Compensation for delayed flights Discussion Area

1ipstick

Wonder if anyone can help. Was due to take Continental flight CO77 from Bristol to Newark on 26th September (10.30am). There were continual delays before we were told at around 5pm ish that it would not be going ahead on that day. We were given meal vouchers, phone cards and taken to a hotel for the night (although weren't told that it was over an hour's drive away, otherwise many people may have chosen to go home - anyway that's another matter...)

The flight eventually left at 9am the next morning under a different flight number. As I understood it, the fact it was a different flight number, and that it was the next day, would indicate that the flight was cancelled rather than delayed so we would be entitled to full compensation.

We contacted the airline who told us it was in fact only 'delayed' as flight 77 operated as flight 1970 on September 27th. They have given us a 200 $US voucher to use on their airline.

Is this acceptable? I would consider the flight cancelled but what is the EU regulation definition of a cancelled flight as opposed to a delayed one?
Thanks all

dzug1

The EU regulation does not define a cancelled flight as opposed to a delayed one.

The different flight number is a good guide - but becomes a bit fuzzy when the flight operates the following day. You can't have two flights with the same number on the same day (at least I don't think you can), so one of them has to change. You don't want to change the 'real' flight that day or you'll be accused of cancelling that as well and confuse the hell out of its passengers. So you assign a new number to the one from the previous day.

So the bottom line is - don't know - but I doubt if it's as clear cut as you'd like.

1ipstick

Not sure if we even had travel insurance as the trip was arranged by a company in the US. TBH I doubt I'll argue this or anything, I'm just interested as to whether they're trying to fob us off by calling it a delayed flight or if they're completely entitled to do this.

Alan_Davidson

On a slightly different topic. My flight from Munich to London was delayed one hour, then the plave was diverted to Berlin to pick up some stranded passengers from a BA flight. As a result of the detour the flight was two and a half hours late arriving in London - and by doing so there were no tubes as the last one had gone for the evening.
so technically the flight wasn't cancelled or delayed more then two hours. Compensation?
Alan

dzug1

Alan_Davidson wrote: »

On a slightly different topic. My flight from Munich to London was delayed one hour, then the plave was diverted to Berlin to pick up some stranded passengers from a BA flight. As a result of the detour the flight was two and a half hours late arriving in London - and by doing so there were no tubes as the last one had gone for the evening.
so technically the flight wasn't cancelled or delayed more then two hours. Compensation?
Alan

I doubt it.

But remember London has a network of all night bus services - the last tube doesn't mean that you can't get home. The N9 runs every 20 minutes from Heathrow to Aldwych and takes an hour - not a lot slower than the tube.

numptie7

Does anyone know what the rules for compensation are for cancelled flights outside of the EU?

Recently was denied boarding in Dubai on an Emirates flight to Bangkok as the plane was overbooked. Had to stay an extra day in Dubai and was put up by Emirates. Was given a voucher with no explanation which says denied boarding compensation recipt. I contacted Emirates by email to ask what this provides but was told it is for a free flight but no cash compensation. No details were given. I was going to call them for details of the free flight which I really don't want as I would rather have compensation.

numptie7

Thanks for the reply Cityboy.

I called Emirates customer services for an explanation of the voucher.

She said it would get me a free return flight but couldn't tell me where from or where to as she didnt recognise the codes on the voucher. She thinks it would be for Dubai to Bangkok.

I have emailed her a scan of the vouchers and await a reply.

Our flights were from Glasgow to Bangkok via Dubai. So I checked out the Emirates site for flights to BKK next March.

Glasgow to Dubai = 561 pounds
Dubai to BKK = 531 pounds

Glasgow to BKK = 503 pounds !!!!

So the voucher would cost me money! I quess it makes sence to someone but the voucher appears to be worthless.

numptie7

I got a reply back from Emirates and they say the voucher is only valid for return flights from Dubai to Bangkok. I explained that that would cost me more money to use the voucher to go to BKK from Glasgow but the atitude was thas too bad. I got an email address for the customer complaints and am taking it up with them. So far just got an auto reply saying they will respond to my complaint within 30 days.

LiveLongAndProsper_2

My son's EasyJet flight from Bristol to Belfast today has been cancelled (Easyjet have cancelled a number of flights at various airports due to bad weather but Bristol Airport is operating as normal for other airlines). He was offered the option of a refund or free transfer to a flight tomorrow, which he booked. There is a Ryanair flight he could get instead but it costs more than the refund. Would Easyjet be liable for the difference in cost?
Also, if my son had to pay for a hotel for tonight, would Easyjet have to pay for this?

LiveLongAndProsper_2

Cityboy wrote: »

You might like to gather evidence now that Bristol is still operating as normal for other airlines as your son would seem to have a valid claim under EC 261/2004 for compensation of 250 euros under article 5 of the regulation. If he has already accepted the offer of a transfer for tomorrow's flight then the question of a Ryanair flight is presumably hypothetical? He would also be eligible for overnight accommodation and meals between the time of his original flight and the new departure time tomorrow.

What Easyjet appear to have done is cancel his flight as a consequence of bad weather elsewhere which may have impacted their ability to provide an aircraft for your son's flight from Bristol to Belfast. Under the above regulation, this type of situation is indefensible as this is exactly the circumstance that BA tried to defend when I took them to court and I won. The wording of Recital 14 of the regulation is quite clear on this matter but you may have to press Easyjet strongly on this point or take them to small claims court to force them to pay. I could provide some pointers to help you if you PM me.


Cityboy

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I didn't take a screenshot of Bristol's departure's screen yesterday to show that only a few EasyJet flights were cancelled and other airline's flights went ahead. I had a quick go at finding a cached copy online but to no avail.

Seems now that I would have been better buying the Ryanair flight and then trying to claim the cost back from EasyJet. Trouble is that I was out at a friend's house when my son phoned late on Friday and I was worried about getting him booked on another flight. I didn't want to delay transferring to another EasyJet flight or buying another airline's ticket as I realised they would shortly be very expensive or unavailable (1 hour after transferring my son's flight, the Ryanair flight cost jumped from £87 to £217; so much for low cost airlines!)

Luckily my son was able to stay on at his Halls at Bath Uni so he wasn't out money for that but is a day late getting home for Christmas.

I may persue compensation this with EasyJet as I'm not happy with what they've done. I've been told they take "weather opportunities" like this to cancel half full flights. More concerned with getting my son home tonight due to the snow that's arrived in NI.

May PM you later.

Thanks again for the reply,

JH