Delayed Flights Compensation

kgall

Hi,
I booked my daughter a flight from Barcelona to Edinburgh with FlyGlobespan a few months ago, the flight was delayed for around 3.5 hours with very little information as to what was happening and no provision of food/drink. It was then announced (on the plane) that the flights destination would be changed and that the delayed flight would now be flying to Glasgow instead!
She therefore arrived in Glasgow, to find that the only help provided was a coach ride to Edinburgh – further delaying her arrival and eventually arriving in Edinburgh at 21.00, 6 hours late! On arrival in Edinburgh she was left without any form of assistance or help. The last train home to Newcastle had left so she was stranded, on her own, at night in a city that she did not know.

I wrote to them explaining this and asking for a refund of both the flight costs and her B&B/train costs in Edinburgh. They have just replied stating that they will not be compensating her as they have no duty to do so under EU regulation 261/2004. They did acknowledge that no meals/refreshments were given but claimed that it was too late to do so when it became apparent the flight would be delayed for more than 3 hours!

In respect of the refreshments/meals is this not a ridiculous argument!? In relation to EU regulation 261/2004 is the whole point of this not that compensation will be given if the flight is delayed (or would it count as a re-rout in this case?), at a set rate of €400 in this case plus a refund of the ticket? In addition does 261/2004 not state that she should have been given a letter at the time informing her of her rights as soon as they new the delay would be over 2 hours?

If any body could advise me as to whether I am in the right, and if so what the best thing to do is, I would be most grateful.
Thanks,
K.

dmg24

Compensation is payable on flight cancellations, not delays.

photome

If I have read the EU regs right she should have had refreshments but no compensation as the flight was delayed 3.5 hours.

I dont think the fact it she arrived 6 hours late is relevant, that is only my opinion on reading the regs.

You havent said how she got home to Newcastle as there may be a case for a refund of a taxi fare (if she got a receipt)

deva

apart from food and drink it is something that needs to be claimed off her holiday insurance- so copy any reciepts and send them off... you may have to be careful as there is often a time limit to make a claim in

dzug

Compensation under the EU regs for delayed flights is only payable if the delay is due to overbooking or cancellation. Otherwise food, drink, etc, only. If provision of the latter would delay the flight still further, then it can be omitted.

And the refund is only if you abandon your trip rather than fly.

So sorry, no entitlement. At most you might get an ex gratia payment if you write again.

kgall

Thank you everybody for the advice. Can't say it was what I was hoping for, but thanks anyway! Just out of curiosity, from what I understand there is obviously no provision for a refund on delayed flights, what about re-routed flights, as I presume a different destination counts as a re-route?

Thanks all,
K.

Caz312

My understanding is that the airline has an obligation to get you to the final destination. Unfortunately this does not have to be on a plane. I believe they need to get you from A to B and if is via C and a coach that is acceptable. Not fair I know. This happened to me this year and ended up missing a connecting flight as had been coached an hour and a half after leaving 5 hours late and arriving into a different airport. Fortunately the holiday company rearranged our onward travel although they had no legal obligation to do so.

budgetflyer

She therefore arrived in Glasgow, to find that the only help provided was a coach ride to Edinburgh

They did their best .

Everybody now thinks they are due compensation for a sore finger.
As a nation WE NEED TO GET A GRIP !

We are BRITISH. We are strong. We will hurt , but we will fight, for what is RIGHT. Because that makes us BRITISH

BUT

We will not bleat about minor inconvieniences