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MSE News: The Big Freeze: your travel refund rights

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"The bitter cold has caused havoc with the UK's transport system. Find out here if you're due money back for delays ..."
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Comments

  • Where do season ticket holders stand with regards to compensation for additional money spent on buses and tubes because of the trains not running?

    I live in Kent and there were no southeastern trains running on the line my season ticket runs from this morning. Unlike the previous days where I could work from home, I had to get in, so I ended up getting a bus, DLR then tube. I must confess to fare 'dodging' this morning (I don't see why I should have to pay extra, when I've already forked out £1,500 for a season ticket) but this may not be possible on the way home as I may not be able to get through barriers. If I spend on my oyster card, what do you reckon my chances of getting southeastern to refund it are?
  • pollypenny
    pollypenny Posts: 29,414 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I would appreciate advice on a return journey with a non-EU carrier.

    Will be coming back from Tampa, via Philadelphia with US Airways, in January. Hopefully there won't be a repeat of last year.

    Flying to Manchester rather than Gatwick too. Why is Gatwick so vulnerable to snow closures?
    Member #14 of SKI-ers club

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  • What might be really useful is an article about what rights people have if they miss their flight because of a traffic jams or delays to coaches/trains caused by the bad weather.
    "One thing that is different, and has changed here, is the self-absorption, not just greed. Everybody is in a hurry now and there is a 'the rules don't apply to me' sort of thing." - Bill Bryson
  • richardw
    richardw Posts: 19,458 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    What might be really useful is an article about what rights people have if they miss their flight because of a traffic jams or delays to coaches/trains caused by the bad weather.

    It is usually covered by travel insurance.
    Posts are not advice and must not be relied upon.
  • richardw
    richardw Posts: 19,458 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    pollypenny wrote: »
    Why is Gatwick so vulnerable to snow closures?

    Where does it say it is?
    Posts are not advice and must not be relied upon.
  • iggy12a
    iggy12a Posts: 22 Forumite
    I had booked an Advance single ticket in each direction on East Midlands trains to make a return journey over this weekend.

    My outbound service on Friday was cancelled, so in the end I decided not to make the trip and the website informs me that I can request a refund.

    My return train this Sunday would have operated normally, but obviously I have no need for this journey.

    Are the rail companies obliged to treat the two single tickets (which is the only way that cheap advance tickets can be bought) on different days as a complete journey and refund me both legs of my journey?
  • Alan_Bowen
    Alan_Bowen Posts: 4,897 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    A few answers. I believe East Midlands trains will offer a refund of both halves, certainly that is the impression their emails to those of us on their mailing list suggests..

    If you get stuck in the US on a US carrier for whatever reason you are entirely at their mercy, EU261/2004 which sets out consumer rights applies to all departures from the EU but only covers EU airlines on return flights. Travelling through Philly in January doesn't sound a good idea

    Gatwick is in a micro climate, it is always much colder and often foggier there even in summer and in winter it gets hit by the snow harder than almost anywhere else in England, it also doesn't help that it only has one runway, if Heathrow or Manchester get hit they have 2 so one can be being cleared whilst the other is in use.
  • ailuro2
    ailuro2 Posts: 7,540 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    edited 8 December 2010 at 6:39PM
    pollypenny wrote: »
    I would appreciate advice on a return journey with a non-EU carrier.

    We only got put on a plane after I ended up in tears at the desk after days of delays in Newark, you can't shout at them because security cart you off... in my case the crying was because I'd hit rock bottom, had been awake for about 70 out of the previous 72 hours. We were given seat son a flight via Frankfurt and London instead of straight to edinburgh like we'd paid for.

    If we were ever in that situation again I'd be in tears at the first check in / rebooking desk.;)
    Member of the first Mortgage Free in 3 challenge, no.19
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  • ailuro2 wrote: »
    you can't shout at them because security cart you off...

    Sorry to correct you, but you can't shout at them because no matter what disruption you've suffered a) it's incredibly rude and b) it's ineffective.
  • emmasam
    emmasam Posts: 13 Forumite
    Hello Everyone - I'm hoping you might be able to give me a bit of advice about my Christmas Holiday, or at least point me in the right direction. I'm keeping everything crossed at the moment but having just read the headlines (and the bookies odds!) on there being snow on Christmas Day I'm a bit worried :o...

    We fly out from Gatwick to Barbados on Christmas Day. We're going for three weeks and we're flying with Virgin. I've booked the apartment directly (privately if you like) as its more cost effective that way. However, if, for weather reasons, my flight is delayed, or heaven forbid cancelled! - is there any form of insurance I can take out that will cover me for the accommodation? I think I'm right in assuming that under EU law I can get my flight money back (or the offer of a re-booking) but I know with Virgin Airways that they're already sold out the day after boxing day and if the weather is bad for a few days I could be in Gatwick for quite a while on stand by (so I might 'have' to cancel the whole thing...)

    As we're going for three weeks it wouldn't be the end of the world if we lost a couple of days I suppose. What I don't want is to be in the situation I was in April when the volcano happened. We were due to go to Tenerife and of course it all got cancelled and I eventually got a refund a couple of months later. This Christmas trip's cost an arm and a leg and I want to ensure I'm covered.

    I've checked out a quote with Columbus Direct which seems ok - has anyone used them before? I've just been reading the horror stories about claiming with Insure & Go (point being : most customers haven't been able to claim with them!) so I want to make sure I find the right insurance.

    Sorry for the long ramble! We've worked really really hard for this holiday and after April's cancellation we're desperate for one too! I have separate standard travel insurance via my Bank (Lloyds) but think this travel cover might be an 'extra'.

    Thanks in advance for all your advice ... I hope!
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