Compensation for delayed flights Discussion Area

onashoestring

Brodel said:

onashoestring said:

Brodel said:

Hello,

I booked a flight with Wizz Air through the company MyTravel that was due to leave LGW on 30 May 2022 and return on 5 June 2022. Three hours before the flight was due to depart I received an email to say that it had been cancelled. I was told by MyTravel and staff at the airport that due to the last minute cancellation all compensation and refund claims must be made through Wizz Air.

Wizz Air have no available flights until 03 June 2022 so I purchased a new flight that leaves today (31 May 2022) with British Airways. This was the cheapest I could find and cost £338.62.

I have filed a claim against Wizz Air for compensation in accordance with their obligations under the EU Denied Boarding Regulation 261/2004 and so I am expecting a refund for my initial outgoing flight (£70) plus €400 compensation as the flight was over 1,500km.

Am I able to claim any money back on the cost of the new flight at £338.62? The person from Wizz Air that I spoke with on the phone said yes, but at the airport multiple airport staff (not Wizz Air employees) said no. What I've read online is unclear as to whether or not you can claim the money back if the flight is with a different airline to your original booking.

Thank you

It’s one or the other - EITHER refund or alternative flight to your destination not both .  

• EITHER a refund for the flight that was cancelled.
• OR an alternative flight (airlines call this re-routing) to your destination.

Yes it can be with another airline if Whizzair aren’t offering alternative flights - however the process it that you should ask Whizzair  to book the alternative flight . 

However as you have already claimed for a refund - you may have scuppered you chances of them paying for the alternative flight as you can’t have both refund and alternative flight . 

You will be entitled to claim the compensation as it was a last minute cancellation.

Ok thank you for clarifying. When I phoned Wizz Air I asked if claiming a refund would void any right I had to compensation for other flights and or hotel stays I would have to purchase and they said that it wouldn't if the reason for cancellation was the choice of the Airline. I have a reference number for this call and presumably it is recorded. Do you think it might be worth perusing this to get a refund on the BA flight that I booked? Part of me wants to chase it up and the other part wants to just forget it all because I can't see it being an easy stress free experience...

If you claim a refund - You’ll be entitled to the set comps amount also ( as it was a last minute cancellation) but nothing on top of those 2 amounts .

Or 

If you don’t claim a refund and have asked for an alternative flight you can get the alternative flight and the set amount of compensation. 

Brodel

onashoestring said:

Brodel said:

onashoestring said:

Brodel said:

Hello,

I booked a flight with Wizz Air through the company MyTravel that was due to leave LGW on 30 May 2022 and return on 5 June 2022. Three hours before the flight was due to depart I received an email to say that it had been cancelled. I was told by MyTravel and staff at the airport that due to the last minute cancellation all compensation and refund claims must be made through Wizz Air.

Wizz Air have no available flights until 03 June 2022 so I purchased a new flight that leaves today (31 May 2022) with British Airways. This was the cheapest I could find and cost £338.62.

I have filed a claim against Wizz Air for compensation in accordance with their obligations under the EU Denied Boarding Regulation 261/2004 and so I am expecting a refund for my initial outgoing flight (£70) plus €400 compensation as the flight was over 1,500km.

Am I able to claim any money back on the cost of the new flight at £338.62? The person from Wizz Air that I spoke with on the phone said yes, but at the airport multiple airport staff (not Wizz Air employees) said no. What I've read online is unclear as to whether or not you can claim the money back if the flight is with a different airline to your original booking.

Thank you

It’s one or the other - EITHER refund or alternative flight to your destination not both .  

• EITHER a refund for the flight that was cancelled.
• OR an alternative flight (airlines call this re-routing) to your destination.

Yes it can be with another airline if Whizzair aren’t offering alternative flights - however the process it that you should ask Whizzair  to book the alternative flight . 

However as you have already claimed for a refund - you may have scuppered you chances of them paying for the alternative flight as you can’t have both refund and alternative flight . 

You will be entitled to claim the compensation as it was a last minute cancellation.

Ok thank you for clarifying. When I phoned Wizz Air I asked if claiming a refund would void any right I had to compensation for other flights and or hotel stays I would have to purchase and they said that it wouldn't if the reason for cancellation was the choice of the Airline. I have a reference number for this call and presumably it is recorded. Do you think it might be worth perusing this to get a refund on the BA flight that I booked? Part of me wants to chase it up and the other part wants to just forget it all because I can't see it being an easy stress free experience...

If you claim a refund - You’ll be entitled to the set comps amount also ( as it was a last minute cancellation) but nothing on top of those 2 amounts .

Or 

If you don’t claim a refund and have asked for an alternative flight you can get the alternative flight and the set amount of compensation. 

Ok, thank you. I booked a second flight myself after asking for a refund from Wizz Air on the basis that the member of staff at the call centre told me that claiming a refund would not void my right to being compensated for purchasing an additional flight. I guess I will take it up with WizzAir as I have a reference number for the call where I was told that.

onashoestring

Brodel said:

onashoestring said:

Brodel said:

onashoestring said:

Brodel said:

Hello,

I booked a flight with Wizz Air through the company MyTravel that was due to leave LGW on 30 May 2022 and return on 5 June 2022. Three hours before the flight was due to depart I received an email to say that it had been cancelled. I was told by MyTravel and staff at the airport that due to the last minute cancellation all compensation and refund claims must be made through Wizz Air.

Wizz Air have no available flights until 03 June 2022 so I purchased a new flight that leaves today (31 May 2022) with British Airways. This was the cheapest I could find and cost £338.62.

I have filed a claim against Wizz Air for compensation in accordance with their obligations under the EU Denied Boarding Regulation 261/2004 and so I am expecting a refund for my initial outgoing flight (£70) plus €400 compensation as the flight was over 1,500km.

Am I able to claim any money back on the cost of the new flight at £338.62? The person from Wizz Air that I spoke with on the phone said yes, but at the airport multiple airport staff (not Wizz Air employees) said no. What I've read online is unclear as to whether or not you can claim the money back if the flight is with a different airline to your original booking.

Thank you

It’s one or the other - EITHER refund or alternative flight to your destination not both .  

• EITHER a refund for the flight that was cancelled.
• OR an alternative flight (airlines call this re-routing) to your destination.

Yes it can be with another airline if Whizzair aren’t offering alternative flights - however the process it that you should ask Whizzair  to book the alternative flight . 

However as you have already claimed for a refund - you may have scuppered you chances of them paying for the alternative flight as you can’t have both refund and alternative flight . 

You will be entitled to claim the compensation as it was a last minute cancellation.

Ok thank you for clarifying. When I phoned Wizz Air I asked if claiming a refund would void any right I had to compensation for other flights and or hotel stays I would have to purchase and they said that it wouldn't if the reason for cancellation was the choice of the Airline. I have a reference number for this call and presumably it is recorded. Do you think it might be worth perusing this to get a refund on the BA flight that I booked? Part of me wants to chase it up and the other part wants to just forget it all because I can't see it being an easy stress free experience...

If you claim a refund - You’ll be entitled to the set comps amount also ( as it was a last minute cancellation) but nothing on top of those 2 amounts .

Or 

If you don’t claim a refund and have asked for an alternative flight you can get the alternative flight and the set amount of compensation. 

Ok, thank you. I booked a second flight myself after asking for a refund from Wizz Air on the basis that the member of staff at the call centre told me that claiming a refund would not void my right to being compensated for purchasing an additional flight. I guess I will take it up with WizzAir as I have a reference number for the call where I was told that.

As the refund hasn’t been paid yet - maybe you can withdraw your claim ? I have no idea if this is possible or how it’s done . Other posters maybe able to advise. 

Alan_Bowen

It is of course in the airline's interest for you to accept a refund, I wonder if they have a script intended to mislead? Or am I just becoming too cynical?

NotoriousREV

Back in April our Ryanair flight from Manchester to Rhodes was delayed, landing 3 hours and 50 minutes late. The reason was that the baggage handling agent appointed by Ryanair (Swissair) were understaffed and pretty much every flight out of Manchester that day (01/04) was late. These problems had been going on for days, if not weeks, and had been well documented in the press. 

When we claimed compensation, Ryanair told us that the delay was both unexpected and out of their control. My view is that 1) Ryanair are responsible for baggage handling, even if they outsource this responsibility to a 3rd party and 2) the delays were entirely expected given the ongoing staffing issues. 

My questions are: am I right? And, has anyone successfully claimed via the ADR process for a delay due to a lack of baggage handlers?

Thanks. 

Westin

NotoriousREV,
I wonder if there were other reasons for the flight delay.  I think most airlines would actually depart without the checked baggage in the hold, so schedules can be maintained. I can’t see RyanAir holding a flight for 3hrs+ just because bags did not make it to the flight.

NotoriousREV

Westin said:

NotoriousREV,
I wonder if there were other reasons for the flight delay.  I think most airlines would actually depart without the checked baggage in the hold, so schedules can be maintained. I can’t see RyanAir holding a flight for 3hrs+ just because bags did not make it to the flight.

That was the reason they gave at the time and they confirmed it in writing when responding to our claim. They couldn’t unload baggage from arriving flights or load baggage onto departing flights. They can’t fly a bunch of people with a completely different set of passengers’ luggage as it’s a huge security risk. 

Westin

I would agree with that and obviously that is a security risk and a big no-no.  You didn’t mention the unloading of the previous flight’s luggage.  Flights do unfortunately depart frequently without passenger bags loaded. 

Alan_Bowen

Swissport, not Swissair, are indeed in big trouble at Manchester, they handle TUI and we have all seen the mess they are in. You are correct that if their handling agents cannot do the job, then they are responsible, and in law, they can probably reclaim from Swissport. As things are getting worse, I have no doubt they will do their best to deny the claim, in which case use the ADR scheme which exists to offer a 'quick and effective' solution, you can find full details on the CAA website at caa.co.uk
 

NotoriousREV

Alan_Bowen said:

Swissport, not Swissair, are indeed in big trouble at Manchester, they handle TUI and we have all seen the mess they are in. You are correct that if their handling agents cannot do the job, then they are responsible, and in law, they can probably reclaim from Swissport. As things are getting worse, I have no doubt they will do their best to deny the claim, in which case use the ADR scheme which exists to offer a 'quick and effective' solution, you can find full details on the CAA website at caa.co.uk
 

Yes, Swissport, that’s who I meant, thanks! 

We were chatting with a baggage handler on the day (all the Ryanair staff had scuttled off, leaving the screens on “Final Boarding” after we’d been sent to queue on the stairs down to the aircraft for an hour before being sent back to the lounge) and he was telling us how they’d laid pretty much everyone off over lockdown rather than furloughing them and were basically offering minimum wage for very unsociable hours and a hard job. Those that were left were being run ragged. Absolutely shocking treatment by Swissport.