Flight delay and cancellation compensation, Ryanair ONLY

Ruthc123

I have just returned from a holiday to Austria, flying Stansted to Salzburg with Ryanair. Both our flights were delayed and I have submitted requests for compensation via Resolva. I have little hope of any compensation for our outward journey as I know our 4 hour plus delay was fundamentally due to Stansteds refuelling system having been struck by lightening, so really beyond the scope of any individual airline, however the return flight is different. I am awaiting a response from them about this flight.
We endured a further 3 hour plus delay on our return flight, due to some technical issue on the plane earlier in the day causing it to be grounded and an alternative plane sourced. The pilot told us this as we sat on the tarmac waiting for an ATC slot. I have just received a letter from Ryanair stating no compensation will be paid as the delay was !!!8220;due to operational reasons!!!8221; and beyond their control. Surely maintenance of planes is absolutely within their control? If a warning light comes on and a plane is deemed unsafe to fly this is very much their responsibility?
Any help, guidance or constructive suggestions welcome.

Many thanks

jpsartre

If the delay was due to technical issues then you are pretty much guaranteed to have a valid claim.

JPears

I would put a claim in for both.
But you are correct, the return flight doesn't sound like an EC. True, you may have had to wait for ATC slot but RA caused the delay in the first place.

nxdmsandkaskdjaqd

Ruthc123 wrote: »

I have little hope of any compensation for our outward journey as I know our 4 hour plus delay was fundamentally due to Stansteds refuelling system having been struck by lightening, so really beyond the scope of any individual airline

Not directly related to your experience, but, take a look at the Departures Flight board video at the following:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5776309/Passengers-stranded-planes-Stansted-airport-flights-cancelled.html

It's interesting that the board shows the period 07:00 to 15:00 and the last 2 panels from 09:00 to 15:00 (all approx times). What's interesting is that other flights are boarding, yet some Ryanair flights are already showing as cancelled.

If other Ryanair flights and other airlines can take off why would this be classified as an extreme weather event? Does this not mean that it's an operational issue that within Ryanair's control?

jpsartre

Forget about it, you don't have a valid claim. If you really think otherwise then start legal proceedings.

JPears

jpsartre wrote: »

Forget about it, you don't have a valid claim. If you really think otherwise then start legal proceedings.

No valid claim for both journeys?

jpsartre

JPears wrote: »

No valid claim for both journeys?

Sorry, I was responding to nxdmsandkaskdjaqd, I should have made that clear.

Romaness

Thank you jpsartre and JPears for the great advice. Vauban's guide does make things a bit clearer.

The barebone facts are that my flight (prior to cancellation) was delayed by over five hours; no reason was provided for the delay, either at the airport or via text/e-mail communications; the only same-day alternative was with another airline, with a predicted landing time that went just over a two-hour delay compared to the original flight (but an ACTUAL landing time that went just under it, which I'm not sure helps my case).

I do recall the Ryanair staff at the airport (who had no further information re: the delay; they seemed caught by surprise as we passengers were) saying there were no alternative aircraft that could be brought in to take us to our destination, so there must have been some behind-the-scenes info about the situation, it just never reached us.

nxdmsandkaskdjaqd

JPears wrote: »

No valid claim for both journeys?

Thank you for the reply jpsartre. You say both journeys, this was my original email:

nxdmsandkaskdjaqd wrote: »

My return flight from Poland of the 27 May was cancelled whilst I was at the airport awaiting my return journey. The reason for the cancellation was due to aircraft refuelling problems as Stanstead airport following the lightning storms. Ryanair did offer us an alternative flight of the 1st June some 5 days later, with one night!!!8217;s accommodation only, but had to wait for details of accommodation for up to 3 hrs.

Because we needed to get back to the UK we found an alternative flight some 45 hours later with another airline and another airport. We incurred costs for an additional hotel (£160), taxi fares between airports (£180) and £400 in flights.

Since being back in the UK we have obtained a refund from Ryanair for the cancelled return flight to the UK (£98).

I assume you are saying that the reason for no claim is that this was Exceptional Weather circumstances. However, flights were still taking off from Standstead on that day, is that not an argument to say that the weather did in the first instance cause some delays, but the cancellation of some flights was for operational reasons (maybe having the right planes in the right place for the following say (Ryanair flights that day were cancelled between Stanstead and Poland and Stanstead)?

Given that we just left at the airport on our return journey, are we not entitled to some for of Duty Of Care compensation?

jpsartre

Look, there was a lightning strike at the airport which meant airplanes couldn't refuel. It is entirely outside the control of the airline. If you think you have a claim, then start legal proceeding and you can argue your case to a judge.



As for duty of care, that applies regardless of why you were delayed.