Flight delay and cancellation compensation, KLM/AF ONLY

louaijsa

Thank you very much for answering!

I've just read the guide (and other websites since I got home after my trip) and my trip is between 1500-3500 km, therefore it should be 400€.

The reason for the cancellation on April 4th was "operational reasons" and on the 7th likewise, although I know that the 7th was said to be strike day.

What I'm thinking about now is if it's possible to ask for "double" compensation since my flights were cancelled twice? At the same time I'm thinking that maybe I can't do that, because on April 7th the rebooked flight that I took was actually the same day as I would have travelled if the second AF journey wasn't cancelled, and on that day I wasn't arriving late...

JPears

You can only claim once for the journey. And your second flight, even though rerouted, was not more than 3 hours later than your first.

If you had got refund, and rebooked flights for the 7th yourself,AND that flight was delayed by more than 3 hours in arrival you could claim twice.

louaijsa

Ok! Thanks a lot!! :j

--Tony--

Hi all,

How do KLM normally handle claims, do they generally payout without issue? I have input our claims in via their website yesterday.

What happened was we boarded and were about to go when the pilot announced the lorry they push the aircraft back with had done so with the aircraft breaks on. They needed an engineer to check the aircraft and the engineer was three hours away.

We were booked with KLM all the way through to Costa Rica from Southampton and the delay meant we would miss connections in Amsterdam and Panama.

As a result they took us by taxi from Southampton to Heathrow where we waited 8 hours and were put on a Virgin flight to JFK, then Aviance to San Salvador another big layover, then to Costa Rica. We had a horrific flight, spent over 32 hours travelling and arrived in Costa Rica 15 hours late.

JPears

Welcome,
Download and read Vauban's guide.
It looks as though you are due the full amount of 600 Euros per passenger.

--Tony--

JPears wrote: »

Welcome,
Download and read Vauban's guide.
It looks as though you are due the full amount of 600 Euros per passenger.

Thanks, yes I had a read of that, you don't think they can say it was exceptional circumstances because the ground staff damaged the plane, the guide only covers technical.

I would have thought they would have someone closer than 3 hours who can sign off the planes airworthiness, if not based at the airport

JPears

Damage by a third party is not an EC usually as KLm can claim off the third party for their mistake (if they choose to)
My expeience with a KLM claim was very good. I actually put in our claim whilst waiting for our next flight at Schipol after the delay on our first flight.;)
I think we got paid about 2 o3 weeks later.
The claim was apporived after a few days. But it was a clear cut case and several years ago. I think KLM play a bit mor ehardball these days especially with AF about to go up the swanny...

--Tony--

JPears wrote: »

Damage by a third party is not an EC usually as KLm can claim off the third party for their mistake (if they choose to)
My expeience with a KLM claim was very good. I actually put in our claim whilst waiting for our next flight at Schipol after the delay on our first flight.;)
I think we got paid about 2 o3 weeks later.
The claim was apporived after a few days. But it was a clear cut case and several years ago. I think KLM play a bit mor ehardball these days especially with AF about to go up the swanny...

Thanks,
Just to update KLM have been very reasonable and replied yesterday (two weeks) with:

"This is indeed a situation where you are entitled to receive compensation. Hence, we are pleased to confirm you that we have initiated the process to transfer GBO 524 (equivalent to EUR 600) in the given bank account."

Only one of us has had a reply so far (had to claim separately) but I'm sure the other reply will be along soon.

thr1879

My wife and daughter recently had their return flights to the cancelled by Air France.
The airline sent a message saying the flights were cancelled and they should not go to the airport. Later that day they were offered return flights to the UK the following evening, but due to the scale of the action they struggled to source additional hotel accommodation in Paris. They tried to contact Air France with no success.

Eventually, we managed to book Euro Star tickets on the same day they were originally due to fly back. We also had to book tickets from London - Birmingham.

Air France have agreed to pay the standard 250 euros each flight delay compensation, but have refused to reimburse the £600.00 we paid for our original flights and our alternative return travel fees. They have told us the online booking company for the flights are liable. The online booking company (for the flights) Gotogate site contradicts this and tells you to pursue the airline.

This has been dragging on for weeks now and I'm thinking about issuing in the small claims court. Can anybody confirm who I should pursue? Can I pursue both?

Also Air France have refused to reimburse the compensation to our Nationwide accounts saying the will only pay into a UK clearing bank. This despite us providing them with a BIC/Swift Code? We don't have any other accounts. Can they do this?

jpsartre

For sure you are entitled to a refund of the cancelled flight you didn't use although you will have to go through the agent to get this. AF will then refund the agent who will pass on the refund to you. Unfortunately Gotogate doesn't have a great reputation. Alternatively you can pursue the cost you incurred getting home directly from AF. This might require legal action and it's difficult to say what your chances of winning are since AF did offer you rerouting the following day.