas, were due to return home yesterday with Delta.

Got to the airport and obviously the 2nd leg of the flight from Atlanta to Heathrow had been cancelled. The Delta agent spent over an hour trying to arrange alternative flights, all of which were fully booked until next Tuesday.

Since getting us those flights offered, my itinery has been changed 3 times!

Delta's policy is to get us home, whatever way they can, using an alternative carrier if necessary. But, as the delay is 'outside of their control' they will not cover any additional expenses, ie, food & hotel.

I completely understand this, but it is very worrying that staying here is costing us around £200 per day (Family 4)

I have checked through my travel insurance policy which does not mention 'acts of God', but does specify that they will not cover cancelled flights, only the standard £25 per 12 hours for delayed travel. However, I have finally managed to get through on the phone & have been told that their directive is to allow this claim under the circumstances. At least that should cover most of the cost of the additional 4/5 days. (Max we can claim is £250 per person)

Am checking the Delta website for available flights that won't take us via a 6 hour layover at Paris CDG, but as there is still no lifting of the ban on airspace, will hold fire until more news available.

Kids happy as they will miss most of school next week, our bosses however, are not so happy!

peterbaker

The cause of the losses being incurred now by consumers is NOT an 'Act of God'. Consumer (and airline) losses are clearly as a result of government agencies and quasi government agencies making god-like decisions. Evidence for this is in the exceptions they have permitted and also in the fact that at least one airline (Ryanair) has now made independent announcement of its own restricted operations.

It is time that governments stepped in and indicated exactly how EU law requires airlines to deal with this and also makes a decision and ruling about what types of insurance cover will operate.

Pelican_eats_pigeon

peterbaker wrote: »

The cause of the losses being incurred now by consumers is NOT an 'Act of God'. Consumer (and airline) losses are clearly as a result of government agencies and quasi government agencies making god-like decisions.

It is time that governments stepped in and indicated exactly how EU law requires airlines to deal with this and also makes a decision and ruling about what types of insurance cover will operate.

The EC has already stepped in to emphasise what the law requires from airlines: http://www.sofiaecho.com/2010/04/16/888176_eu-reminder-passenger-rights-still-apply-despite-ash-cloud-disruption

However I'm not sure much mainstream english-speaking news media has chosen to pick this up and run with it for some reason.

silvercar

The cause of the losses being incurred now by consumers is NOT an 'Act of God'. Consumer (and airline) losses are clearly as a result of government agencies and quasi government agencies making god-like decisions.

That is ridiculous. The government listen to their safety advisors. However much inconvenience this causes, we would all rather be put out than not arrive in one piece.

mikey72

Pelican_eats_pigeon wrote: »

The EC has already stepped in to emphasise what the law requires from airlines: http://www.sofiaecho.com/2010/04/16/888176_eu-reminder-passenger-rights-still-apply-despite-ash-cloud-disruption

However I'm not sure much mainstream english-speaking news media has chosen to pick this up and run with it for some reason.

why doesn't clause 14 apply?

(14) As under the Montreal Convention, obligations on operating air carriers should be limited or excluded in cases where an event has been caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Such circumstances may, in particular, occur in cases of political instability, meteorological conditions incompatible with the operation of the flight concerned, security risks, unexpected flight safety shortcomings and strikes that affect the operation of an operating air carrier.