MSE News: BMI Baby closure Q&A: your rights

Celt36

Sorry to hear you lost your job Superflygal.Makes my problem seem a bit less significant.

Booked a holiday through Directline holidays(ABTA,ATOL paid by credit card) and the flight from Belfast City Airport is discontinued.They have an alternative flight from Belfast international on JET2 the same dates but it is £1100 dearer.Does anyone have an opinion as to who is liable for the difference or is there a different alternative?

Alan_Bowen

If you bought it as a package, it is up to the operator to replace the flights at no extra cost. If you decided to go down the 'moneysaving route' by booking the individual parts separately, so Directline made it clear they were separate and unconnected contracts with BMIBaby for the flights and a bed bank for the accommodation, then you may be stuck with either buying new flights or trying to get Directline to give you a refund, which may be subject to cancellation charges for the accommodation. Hopefully you bought a package at a single price for everything in which case Directline must replace the flight or offer a full refund

Celt36

Thanks for the reply Alan,
Purchased it as a package from Directline,got confirmation email from them and BMIbaby on flights and holiday.Spoke to Directline who said they would give me a full refund no problem, but I would be unable to book anything at this late stage for anything like the price.
I told the rep that I didnt want the refund,I wanted them to put me on the flight from Belfast international which is a few hours earlier with JET2 and they insisted I would be responsible for the extra cost of £1100.
The same holiday,with the same hotel and accomodation and dates is on the Directline website with different flights and much much dearer.

frogleapx

Thankyou for the story guy
Yes you are correct that there is room to claim under section 75 for a refund however my understanding of section 75 is that one could claim for much more

take this theoretical example

you book with BMI a flight to alicante from east midlands for £150

now the market cost of the flight with Thomson airways is £250.

can you claim the £150 + the £100 market differance?

this ombusman ruling (86/05) suggests you can

unable to post hyperlinks but google(issue 86 86/05 ombudsman) to see a similar case

i wonder if the MSE researchers could look closer into this issue

cheers
frogleapx

sunshine

We had flights booked with bmi baby for August (Belfast - Malaga). Just checked my credit card and the money has been refunded in full. That was quick. :T

JamiSaint

Very sad for the customers and the staff, but it was a rubbish airline - I remember they moved my flight on business when I worked at a tiny charity at very little notice, and wouldn't refund the charity the card charges they charged. I never flew with them again, good riddance.

walesrob

I nearly always fly with BMIBaby for Spanish flights for many years, from Cardiff (now long gone) and most recently, Birmingham, on Monday. On every flight, I found the cabin staff pleasant and helpful. Its a shame its all ended like this, as I always thought BMIBaby seemed to be the best of the budget carriers.

sickkitty

Need help! I booked flights for me and my friend, Glasgow to east midlands. The account i used to pay for the flights i cant use and i have been trying to get ahold of some at bmi baby to change the details to my new account. Everytime i phone they keep fobbing me off with someone will phone me back or someone with email me. I have now sent a letter too. Think i am not going to see my money again!

Louisdf

JamiSaint wrote: »

Very sad for the customers and the staff, but it was a rubbish airline - I remember they moved my flight on business when I worked at a tiny charity at very little notice, and wouldn't refund the charity the card charges they charged. I never flew with them again, good riddance.

Bmibaby was also the company who robbed £40 off people for their 'oversized' hand luggage. Even when it was proved that their testing cages were smaller than they were supposed to be, they still refused to refund the many people who they had scammed.

budgetflyer

BMI Regional have just been bought by Aberdeen consortium who hope to keep most routes going.

So there may still be hope for bmibaby