Compensation for Cancelled Budget Flight?

nathankw

I need to fly from Poland to Denmark (a long story) so I got myself very organised and months ago booked a flight from Warsaw to Copenhagen with SkyEurope.

Now, with 3 weeks to go I've been told that route is being completely cancelled.
They've offered to refund the amount I paid (£25, whoopeee!) or fly me to another destination. I looks like my only option is to accept a flight back to the UK and buy a flight to Denmark. With only a few weeks to go that's going to set me back quite a lot of money (as well as wasting time.)

Is there any hope of compensation? They've flatly refused to do any more than a refund/exchange so far. I paid by credit card. Does that help?

Any other ideas?

thanks.

albalad

Don't know about compensation , but by the looks of it you might be cheaper flying to bratislava and then on to Copenhagen , rather than back to uk then Copenhagen

Take up there offer of flying you to another destination (bratislava) and see if they would give you the onward connection to Copenhagen as a gesture of goodwill , best of luck

Oh and by the way , welcome to mse

MarkyMarkD

I think they should definitely fly you there via Bratislava, rather than leaving you in the lurch, if they fly indirectly. Well worth arguing the point at the very least.

budgetflyer

http://www.lot.com/
will fly you direct,at a cost mind you (£115 aprox)
1. Option
Total price PLN:
785.52 = 655.00 net + 90.52 tax + 40.00 service
Price - adult PLN: 745.52 = 655.00 net + 90.52 tax
departure
LOT Polish Airlines
LO0463 Warsaw
(WAW) 23.06.2005
07:45 Copenhagen
(CPH) 23.06.2005
09:15

I cant see you getting anymore than a refund from Sky Europe. Its standard no frills rules.Unfortunately thats a draw back of using budget carriers.

Alternative is Ryanair to Stansted and see what you can get from there. More hassle, maybe cheaper.

Baz-Bee

Have a look here.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1114183370,15836

As Poland is now an EU member state it should be subject to the same rules. However, as it only joined on 1 May 2004 it may not yet be subject to the full power of EU edicts. Suggst you contact these:

http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?categoryid=306&pagetype=90&pageid=2416

for adice if the Airline do not play ball. You have nothing to lose except a bit of time and the cost of a few phone calls/stamps.

Good Luck

WiseInvestor_2

Poland have indeed joined the EU and as such are subject to all EU legislation.

However, as your routing was cancelled more than 14 days in advance, I can find nothing on the UK Civil Aviation Authority website to suggest that the airline is liable to compensate you. Instead:

"Under EU law you are entitled to

A refund of the full price you paid for your ticket within seven days for the part or parts of your journey not made (and for the part or parts already made if the flight is no longer serving any purpose in relation to your original travel plan) and a return flight to the departure airport as soon as possible.

or

Re-routing to your final destination as soon as possible or, if you agree, at a later date. (If the airline flies you to another airport in your destination city then they must pay for the transfer to the airport you were booked for or to another close-by point of your choice)"


Sounds like the Bratislava option may be your best bet.

Good Luck

MarkyMarkD

That doesn't help much, as it doesn't say whose choice it is - presumably the airlines and they are opting for the choice which is cheapest, i.e. refunding your ticket.

Fatboy_NSS

All the airline can reasonably be expected to do is refund the cost of the ticket you have purchased from them. However your travel insurance will cover the cost of any travel needed, subject to the excess.