Compensation for delayed flights Discussion Area

Mark2spark

bargainsearcher wrote: »

Hi everyone, like lots of moneysavers this weeks newsletter has prompted me to read this thread (all 215 pages!) hoping that I may be entitled to compensation for a delayed flight in 2008. Unfortunately my flight was with Thomas Cook Flights direct, who seem to be trying every excuse in the book not to pay out. As soon as I read the newsletter I knew that we had had a flight with a delay of 4-5 hours back in 2008 and unbelievably I have managed to find the paperwork with the flight number and flight times. My problem is this, I have used FlightStats to confirm the delay but it is showing completely different information. My booking confirmation and travel itinerary shows our departure time should have been 12.30 from Manchester airport, arriving at Orlando Sanford at 16.50. Flightstats shows scheduled departure time at 4.47pm/actual departure time 4.58. I remember Thomas Cook has all sorts of problems that day as my friend who was supposed to be flying out earlier that day to the same destination, had her flight cancelled and was transferred onto our flight. Will my paper documentation be enough to proceed with a claim even though Flightstats shows there was no delay.

For now, issue the initial claim based on the documentation you have, and your memory of the incident/delay, and wait to see what TC come back with regarding the delay time, and the reason for the delay. They may well inadvertently confirm the delay time more accurately.

Mark2spark

welshtone wrote: »

Hi everyone

I've read quite a few of the threads and I think I might be able to claim.
We were travelling as a family of 5 with Thomson from Birmingham to Sofia, Bulgaria for a skiing holiday in 2011.
Our flight (due to take off at 1.45pm) was delayed at Birmingham for over 4 hours (the reason given was that our plane had been used for a different flight and we had to wait for another). We were given vouchers for food/drinks and that was all.
We eventually arrived in Bulgaria then had a 4 hour bus journey to our hotel. We fell into bed about 4.30am.
We ended up missing our first day's skiing lesson due to not being ready at 8.30am.

Can anyone advise me what to do first to start my claim.
Thanks

Did you land at a different airport in Bulgaria? I'm wondering why you have mentioned a 4 hour bus journey. Was this necessary to get you to your original destination?
But in any case, you use the standard letter on the FAQ's (last posted on page 214 at the bottom) to initiate your claim.

Mark2spark

ScoobyZ wrote: »

Can anyone advise?

You can do little but write to the airline and await their reply, IMO they will claim EC's due to the weather, it'll then be up to you to decide whether to take a court action and challenge that interpretation.

Mark2spark

edtheduck wrote: »

AdamD did you at any stage send a LBA to TC? Its just I sent my original letter and had a 'holding' reply and then I sent a Letter Before Action saying if I didn't hear from them within 14 days I would be taking court action.

As yet I have not gone to the courts and now having read your positive outcome, I am considering sending another letter referencing 'a successful claim on MSE'. Centipede what do you think?

I am also due to renew my home insurance and am going to get legal expenses cover included - Centipede do you think that would look bad if my home insurance co. find out that I've had this ongoing case with TC or would I better to just try to see it through the courts myself?
Thanks

You can't take out a fresh home policy and expect them to pick up an on-going case.
You have reached the impasse that many on here are finding, - ie you get to the point where you issue a court case or you slink away with your tail between your legs and forget it all.
As stated at the start by many, the recovery of compensation with many airlines WILL NOT BE A SIMPLE LETTER WRITING EXERCISE so you need to follow through with your court action having given them enough notice.
You could write to them one more time stating imminent court action unless a reply is made in 7 days if you like, if you feel that it will do some good?

Mark2spark

Coops1711 wrote: »

Hi everyone,
I've just sent a letter to Thomas Cook ( as per instructions on this website & using sample letter) after a 6 hour delay from Tunisia - Gatwick in Aug 2012.
I had already sent a letter of complaint to TC & got their standard reply of blah blah ie trying to fob me off.
I have now sent the templated letter from here & am hoping that this letter is taken more seriously?!
I was wondering if anyone has had any success with TC & if so was it easy or did you have to fight & complain to the CAA etc?

I work for an airline as cabin crew ( not TC) so I know the flight wasn't delayed due to exceptional circumstances as I spoke to the crew onbaord my flight & they confirmed that the plane had gone ' tech' in Gatwick.

Hope you can help me

You can do little but go through the motions of the claim and wait until the point of no return - court case or walk away - is reached.
AFAIA no-one has had a settlement from TC yet.

Mark2spark

marks7389 wrote: »

Does anyone know if a claim for a group of friends booked and travelling together should be submitted as one claim or individually?

I've done a search but can't find a definitive answer.

Thanks in advance.

Different airlines are asking different things. With Monarch, it's a separate claim form for each person, accompanied by a separate booking reference confirmation each, etc etc
See the FAQ's on page 214 for an example Monarch claim form.
But a court case can be submitted as one claim.

Mark2spark

russellbrame wrote: »

First timer here.......
Would i be eligible for some kind of compensation? At the end of october 2012 me, my wife and nine year old daughter were to fly out to Romania using whizz air for a monday early morning flight and it was moved forward a whole day to leave on the sunday, hence then had to ask family to change day to run us down to airport and then also travel from airport to accomodation in Romania a day earlier and then book an extra nights stay?
thanks

What is the reason for the delay?

Mark2spark

lazytomato wrote: »

Hey guys,

My friend and I went to Kos in 2010 where we were delayed for 11 hours and 50 mins. I asked Monarch at the time for a delay letter so I could claim against my travel insurance (turned out it cannot be compensated anyway because it was <12 hours :mad:). I have now lost that letter and I cannot find the email confirmation I had from Thomson from the time of booking, so I literally have no evidence except my name, flight number (from flightstat) and my memory. Do you think it's worth to write to them anyway without sending in any evidence? Has anyone else been in such situation before?

Thanks a lot!

Yes it's worth writing to them. But you mention both Thomson and Monarch? I wasn't aware that Thomson use Monarch for flights?
Use the standard template letter on the FAQ's on page 214 at the bottom.

Mark2spark

Gorbar wrote: »

I provided evidence that our flight was not exceptional circumstances but Thomas Cook still won't pay. Looking at Facebook lots of people are going to Watchdog

Issue court proceedings against TC or walk away then.

Mark2spark

JPears wrote: »

Slightly off topic - is there a website for frequent airplane type problems/faults ie those on 20yr old 737/300s? Bit like an Honest John for planes?

I've not heard of one, - would be useful though!