pot hole on motorway caused a missed flight

lesta1980

Hope this is in the correct place but need some advice please.

Wife was in a taxi heading to the airport when it hit a pot hole or something on the m1 which was a result of the roadworks (motorway recovery told my wife that). It resulted in my wife missing here flight. Had to book a hotel and stay at the airport and catch the same flight the next day, only had 1 seat in business class which cost £3500.

Problem was her initial flight had been booked with an agent who said it was non-refundable or transferable so BA said they couldn't do anything either.

Just checked her insurance and it seems to only cover £500 so obviously I'm going to be well out of pocket for something well out of my control. Whats the best thing to do to try and get a decent outcome?

[purplesignup][/purplesignup]

bradders1983

Did she attempt to call another taxi to pick her up? Did she have insurance

EveryWhere

No chance. Should have thought of that before booking a flight for £3500 or purchased insurance that covers you for £3500 or more for a missed departure caused by the transport breaking down on a motorway. Usually no more than £1000.
So no, it was your/her choice to take a BC flight.

lesta1980

bradders1983 wrote: »

Did she attempt to call another taxi to pick her up? Did she have insurance

Yes, by the time they got taken off the motorway and called a local firm it was too late. Her insurance only covers up to £500

lesta1980

EveryWhere wrote: »

So no, it was your/her choice to take a BC flight.

it was the only seat on the plane available, so it was either that or miss out on a holiday all together

bradders1983

lesta1980 wrote: »

Yes, by the time they got taken off the motorway and called a local firm it was too late. Her insurance only covers up to £500

I assume given it was a BA flight that only goes daily this was a long haul flight that suggests being at the airport 3/4 hours beforehand, must have taken ages for someone to arrive in that case.

lesta1980

bradders1983 wrote: »

I assume given it was a BA flight that only goes daily this was a long haul flight that suggests being at the airport 3/4 hours beforehand, must have taken ages for someone to arrive in that case.

Don't know the full timings as wasn't there but from it happening then getting took off the motorway trying to fix it then waiting for a local taxi to turn up it all adds up to some time. Happened to 3 other cars as well all around the same time

Westin

Did your wife not approach the BA staff at the departure airport and seek assistance?

That is quite a jump up to (£3500) for another flight seat. Not sure I would have been so bold as to book that without trying my luck with the BA airport staff or at least checking that the insurance would cover it. I fear she will be down £3,000 on her trip.

lesta1980

Westin wrote: »

Did your wife not approach the BA staff at the departure airport and seek assistance?

That is quite a jump up to (£3500) for another flight seat. Not sure I would have been so bold as to book that without trying my luck with the BA airport staff or at least checking that the insurance would cover it. I fear she will be down £3,000 on her trip.

she went straight to the desk but it was too late

bradders1983

lesta1980 wrote: »

she went straight to the desk but it was too late

So she didnt go to the customer service desk afterwards?

lesta1980

bradders1983 wrote: »

So she didnt go to the customer service desk afterwards?

of course she did, they told her the only thing she could do was go online and book the flight for the next day.