FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS: Volcano ash from Iceland hits UK flight plans

silvercar

Mobility151990 wrote: »

Hi everyone, need a bit of help. Currently in Malta and our flight tomorrow morning has been cancelled.

Contacted Air Malta and even after quoting the EU regulation 261/2004 about accommodation costs/food/drinks they are refusing to provide any financial support whatsoever and I am getting a brick wall. Really have no money to pay for extra hotel nights/food etc. Can i contact the embassy or something? No idea here.

If you want to try the consulate in Malta the details are:

British High Commission
Whitehall Mansions
Ta' Xbiex Seafront
Ta' Xbiex XBX 1026
Malta GC


Switchboard: +356 2323 0000 (Also our Emergency Out-of-hours number)

I put the London number in the previous post. They may advise on how to get money sent to you, but they don't generally pay out money themselves.

Malta joined the EU in 2004, so Air Malta have no excuse not to follow the law.

Mobility151990

Thanks silvercar. What would be the appropriate action to reclaim accommodation/food/drink costs from the airline if/when we return to the UK. I guess the small claims court???

wealdroam

Mobility151990 wrote: »

Thanks silvercar. What would be the appropriate action to reclaim accommodation/food/drink costs from the airline if/when we return to the UK. I guess the small claims court???

Firstly, get receipts for everything.

Send receipts recorded delivery to airline and ask for money, before considering legal action.

Copy the receipts before sending them, of course.

silvercar

wealdroam wrote: »

Firstly, get receipts for everything.

Send receipts recorded delivery to airline and ask for money, before considering legal action.

I agree, though I would send copies in the first instance. You should always exhaust the company's internal complaints procedure before starting court action.

vinylmusic

Cityboy wrote: »

For information to all those affected by this situation the airlines are obliged to 'care for' their pax no matter what the circumstances or reasons for the cancellation or delay.

This means that passengers are entitled to meals, refreshments and accommodation if an overnight stay or stays become necessary together with travel to/from that accommodation. 2 phone calls/faxes/emails should also be offered FOC.

In addition to the 'right to care' airlines are obliged to refund your fare or re-route you (at your option) in the event of cancellation and after 5 hours in the case of delay.

Full regulation here: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/...4R0261:EN:HTML.

Trust this is useful.

The airlines will be losing Millions already I can't imagine them paying up for the millions of travelers caught up in all this
Will they still do so? I doubt it

apt

Yes they will, because they are obliged by EU regulations to do so.

Sidekick2

I have booked to fly to Austria with a hotel/flight package with EXPEDIA, due to fly out 6am Monday morning. I know that we won't know anything probably until tomorrow but as a precaution i've cancelled the parking at the airport (as needed to give 24 hours notice for full refund)....Anyway, the expedia website is not clear, does anyone know if the flight is cancelled will we get anything from it? Does the airline let us reschedule/refund the flight or does expedia? Their policy mentions 'Events beyond our control' will not be covered so it's looking unlikely :-(

Because I booked it all through expedia I can't cancel the hotel directly can I?

I can't believe it...the only holiday I'll get this year about to be ruined!

toadyfrog

My 7 year old daughter is in Florida with her grandparents and due to fly home tomorrow. I've really missed her and got everything crossed that we get gale force winds tomorrow to blow it all away

gizmodo_2

Here's our experience so far...

We were due to fly today to Tenerife with Monarch. After a few phonecalls (did try saynoto0870 with no luck), we've rebooked our flight for Wednesday, and our lovely bosses are OK with us returning to work Mon, Tues and moving the holiday over a few days.

The apartment we've rented have ever so kindly offered us to stay the Sun - Wed at no extra charge.

BAA airport parking will refund us carparking if we don't use it at all. If we do go, we'll have to pay for the extra days parking.

The best I got out of the insurance company is to shift it to the new dates. They won't pay up because it's a natural disaster. I'm with More Than Single Trip insurance.

Worst case scenario, if we don't fly Wednesday we'll lose £266 and go camping instead.

I feel very lucky compared to most people.

@toadyfrog, fingers crossed your daughter will be home soon.

mikey72

apt wrote: »

Yes they will, because they are obliged by EU regulations to do so.

Or they'll have to pay a fine I assume?
Or a stern telling off?