Compensation for delayed flights Discussion Area

NKS

Itook an Air New Zealand flight from London to Auckland this week. Unusually this was one aircraft and flight number right through (with one boarding card for entire flight) with a 2 hour stop in Hong Kong, sotechnically the entire flight could be classed as originating in Europe (I think). When reboarding iin Hong Kong, we were told after many delays and lots of chaos and lack of info that there was a fault with the wing and the flight was delayed - turned out it was going to be delayed for at least 36 hours. We were eventually fed, watered and put up in a hotel, and the following day they eventually got me rebooked on an alternative flight with another airline, arriving in Auckland 27 hours late (out of a 10 day trip!). I was given an MCO compensation voucher for approx 30 pounds for this, which I think is a bit laughable for a 27 hour delay and a huge amount of stress. I haven't yet cashed this.

Should the compensation be more under the EU rule (as it was a London-originating flight no), or am I stuck with this? When I had a similar 24 hour technical delay on United about 7 years ago, they gave vouchers for about $300 off future flights, which seemed more reasonable, and made me far less grumpy about the delay!

Any advice gratefully received

NKS

Itook an Air New Zealand flight from London to Auckland this week. Unusually this was one aircraft and flight number right through (with one boarding card for entire flight) with a 2 hour stop in Hong Kong, sotechnically the entire flight could be classed as originating in Europe (I think). When reboarding iin Hong Kong, we were told after many delays and lots of chaos and lack of info that there was a fault with the wing and the flight was delayed - turned out it was going to be delayed for at least 36 hours. We were eventually fed, watered and put up in a hotel, and the following day they eventually got me rebooked on an alternative flight with another airline, arriving in Auckland 27 hours late (out of a 10 day trip!). I was given an MCO compensation voucher for approx 30 pounds for this, which I think is a bit laughable for a 27 hour delay and a huge amount of stress. I haven't yet cashed this.

Should the compensation be more under the EU rule (as it was a London-originating flight no), or am I stuck with this? When I had a similar 24 hour technical delay on United about 7 years ago, they gave vouchers for about $300 off future flights, which seemed more reasonable, and made me far less grumpy about the delay!

Any advice gratefully received

dzug

It's not actually clear whether technical faults are 'extraordinary circumstances' or not. Martin's article suggests that they are not, but I don't believe it's actually defined in the regulations - examples are given, but they are not exhaustive.

The airline's defence would be that they maintained the aircraft in line with Boeing's (or whatever) recommendations and that problems that nevertheless occurred were beyond their control.

It's always worth asking for more - what's not clear is whether you are entitled to more. The EU regulations are very badly worded.

dzug

Crabman wrote: »

The article states that technical problems are covered - you have nothing to lose and the airline can face a large fine per passenger if they don't cough up. Nothing to lose by submitting a claim - read the article and go for it, let us know how it goes!

Whilst the article says that, the regulations don't.

Still worth claiming though. Given that it's Ryanair I wouldn't hold out much hope that they'll even acknowledge receiving your claim

dzug

huggychair wrote: »

You ARE entitled to a refund plus a free flight (which you took) read here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4267095.stm

The most intresting bit:
'You should be offered a refund of your ticket, along with a free flight back to your initial point of departure, when relevant. Or, alternative transport to your final destination'

:cool: :A

The intention of that rule is that you can abandon your journey, get returned to your starting point and have your nugatory expenditure (ie your fare on an abortive trip) refunded. It's not 'compensation' as such, but a refund of expenses. It's clearly most relevant on outward trips - if you are on your way home it's of little use to you even if the wording suggests it might be.

dzug

Going back to NKS's post and having reread around the subject - no, I don't believe you are entitled to compensation under the EU laws - but yes they do apply.

What you were entitled to (and should have been offered in Hong Kong - were you?) was the opportunity to return direct to the UK free of charge and have your whole fare UK-NZ and return refunded - ie to abandon your trip. This is regardless of whether it was the airline's fault or not.

If you didn't take up this offer (and you didn't - you continued on your journey) then you got what you were entitled to - to be looked after during the delay. The £30 is in fact a bonus.

Still worth trying for more - but it's not an entitlement.

dmg24

dzug is correct, a delay does not give a right to compensation, a cancellation does. NKS's flight was delayed (albeit for a long time).

onewiggie

I have just returned from Barbados after a 53 hour delay!!

Although we received hotel accom and food we were given no information, went through the checkin procedure 3 times, we returned to the airport even though the plane was still not operational and spent at least half of the 53 hours stuck in the airport! We were told on the 2nd day that the flight was 'cancelled' over a public announcement but do not have written confirmation of this.

We were eventually put with another arline carrier in order for us to return home.

I feel we deserve some compensation due to the stress this caused and having us both missing a days work and having to arrange care for our children as we arrived back on a Monday rather than Saturday as planned.

Can anyone confirm whether we can claim compensation uder the 'cancellations' classification?

dzug

onewiggie wrote: »

I have just returned from Barbados after a 53 hour delay!!

Although we received hotel accom and food we were given no information, went through the checkin procedure 3 times, we returned to the airport even though the plane was still not operational and spent at least half of the 53 hours stuck in the airport! We were told on the 2nd day that the flight was 'cancelled' over a public announcement but do not have written confirmation of this.

We were eventually put with another arline carrier in order for us to return home.

I feel we deserve some compensation due to the stress this caused and having us both missing a days work and having to arrange care for our children as we arrived back on a Monday rather than Saturday as planned.

Can anyone confirm whether we can claim compensation uder the 'cancellations' classification?

Your holday insurance should pay you something.

Whether the airline is liable under the EU regs is debatable. They wiill probably claim that there were 'extraordinary circumstances' and that all reasonable measures had been taken to avoid what happened. Therefore no compensation. Whether their claim is reasonable - who knows?

You were looked after during the delay, which they are obliged to. You weren't kept informed - but I doubt if anyone had any information to give you.

netou

Hello, I dont know if somebody can help with this since there is nothing regarding it in the regulations.

I flew from Stockholm to San Diego with stops in Helsinki and New York. The flight from Helsinki to New York with Finnair was delayed on arrival for like 20 min. I had 1 hour to get my connecting flight to San Diego with Delta but with the delay it was impossible for me to go through security, changing terminal, recheck of baggage and check in. So they told me that there was no time even though there were still people boarding. Delta offered a hotel night and a flight next day but I had to get to SD that same night, so I bought a ticket with American and left like an hour later.(There was also like an hour and 20 minutes delay on the American plain without taking off and just circling the airport, but thats another story).

My question is: am I entitled to some kind of compensation from Finnair because of their delay?, because although it was of only 20 min it could have delayed my trip for like 15 hours (if I had accepted the hotel night), but it actually delayed it for like 2 hours and I had to pay for a new ticket to SD. Could it be possible to get a compensation for the money I paid for the new ticket?.

Hope I can get a positive answer...