An unusual delay

Mark2spark

Hi All,
I suffered an unusual delay yesterday, possibly unique.
Although it was with Easyjet, the situation, and way forward, would apply to all airlines.
here goes:
EZY 8622 Palma - LGW, 17/01/16 Due 11.55 Expected 13.30 (local times)

There was snow yesterday morning and Gatwick suffered the usual meltdown for a couple of inches of snow, so the preceding flight out suffered from a delay by firstly snow clearing, then waiting for de-icing.
Nothing to do with our flight as the regulars will understand.
Therefore our flight was delayed until departure of approx 14.50 local, and recorded as being on stand at Gatwick at 16.16.
Total delay of 2 hours and 46 minutes.
So far, not qualifying for compensation.

Just a bit of background. Easyjet were obviously aware of how fine they were cutting it to the deadline of 3 hours, so they didn't fill up with hot drinks to save some time, they also cut off the point of hand baggage exceptionally promptly, they didn't want any faffing around within the aircraft of people trying to fit their permitted size cabin bags into the lockers, so 'ordered' the back end of the queue to surrender their bags to the hold, - when we boarded there was ample space in several overhead lockers for dozens and dozens more bags. They'd also stopped giving out meal vouchers so that people wern't milling around the airport.

Point 1. I don't suppose there's much mileage in this, but as we hadn't paid for hold luggage, and we was co-erced into surrendering our cabin baggage into the hold, by the time we was reunited with our bags, the 3 hour threshold was easily breached?
Just saying that, although the plane had docked and we had been deboarded, we wasn't at liberty to leave the airport until reunited with our personal items?

Point 2. This is the more unique part (Well, I haven't heard of it before).
We was due to arrive at Gatwick North Terminal. In their rush to get us docked and the plane doors open, we docked at the South Terminal? There was no announcement to this effect, or instructions of what to do.
So, by the time we caught the in airport monorail connection from South to North terminal (not withstanding the luggage issue) at least another 30 minutes was added to the overall time.
So the actual arrival at our proper, due destination arrival point was easily over 3 hours?

Whilst it's the same airport, the car parks etc are miles apart. What if people were due to be meeting you/picking you up at the North terminal?
You wouldn't land someone at Stanstead and say well, it's all classed as a London airport, so your transfer to Luton (if that was your original destination) is the same thing? (Just for instance).

Opinions please. Any chance of pursuing it?
(I don't need to read Vauban's guide lol)

Mark

fifeken

Struggling on either point I think, but 10 out of 10 for effort.

vanilla_twist

Goes by the time you land not time you get to stand ss everything else is out of aviation hands.

I had a delay last year. Flight coming from Gatwick we were to return on was late leaving due to an ambulance case leaving the aircraft on previous flight. Due to delay they seated all passengers on flight then gave complimentary drinks. Subsequently the plan en route to Cape Verde had to land in gran canaria as toilets were overflowing.
Almost 4 hour delay on our return into Gatwick but they said toilets was not a flight error but a matter of safety.
Never a matter of safety when the decide to shut the toilets on board normally.
This was Thompson flight. Must admit we stayed another 3 hours in our Ai hotel without charge so had been treated very fairly.

V x

Voyager2002

No chance.

Vauban

vanilla_twist wrote: »

Goes by the time you land not time you get to stand ss everything else is out of aviation hands.

not true - courts have ruled that it's moment when the aircraft doors are opened, not when the flight touches down or even gets to the stand, that stops the clock.

Mark: not a chance, my friend!

111KAB

Mark - teach you for going away this time of year but at least the weather in Mallorca is better than here!


I heard that EasyJet had been informed you were on the flight, they put the engine boosters on as they knew you were going to advise everyone else on that A320 of the appropriate law so maybe you are due something as you being there saved them €30k in compensation.

JPears

Alas the regs have the better of your there mate.
Maybe a letter of thanks to EJ for doing everything possible to minimise your delay.... NOT!

At least the airlines are learning....

Mark2spark

Thanks all

111KAB is correct on one point... I DID spend a lot of time telling others of their rights, I even got to the point of telling people to get on board slowly!

Ah well... I'll have to settle for sending off my €8 receipt for 2 coffees then :rotfl:

Yes, it was, as delays go, quite pleasant, from previous experience I knew to check for delays so we knew before going through security, so we stretched our legs out in the open air terrace (smoking area) and got down to T shirts in the approaching 60 degrees F of sunshine! Time passed quite quickly.
I felt sorry though for the peeps on the preceding leg, turns out they were seated and belted up in the plane for just over 3 hours before they took off _pale_:(

NoviceAngel

Mark, it's all been said sorry I missed your thread....

1. Not a chance, you actually gained a privilege (the airline would say) you normally have to pay for hold luggage, you get the benefit of your bags been smashed for FREE. Plus the delay is not calculated on the time you leave the airport, you know it's the time that the doors on the aircraft are opened, have you been on the Sherry over Xmas?

2. Well whatever terminal, they did it to minimise delays so that the doors could be opened (on the plane - not your flamin car doors) so again, delay is on your time not the airlines....

Perhaps this could be a new project for you Mark2spark? You have written so eloquently on knock on weather delays in the past although in my humble opinion you've got no chance it will be fun to have you around for a while, while you amuse us all, and you never know, the law and Vaubans guide may be re-written....

Good luck

NoviceAngel

Mark2spark

Hee hee NA

I have to say that I'm not convinced 100% that arrival at the wrong terminal can count in a 'doors were open' way. If you're due to arrive at a stated terminal, and you are over a mile away, then...?
Just expanding it to Heathrow for instance. The difference in distance between Terminals 1 & 2, and 5, is several miles, maybe at least 3 (miles). I don't think there's a monorail type shuttle between terminals there either, like at Gatwick.
So, arrival time, at the designated terminal, within 3 hours of the ticket stated time, could well be a good shout.
I've been scouring a few cases but haven't come up with anything similar yet.

Anyone got a link to the case where it was decreed that the opening of the plane doors was the time the clock stopped ticking?

111KAB

Mark2spark wrote: »

Anyone got a link to the case where it was decreed that the opening of the plane doors was the time the clock stopped ticking?

Don't think there is a transcript of the case but it was an EJ one and this link may start the search ball rolling >


https://www.flight-delayed.co.uk/news/2014/09/04/european-court-ruled-that-delay-after-landing-also-counts