What is a 'suitable alternative" when flight is cancelled?

evrydyimshovlin

Hi Forum Friends,
Please help.

I was due to fly to the USA on Friday but my flight was cancelled 30 minutes after scheduled departure time. Without my agreement, the airline rebooked me on an alternative flight to a different destination and advised that a 3 hour bus trip would be provided at the other end to get me to my original destination. (The alternative flight was scheduled to depart at 17:15 but was delayed by at least 2 hours when I was informed of the change, it eventually departed at 19:57). I would of arrived at my intended destination airport at least 6 hours later (at best!) and been stranded in the middle of the night until morning for onward public transport to my hotel. I did not board the alternative flight. The airline is in the process of refunding my ticket price and I am seeking compensation for the delay.

On Friday I phoned my insurance to ask what my options were, they were useless. I asked what a 'suitable alternative' and gave them the scenario above, they were unable to tell me whether it was.

I want to claim 'irrecoverable costs' for the hotel, show tickets and return bus transfer which were prepaid for the US (around $1400). My insurance company has told me that my claim is not valid because 'alternative public transport was provided within 12 hours of the scheduled time of departure' however my point is that the condition of insurance is 'following cancellation, no suitable alternative public transport is provided within 12 hours of the scheduled time of departure'.

So, Forum Friends, what is suitable? In my opinion the above was not suitable for me.
- Limited information about alternative journey
- Ground transportation times seemed unrealistic
- My journey would be significantly delayed. Beyond the 4 hours that EU 261/2004 regulation deems appropriate for an alternative flight.
- I would be stranded at my intended destination airport during the night with no public transport available meaning that I would miss out on accommodation for night 1.
- I have a chronic health condition which is disclosed to my insurer and absorbing this delay would make me very ill.

Below is the full terms of the policy for a cancelled flight:[


What is covered
If the public transport on which you are booked to travel:
1. is delayed at the final departure point from or to the United Kingdom and in addition for residents of Northern Ireland any departure point in the Republic of Ireland (but not including delays to any subsequent outbound or return connecting public transport) for at least 12 hours from the scheduled time of departure, or
2. is cancelled before or after the scheduled time of departure
as a result of any of the following events:
a) strike or industrial action or
b) adverse weather conditions or
c) mechanical breakdown of or a technical fault occurring in the public transport on which you are booked to travel
we will pay you:
as more fully described under The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tour Regulations 1992.
1. £20 for the first completed 12 hours delay and £20 for each full 12 hours delay after that, up to a maximum of £100
(which is meant to help you pay for telephone calls made and meals and refreshments purchased during the delay) provided you eventually travel, or
2. Up to £2,000 for any irrecoverable unused travel and accommodation costs and other pre-paid charges which you have paid or are contracted to pay, if:
a) after a delay of at least 12 hours, or
b) following cancellation, no suitable alternative public transport is provided within 12 hours of the scheduled time of departure
you choose to cancel your trip before departure from the United Kingdom and in addition for residents of Northern Ireland any departure point in the Republic of Ireland.

lisyloo

I don't believe it's suitable if it would make you ill.
Personally I don't think spending a night on an airport floor is suitable either, however it's unusual to find zero hotel rooms around an airport unless there has been a major event or you are in the middle of nowhere.

I sympathise however consequential losses are not rarely covered.

If you are making expensive arrangements it's best to buy a package where the liability falls to another party or travel with extra time. We did a cruise from Hawaii once and we arrived 3 or 4 days early and made it part of our holiday as it was important not to miss the boat.