FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS: Volcano ash from Iceland hits UK flight plans

Marty06

[FONT=&quot]I don't know if anyone has done anything like this and haven't got time to look through the whole thread but I set this facility up as a way of helping people who are stranded find accommodation/meals.

http://docs.google.com/View?id=d8mn2jq_20hn9z35fd

Obviously it only works if publicized so if people want to pass this on, please do so. If someone posts back to say there's already something like this, I'll pull this and redirect people to the existing facility.

We're stuck in the US, but have family and internet so thought I'd make the most of it to help others!


[/FONT]

Pelican_eats_pigeon

FH_Brit wrote: »

BY THE AIR CARRIER! Legally (if you really want to get into it) you have to prove someone is to blame in order to claim any sort of compensation. The Airlines did not make this decision therefore they are not to blame.

But this is 'right to care' rather than right to compensation. And there doesn't have to be a 'blame' situation for people to assert their right to care.

And the EC Reg says cancellation is the 'non-operation' of a flight so whether it is 'grounded' or not is of no meaning or relevance. It does not say 'cancellation by the air carrier', it simply says 'cancellation'.

Pelican_eats_pigeon

harbordm wrote: »

I hope someone can help me here, my package holiday is being refunded but the tour operator wants to charge an admin fee for processing the refund. The terms of the package tour regulations 1992 state "The consumer is entitled to have repaid to him as soon as possible all the monies paid by him under the contract." It doesn't say anything about fees and I can't see how that would be legal - does anyone have a considered opinion on this?

I know this is only a small issue but I like to stand up for my rights regardless!

The wording of the Package Holiday/Tour Regulations is crystal clear and your tour operator is trying it on. If I were you I would be firm with them and point out this passage from the Regulations to them.

Pelican_eats_pigeon

Hugh_Jass wrote: »

Expedia's website has confirmed that airline refunds take a min. 90 days - what a joke!

The EC Regulation states that the airline must refund within 7 days. Of course this is only relevant if the regulation applies to your flight(s).

PhylPho

Marty06 wrote: »

[FONT=&quot]I don't know if anyone has done anything like this and haven't got time to look through the whole thread but I set this facility up as a way of helping people who are stranded find accommodation/meals.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]http://docs.google.com/View?id=d8mn2jq_20hn9z35fd[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Obviously it only works if publicized so if people want to pass this on, please do so. If someone posts back to say there's already something like this, I'll pull this and redirect people to the existing facility.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]We're stuck in the US, but have family and internet so thought I'd make the most of it to help others![/FONT]

Local municipalities around Schipol were organising something like this for folks "trapped" in the Netherlands.

I haven't heard of such a facility being attempted by anyone / anywhere else.

It might well be a project worth further development when you're back, perhaps via some airline passengers group or other -- there's no knowing if the present situation is going to be unique: just because a volcano hasn't vented through a glacier in recent history, thus causing all the current aviation problems, doesn't mean it won't happen again.

That said, I do wonder to what extent this experience will condition the nature of air travel from now on.

There's no such thing as a free lunch where flying on holiday or holiday insurance is concerned, yet it's become the norm to seek the cheapest possible in both airline service and insurance protection.

All those thousands who booked no frills non-refundable flights backed by insurance policies barely worth the paper they were written on will perhaps think, after this little lot. . . never again.

I'm also guessing that every package holiday operator everywhere must be rubbing their corporate hands. No doubt Thomson Holidays is already getting its copywriters to work on a campaign along the lines of why DYI when you can TUI. . ?

mikey72

Pelican_eats_pigeon wrote: »

The EC Regulation states that the airline must refund within 7 days. Of course this is only relevant if the regulation applies to your flight(s).

Have you told the airline?

mairi28

mikey72 wrote: »

Your advice is now becoming your interpretation, none of this is actually in the regs, (and you know my view on the regs actually being enforceable for what's in there already)
If you want to stick rigidly to the regs

"(b) hotel accommodation in cases
- where a stay of one or more nights becomes necessary, or
- where a stay additional to that intended by the passenger becomes necessary;
(c) transport between the airport and place of accommodation (hotel or other)."

No self catering, no car hire, just a hotel, and one trip there and back.

Article 9 in reg 261 clearly states the passenger is entitled to "meals and refreshments in a reasonable relation to the waiting time". You can read it here:
http:// eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2004:046:0001:0007:EN:PDF

Pelican_eats_pigeon

mikey72 wrote: »

Have you told the airline?

That's not relevant, the question was about Expedia. I haven't noticed any airlines trying to delay refunds.

mikey72

mairi28 wrote: »

Article 9 in reg 261 clearly states the passenger is entitled to "meals and refreshments in a reasonable relation to the waiting time". You can read it here:
http:// eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2004:046:0001:0007:EN:PDF

I can indeed,
No self catering, no car hire, just a hotel, and one trip there and back.

airedalejoe_2

airedalejoe wrote: »

Apologies if this has already been asked, I've got limited internet access time wise.
Our problem is.....
Currently in Miami. Return flights from Newcastle(UK) to Paris then Paris to Miami both with Air France.
Due to return leaving Miami tomorrow(Tuesday), at 1740hrs local time. The same flight leaving today has just changed and instead of flying to Paris is now flying to Marseille.
If airspace opens tomorrow over France and UK then our problem is hopefully resolved but if not my question is....do we have to accept the flight to Marseille without any connecting flight to Newcastle? Want to go home but to be honest I'd rather be stranded here than Marseille with the kids.
Thanks.

Eventually got through to Air France(US). They stated that if flight not suitable ie. no onward connection then we are not obliged to fly to Marseille and could wait until both flights became available at no extra cost. Hopefully we will take off tomorrow for Paris/Newcastle but if not then we are stranded in Miami not Marseille.
Told that people taking the Miami-Marseille flight were having to sign a 'waiver' declaring that once in Marseille then any further transport was not down to Air France to sort!!