KLM trouble

mikey72

Cityboy wrote: »

Mikey

The 'several countries' you mention is really neither here nor there since the common denominator is the EU airline passengers are flying with and the EU regulation under which they are legally bound to operate.

The EU regulation has been adopted into law in each EU member state (as well as Switzerland) and therefore passengers can expect the protection contained therein or, absent that from the airline, reimbusement for those reasonable expenses.

Whether the airlines accept the law or not, it is the law and passengers can expect remedy under such law. The airlines can argue all they like that the law wasn't designed for such circumstances but there is no leeway within the wording of the regulation for them to thus argue, it is that clear.

Interestingly, it is these same airlines who are demanding the governments bail them out and 'assist' them in these circumstances. That may well happen but IMO governments may put a rider on any financial assistance granted that airlines in turn face up to their legal responsibilities to passengers.

I will have to take your word for it, I have never been to small claims court in Holland.
However it now appears to be academic, if the eu will be footing the bill for all the claims in their compensation to the airlines, I'm sure KLM will be putting their handling and processing charge on any passenger claim, then passing the claim on.

malkie76

Laws are meaningless if not properly enforced, and particularly when there is little mechanism to force providers to adhere to the laws.There are plenty of laws against dodgy builders, yet dodgy builders continue to trade. You can take dodgy builders to the small claims court and win, only to find out there are poor mechanisms in place to actually get the money you are entitled to. Watch a few episodes of Watchdog to appreciate the distance between laws and regulations, and the reality of consumer rights.

zaksmum

We can only hope that when the true scale of inconvenience to passengers becomes known, somebody - whether airlines or government - is held accountable.

In my area most people know someone who has been stranded abroad. An elderly neighbour is worried about her son stranded in Spain, while my daughter's school has several pupils still unable to get home, and a good friend had the holiday she'd planned for her 50th cancelled.

I don't know if the airspace closure was an over-reaction...or who is ultimately responsible.

But surely lessons should be learned here? The law exists to protect us all, and if the airlines just wash their hands of their paying customers in such circumstances they are breaking that law and we have the right to ask what exactly is going on.