Compensation for delayed flights Discussion Area

kilo_2

Which is why I specified major carriers. This will not count on airlines like Thomsons and other Low cost carriers and charter / package holiday type airlines

daknockman

Hi there,
I was wondering if anyone could please help me out?
My parents and my aunt and uncle were in Lanzarote. They were due to fly home on the Friday 8th January to Edinburgh with Ryanair. When they got to the airport to check in they saw on the flight board that their flight had been cancelled. They subsequently went to the Ryanair desk to be told that the flight had been cancelled in Edinburgh due to " lack of de-icing facilities" ( this was also stated on the Ryanair webiste). As a result of this by the time they got the the desk they were told that the next available flight which was Monday 11th January was fully booked. They were told that they couln't get home until the Friday 15th January. They were not offered any accomodation, any vouchers, any transport, any telephone calls they were basically abandoned. Eventually they made they own back to the hotel they had stayed at for the previous week and checked in for another week. They had to pay their own transport and accomodation for the week. They also had to make their own way back to the airport to check in for their flight 1 week later. They eventally got home yesterday the 15th January.

Where do they stand with this? Do they contact Ryanair direct to claim compensation from them?

Thank you for your time. I hope someone can help?

inflationbusting

Were there no alternatives re-routing offered? I would imagine there would have been a flight from Lanzarote to somewhere in the UK everyday by Ryanair. Of course, there would have been an inconvienience with getting back to Edinburgh (which should be covered by Ryanair), but surely this would be preferable to be spending another week out therer.

There are also other indirect routings. For example, they could have offered a flight from Lanzarote to somewhere like Brussels, Dusseldorf, Shannon, Bournemouth, Girona, all of which connect to Edinburgh. Again, more inconvienient but preferable to adding another week on to it.

If not offered or if every single possible flight was full there surely would be a good case for claiming hotel accomodation and meal expenses for the entire time, if offered and turned down, then the case doesn't look as good.

robot1000

Would you consider the following to be extra-ordinary circumstace?:

(response I had back for a flight delay after requesting compensation)

The aircraft was required to undergo urgent rectification of corrosion and this necessitated being done whilst in the presence of CAA inspectores. Corrosion is not a condition which one would routinely expect hence the requirement to have the CAA present. This was very much an extra-ordinary circumstance

inflationbusting

No. You would think corrosion would be a problem that builds up during normal operations and is forseeable. Yes, there may have been an urgent requirement but I would put it that this is more down to poor maintenance as opposed to an extraordinary circumstance. The CAA stuff is just a red herring and doesn't make any difference to the legality IMO.

Google some stuff yourself to see how common corrosion of aircraft is, and possible other cases of people having the same troubles.

robot1000

inflationbusting wrote: »

No. You would think corrosion would be a problem that builds up during normal operations and is forseeable. Yes, there may have been an urgent requirement but I would put it that this is more down to poor maintenance as opposed to an extraordinary circumstance. The CAA stuff is just a red herring and doesn't make any difference to the legality IMO.

Google some stuff yourself to see how common corrosion of aircraft is, and possible other cases of people having the same troubles.

Cityboy wrote: »

As inflationbusting has already pointed out, corrosion of aircraft is a common problem and one which should be addressed by proper routine maintenance. It is a problem especially evident in aircraft flying in humid conditions but can be caused from a variety of sources.

Have a look at this for example (http://www.nace.org/content.cfm?parentid=1046&currentID=1420) but there are thousands of references like it so not at all extraordinary.

Thanks very much. It didn't sound very 'extraordinary' to me, so I called the AUC yesterday and they found it amusing that the airline could call that an extraordinary circumstance. They offered to deal with this case on my behalf, but I have decided to give it one last shot direct with the airline. I forgot to mention that because of the 'inconvenience caused and the lack of flight entertainment', they offered me a petty £50 off a future flight with them.

They've shot themselves in the foot with that response, as I'm sure if I take them to court (while I hope it gets sorted out before then), I should win the case, seeing as their case for extraordinary circumstance clearly isn't.

If I don't get a satisfactory response, do you guys think I should go down the AUC route (which could take 5-6 weeks) or take them directly to court?

inflationbusting

I would guess the airline's response would be carefully worded. What they are offering is a goodwill gesture, which is different from an admission of guilt.

If the AUC are willing to do it, you might as well let them do it. Basically, they will do the chasing for you for free.

Going by yourself down the court route yourself is just going to take longer, with more hassle and promises no extra reward bar the compensation you are entitled to. And it's fairly likely that the AUC will get the same result.

If you want to deal with it with the airline, just keep it simple. Quote this case, as I'm sure the AUC would:

http://www.auc.org.uk/docs/306/Wallentin-Hermann%20Judgement%20-%2022%20Dec%2008.pdf

and that you're simply looking for the correct amount of compensation, nothing more, nothing less.

robot1000

^

Thanks for your advice

I'll let you know of their response

Noop

In regards to the Monarch flight mentioned earlier, I emailed them Friday to let them know they are yet to reply to my email on the 12th. They have replied stating they hope to respond in the next 28 days. Does that sound fair?

aldino

Just before and after the new year, 2 of my flights with Easyjet were cancelled, for me and my partner.

For one, I was not told any reason, the staff at the airport didnt know why, and I had to get the next flight about 12 hours later.

For the 2nd flight (Switzerland > Holland), I was told it was because the plane that was suppose to fly us...was coming from London, but due to the bad weather there, it couldnt leave. The next available flight was in 2 days, but I had to get a flight to Germany instead the following morning as I had already booked 2 nights in a hotel in Holland, and then get the train from Ger > Holl. So 1 night hotel wasted, as well as having to buy train tickets.

What are my chances of getting compensation? I have tried to call easyJet but nobody answers...and its too expensive to just stay on hold!

Would it be better to email them, or are they just going to ignore it?