FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS: Volcano ash from Iceland hits UK flight plans

Pelican_eats_pigeon

C_Mababejive wrote: »

Presumably Rolls Royce will be on overtime in the next few months fixing them all !!

If that's the case I think the airlines will probably see a greater commercial cost than the cost of being grounded. Engines are not cheap at all to repair!

ManAtHome

miss_edith wrote: »

Just wanted to highlight the good service I've received from Travelrepublic

You've done well - despite 2 promises to sort things and contact me, I've heard nothing (also raised a CSR on t'web ...nothing).

Ryanair have been good so far (had to cancel, so dunno what they'll refund yet), and car hire company (Farocar) were excellent.

xellieqx

come on virgin, update your news page

oxters

oxters wrote: »

As usual an excellent helpful thread on MSE

I wonder if anyone can confirm that BA are honouring their obligation to provide accommodation and meals to stranded passengers?

I am booked on a BA flight from Sydney to LHR on Monday (my return leg) which already shows "Cancelled" on BA's website. I will be at SYD airport tonight and will report here what BA are saying.

Can any of the experts on here say if it makes any difference if I am booked through Airmiles? (I have Airmiles own Insurance for my miles - which otherwise are worthless if cancelled) I do of course hold BA e-tickets.
My UK travel Insurance appears only to cover 250 pounds for delayed flights - NOT ongoing accommodation.

Many and sincere thanks for any replies

#
Update When I got through to BA they have rescheduled me for 1 May back to UK. Very helpful staff too

I have been verbally promised £100 per day for accommodation (twin occupancy) and £25 pp per day for food and drinks and a one off £50 for commuting.
I have limited time on line here so dont have time to read all posts but can anyone say how that compares to other BA customers? Some folk in our good Sydney hotel were being put up at BA's expense including all meals which were a lot more than our allowance but I'm not complaining - I thought we'd get nothing.

CynicalScotsman

I think the issue here is... the regulation states that if you are re-routed you are entitled to accommodation and food.

What would the definition of re-routing be? Presumably it would mean to go somewhere different to your original booking to finally end up where you wanted to go.. eg rather than going straight from London - Glasgow, going from London-Dublin-Glasgow.

As far as I am aware Ryanair don't offer this service as the are point-to-point. Therefore you have not been re-routed, therefore you are not entitled to accom/food.

Also, when you choose to re-book a flight, you are effectively cancelling your original contract (you are choosing to leave the contract) and entering a new one - as shown by the new confirmation you receive. If you choose to cancel your contract you are not entitled to any compensation under normal UK law.

QUOTE
If your flight is delayed as specified under ‘Flight Delays’ above or you elect to be re-routed to your final destination at the earliest opportunity as a result of a flight cancellation, we will offer you items (a) and (b) above. If the new time of departure is reasonably expected as a result of the delay or your being re-routed following a cancellation to at least the day after the original time of departure, we will also offer you items (c) and (d) above.

apt

The regulation also states that you are entitled to accommodation and food in cases of cancellation and delay.

Pelican_eats_pigeon

CynicalScotsman wrote: »

I think the issue here is... the regulation states that if you are re-routed you are entitled to accommodation and food.

What would the definition of re-routing be? Presumably it would mean to go somewhere different to your original booking to finally end up where you wanted to go.. eg rather than going straight from London - Glasgow, going from London-Dublin-Glasgow.

As far as I am aware Ryanair don't offer this service as the are point-to-point. Therefore you have not been re-routed, therefore you are not entitled to accom/food.

This is all deeply deeply incorrect. Re-routing does not have the meaning you ascribe to it for a start. Rebooking you onto a different flight counts as re-routing.

It is an obligation on the airlines to offer care to a passenger if their flight is cancelled or delayed.

Cancellation
1. In case of cancellation of a flight, the passengers concerned shall:
(a) be offered assistance by the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 8(choice of re-routing or refund); and
(b) be offered assistance by the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 9(1)(a) and 9(2) (meals + refreshments plus 2 phone calls) , as well as, in event of re-routing when the reasonably expected time of departure of the new flight is at least the day after the departure as it was planned for the cancelled flight, the assistance specified in Article 9(1)(b) and 9(1)(c) (hotel accommodation and transfer thereto)

CynicalScotsman wrote: »

Also, when you choose to re-book a flight, you are effectively cancelling your original contract (you are choosing to leave the contract) and entering a new one - as shown by the new confirmation you receive. If you choose to cancel your contract you are not entitled to any compensation under normal UK law.

This is also wrong. For a start, we are talking about an EC regulation rather than a UK law. And we are talking about a 'right to care' rather than compensation. Offering you the chance to rebook is the same thing as the airline re-routing you. Whether you are sent a new confirmation or not, this doesn't make it a new contract or release the airline from their obligation under the regulation.

ajdj

For any Virgin passengers who have rebooked via telephone and not received their eticket via email just log onto 'My booking' using your reference number, scroll down and there is an option to resend your eticket via email. It will come through to your registered email address straight away.

I've done this succesfully twice, once for my first rearranged flight which was subsequently cancelled and again for my current flight booked for 28th. The emails from customer services don't seem to come through despite waiting.

CynicalScotsman

Note a couple of definitions of re-routing:

NOTE:
reroute definition
re·route (rē ro̵ut′, -ro̵̅o̅t′)
transitive verb rerouted -·rout′ed, rerouting -·rout′·ing
to send by a new or different route

re-route (re-routes 3rd person present) (re-routing present participle) (re-routed past tense & past participle ), reroute If vehicles or planes are re-routed, they are directed along a different route because the usual route cannot be used.


Ryanair has not re-routed passengers.

The regulation states:

Cancellation
1. In case of cancellation of a flight, the passengers concerned shall:
(a) be offered assistance by the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 8(choice of re-routing or refund); and
(b) be offered assistance by the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 9(1)(a) and 9(2) (meals + refreshments plus 2 phone calls) , as well as, in event of re-routing when the reasonably expected time of departure of the new flight is at least the day after the departure as it was planned for the cancelled flight, the assistance specified in Article 9(1)(b) and 9(1)(c) (hotel accommodation and transfer thereto)

Ryanair has not re-routed passengers. Therefore 9,1,b and 9,1,c do not apply.

Pelican_eats_pigeon

However the dictionary definition and the air industry definition of re-route are NOT the same. Re-routing in the air industry is any situation where the passenger travels in or on a different scheduled flight, class, route or carrier to that originally specified in their reservation.

So, Ryanair HAS re-routed passengers, and 9(1)(b) and 9(1)(c) do apply.