Flight delay compensation, all other EU airlines

David_e

YDK84 wrote: »

Hi all,

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, so please feel free to move if necessary mods.

Anyway I was booked into a Wizz Air flight from Luton to Kosice on Saturday, departing at 13:55. The boarding passes state that we were to arrive no more than 40 minutes before departure time to check in our baggage.

We got to the check in desk at 13:00 having heard no calling for Kosice over the tannoy or even seeing any flight information pertaining to our flight on the Wizz Air baggage check in desks.

When we arrived we were told that we were too late to make the flight, and had to book on the proceeding flight, which was of course a day later, paying £120 for the privilege, and also affecting our hotel reservation in Kosice.

I'm going to launch a formal complaint to the airline, however I wanted to garner some experience from you guys before doing so to ensure we don't miss anything.

I've looked into it and there is a lot of hearsay about Wizz Air overselling flights which would explain their refusal to let us check in our baggage, and force us to book a flight the next day.

Have a look at the thread "Flight Delay Compensation Important Info - Please check before posting"

If there are questions not answered there, please post them on the relevant existing thread rather than starting a new one - it helps prevent the forum becoming unusable. (And I am sure the moderators would rather posters posted in the right place to start with.)

Nick_C

I am no expert on this, but it looks like you may have a claim against Wizz Air. They say on their web site:-

"Passengers travelling with checked baggage must present themselves at the baggage drop desk no later than 40 minutes before the scheduled departure time of the flight. At some airports the check-in desks function as baggage drop desks as well.

Passengers who checked-in online shall be present at the boarding gate ready for boarding no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time of the flight."

However, the Luton Airport web site says:-

"The boarding gate for your flight will close approximately 40 minutes before the scheduled flight departure time, however, please remember you need to undergo the security search and reach your gate in plenty of time to board.

We strongly advise you leave ample time to undergo these procedures."

I would say Wizz Air are giving out inaccurate information that caused you to miss your flight. You contract is with Wizz Air, not with Luton Airport, and I don't think its reasonable that you should have been expected to cross check the information directly with the airport.

I've only flown from Luton once, when I flew (a few years ago) with BA to the IOM. BA advertised that check in closed 30 minutes before the flight (we were travelling with hand luggage only). We arrived at the airport 40 minutes before the flight, and were initially refused the right to check in. We argued with the check in desk for nearly 10 minutes, and I showed them a print out of the information on the BA web site. We were eventually allowed to check in 30 minutes before the flight was due to leave. It took us 20 minutes from checking in to clearing security and arriving at the gate (running all the way).

Given Luton say you have to be at the gate 40 minutes before take off, I think the airlines should be advising you to check in no later than 75 minutes before the flight.

Good luck with your fight against Wizz Air. Let us know how you get on.

charlee1985

Hello,

I booked through the Airberlin website to go London Stansted-Dusseldorf (Etihad Regional) and Dusseldorf - Mytilini (Air Berlin) Under one booking.

My flight got affected by the French Air Traffic control strike and I had to wait for 8 hours in the airport before they put me in a hotel.

Next day I've been told that they are unable to find me an alternative so I booked a bus to go to Manchester and fly from there (On my own expense)

I've raised a complain through the Airberlin website on the 3rd of July and I have yet to receive an answer. I contact them through twitter and this is their response "Hi, I wait for respone of Etihad Regional Airlines. I need some details to refund. Bye"

Is there anything I can do to make this process faster? I am not happy that they still have my money! Am I entitled to compensation as well?

Thank you!

charlee1985

Everyone on holiday? :P

David_e

charlee1985 wrote: »

Everyone on holiday? :P

No, I think they are all heads down reading the FAQs.

Caz3121

charlee1985 wrote: »

My flight got affected by the French Air Traffic control strike ...

......Am I entitled to compensation as well?

ATC is not within the airlines control, so if that was the reason your flight was affected then no you are not due compensation unless your travel insurance offers anything

MikePK

TAP texted yesterday to say my Friday flight to Lisbon is cancelled.
( 5 days notice )
Spent over an hour on hold to contact centre and was told they could re-route - but not same day. ( Following day )

This means : -

Lose 1 night prepaid cost of hotel for family of 4 in Lisbon.
Lose 1 days family anual holiday.
Fly from a different UK airport. ( Heathrow rather than Gatwick )

What compensation am I entitled to please ?
Can you advise best way of claiming ?

Thanks in advance.

Caz3121

MikePK wrote: »

TAP texted yesterday to say my Friday flight to Lisbon is cancelled.
( 5 days notice )
Spent over an hour on hold to contact centre and was told they could re-route - but not same day. ( Following day )

This means : -

Lose 1 night prepaid cost of hotel for family of 4 in Lisbon.
Lose 1 days family anual holiday.
Fly from a different UK airport. ( Heathrow rather than Gatwick )

What compensation am I entitled to please ?
Can you advise best way of claiming ?

Thanks in advance.

Have a good read of the FAQs - you should be entitled to €250 each compensation (assuming the delay is not outwith the airlines control eg strikes) You can also see what you can claim from your travel insurance

MikePK

Caz3121 wrote: »

Have a good read of the FAQs - you should be entitled to €250 each compensation (assuming the delay is not outwith the airlines control eg strikes) You can also see what you can claim from your travel insurance

Thanks Caz.

TAP contact centre informed me reason for cancellation was due to late delivery of new planes for TAP - Thus, they had to cancel the flight.

Mike

H_Rubinfeld

Now that I helped one friend send a letter about a flight cancellation and late arrival, someone else is asking me for help.

Her story is that their Brussels Airlines flight (Tel Aviv to Brussels and then to New York) was cancelled a few hours before takeoff, but (after a big runaround and headache etc.) they did get on a El Al flight in Tel Aviv straight to New York.

They actually arrived earlier than planned, but they arrived at JFK not EWR (Newark) and they had to pay for the hour-long cab ride. That's her one concrete claim.

The other claims she has are that she and her 8 children were not provided seats together on El Al (they barely got them on the flight at all last minute) and her small kids couldn't even sleep they were so scared to be sitting with strangers, and there was no kosher food provided (they had ordered that on the Brussels flights) so they couldn't eat, nor was any food provided between the flight cancellation and the boarding of the new flight. The last claim is that she thinks they must allow them a phone call to inform people at the destination of their change in plans. Not only did they not provide that, there was not even time to call.

I didn't have the heart to tell her that there are phones on airplanes today.

OK, anyway, she thinks her claims are valid. Can anyone shed any light on this?