BMI/FlyBMI food poisoning question

rompom

I flew BMI from London to Berlin this morning with a colleague. We have both been vomiting all day, and have not eaten/stayed together at any stage during the past week.

I called BMI and asked them to change our return flights from 9:20pm to 5:30pm (as we're currently lying on the floor in quite a lot of pain, being sick etc. Not at all pretty) and they said that, as they could only take our word for us being unwell, and not have any proof, they would have to charge us £260 to change the flights EVEN THOUGH THE EARLIER FLIGHT IS HALF THE PRICE OF OUR CURRENT TICKETS.

Any advice here? Who can we complain to? They suggested we email their complaints dept, but I have rather lost faith in their integrity and understanding. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Alternatively, I do have a bag of 'evidence' I'd be happy to post them.

Equaliser123

rompom wrote: »

I called BMI and asked them to change our return flights from 9:20pm to 5:30pm (as we're currently lying on the floor in quite a lot of pain, being sick etc. Not at all pretty)

Sound like you will be refused boarding anyway as you are hardly fit to fly.

fluffnutter

The lengths people will go to to get an extra night in Berlin with that nice hotty from the office.

Incidentally, are BMI even liable? You'll probably find the company that flies you is different to the company who provides the meals. Outsourcing innit. As this is a business trip, won't your company stump up? Have you got insurance?

custardy

fluffnutter wrote: »

The lengths people will go to to get an extra night in Berlin with that nice hotty from the office.

Incidentally, are BMI even liable? You'll probably find the company that flies you is different to the company who provides the meals. Outsourcing innit. As this is a business trip, won't your company stump up? Have you got insurance?

it would be BMI staff serving the food though

WestonDave

As above its largely irrelevant - if you are so incapacitated by illness that you can't sit up for the duration of the flight, (which leaves in 2.5 hours time assuming that's 5:30 German time) you won't be allowed to board. Secondly they won't just accept that its food poisoning on that sort of circumstantial evidence - given that you are colleagues its also possible that you have picked up a virus from being in the same location (only takes one infected doorhandle), so unless there are other unconnected sufferers from your flight this morning you'll need a sample tested by your doctor.

visidigi

Doctors certificate should be enough proof for BMI to change your flights - but getting that proof tied into the food you ate on the way out is going to prove very difficult indeed...

I'm afraid you will be fighting a losing battle here - it would be a case for your insurance to cover it..

squeaky

Depending on the agent responsible - food poisoning can take anywhere from one hour to 70 days to show up. So you really are going to have a hard time proving this one.

See:- http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Food-poisoning/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

You're very probably right in your assumption in where the blame lies - but proving it could be difficult.

gordikin

squeaky wrote: »

Depending on the agent responsible - food poisoning can take anywhere from one hour to 70 days to show up. So you really are going to have a hard time proving this one.

See:- http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Food-poisoning/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

You're very probably right in your assumption in where the blame lies - but proving it could be difficult.

...and the next line after the 70 days you quote says:-

Usually, symptoms of food poisoning develop after one to three days.

How that comes to mean 'You're very probably right in your assumption in where the blame lies' I do not know. I'd say it was unlikely that something eaten on the plane in the morning would cause vomiting all day.