HELP! Husband stranded abroad!

jackieb

I heard a man on the BBC news this afternoon complaining about being delayed, saying it was only a flurry of snow and it shouldn't hold up the flights.

I would much rather the companies be over-cautious than the alternative. Earlier on this month my dh was on a helicopter (okay not a plane..but still) and they couldn't land as their landing gear had frozen. They had to circle the airport, which was shut down because of this, and had paramedics and fire engines in attendance just in case. Some brave engineers had to get out there while the chopper hovered not far off the ground, and try to release the landing gear. He's also flown from small Russian airports where they don't defrost the planes and where BA refuse to fly to. Just be thankful that they're being cautious. He'll get home to you soon.

isplumm

Well a couple of weeks back we were due to fly to Jamaica from Gatwick ... found out flight was canceled at 22:00 - spent 2 hours in telephone queue for BA - managed to rebook for 2 days later - the guy I spoke to was in the US.

Found them very good.

Mark

fimonkey

darkblue wrote: »

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/flight-delays

Make sure he keeps all receipts.

hmmmm and then be prepared for the airline to quote 'extraordinary circumstances' which includes weather, and means they don't have to pay up. Also be prepared for a hefty excess on your travel insurance that probably means its not worth claiming, or for cover that doesn't include trips in the UK!

Best bet is if its a business trip because the company then refund expenses,.. but if its a personal trip your pretty much on your own even with travel insurance!

My experience recently was with flymaybe and direct travel insurance. I would just like to thank flymaybe for the free cup of tea once on the plane from Leeds to Southampton that was 7 hours delayed due to the weather. The exact same weather that Eastern airlines had no trouble taking off and landing in on the same route.

fimonkey

Cityboy wrote: »

The 'extraordinary circumstances' defence only applies to the Compensation entitlement due to cancellations under Article 5 not to the Right to Care entitlements under Article 9: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32004R0261:EN:HTML. Darkblue was referring to the right to meals/hotel etc whilst waiting for a re-routed flight I believe.

Cityboy, you might be right but try and tell that to an airline such as flymaybe when their ground staff are adamant they "owe you nothing because the circumstances are out of thier control,... and if you want you can take it up with customer services" - who by the way are on an 0845 number and are unable to answer the phone or reply to emails in any sensible timely manner due to high volumes of calls.

Doesn't matter what your rights should be, or actually are, you are still at the mercy of the airline staff who seem to make things up as they go along.

fimonkey

Cityboy wrote: »

Travel insurance won't cover you for items reclaimable from the airline such as meals/refreshments whilst waiting for a delayed flight as they are covered under Article 9 Right to Care in this: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32004R0261:EN:HTML

From your other post....

Number 12 of the link you posted
.."(12) The trouble and inconvenience to passengers caused by cancellation of flights should also be reduced. This should be achieved by inducing carriers to inform passengers of cancellations before the scheduled time of departure and in addition to offer them reasonable re-routing, so that the passengers can make other arrangements. Air carriers should compensate passengers if they fail to do this, except when the cancellation occurs in extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken."

Its their get-out clause and it works every time!!!!

richardw

deleted.........

PolishBigSpender

Cityboy wrote: »

Whilst airline ground or customer services staff might say what they want, I have now given you the link to EC 261/2004 so you will know what the law states. You will also be able to claim effectively from the airline's registered office if this situation should (hopefully not) befall you again!

With no legal precedent set - saying "you will be able to claim" is rather...hmm, dubious legal advice?