Aer lingus flight cancelled at gate?

glenandemm

Hi guys this has never happened to us before but we was all checked in at gate ready to fly on our dream holiday to florida last week and an announcement came over saying technical issue with the plane and we could see they was working on the engine, an hour later they announced flight was cancelled and would put us in a hotel and next day we’d fly out with virgin instead, was an absolute nightmare getting bags and having to walk across the airport through mud and alsorts with 3 kids, they provided us with a tea but no drinks or breakfast and that evening we had to walk back across to the airport to pay our for covid tests again at £175 as its day before tests the USA only accept.
spent 3-4 hours on the phone trying to speak to somebody as they’d booked us on virgin the next day but missed my daughter off so virgin had to sort that the next morning at check in.
I’ve had no response off aer lingus yet and still to fly back in a week but we lost a days car hire and a hotel I’d booked for the night over there too as we had a villa booked from the day after.
it’s been a total nightmare really and just starting to try and enjoy what’s left of the holiday now but hoping I can get some good advice off here, do I contact the airline myself or let my insurance deal with it?
will I be entitled to compensation as the flight was cancelled and aer lingus put us on the virgin flight instead the next day however we’d originally booked with ba who’s uses aer lingus to fly our of Manchester?
im so confused and looking for any help or advice would be so greatfully accepted!

emmajones1976

I know Manchester Airport is a disgrace at the best of time but where is this "mud" you speak of?

glenandemm

Right near the Clayton hotel as you come our of the train station and cross the road.
15 minute walk from terminal 2 to get there, mainly paved roads but one section just near t1.
we didn’t have a clue where we was going and just kept following signs for hotels, nightmare with 3 kids 2 cases in cold wet weather and we was in our shorts ready for florida weather lol

emmajones1976

None of that is of much relevance, the main thing you need to concentrate on are a) your flight left 24 hours late, b) you have out of pocket expenses for additional testing, and c) you presumably have out of pocket expenses for extra food you have to buy.

I assume this was booked through BA Holidays?

Westin

emmajones1976 said:

None of that is of much relevance, the main thing you need to concentrate on are a) your flight left 24 hours late, b) you have out of pocket expenses for additional testing, and c) you presumably have out of pocket expenses for extra food you have to buy.

I assume this was booked through BA Holidays?

Could be DIY.

glenandemm

hi hi yes we booked a flydrive through ba originally but they put us on the aer lingus Manchester flight, I’ve read we claim compensation off the company we are flying with and not the company we booked with?
we was due to fly out 11am Thursday 13th Jan and took off 10am Friday 14th but a different flight no with virgin Atlantic.
I’ve kept all reciepts but mainly want the £175 covid testing payout back along with some sort of compensation for all the stress and days holiday lost, I will accept we’ve lost a days car hire and hotel.

emmajones1976

You wont get any for "stress", at best you will have £50 thrown at you for that in an attempt to make you go away. Focus on the three elements I stated.  Your first port of call is contacting BA. Have you done this?

glenandemm

Hi yes I’ve contact ba and they said they won’t look at anything until the holiday is completed which is next week.
i filled our the aer lingus online form the next day as I’d read its them I complain too rather than who I booked with.
it says upto 14 business days to reply so still have time to wait but just reading up as much info as I can do I’m armed with it all, I want maximum compensation for the way they left us all wondering round the airport while my wife and kids was in tears!!

Westin

You are correct that any 'claim' would be against the airline (Aer Lingus UK) rather than who you booked with (British Airways/British Airways Holidays) but some of this will be down to travel insurance.

It may take a day or so but often in these situations the airline will give passengers a letter or contact via email to explain the delay, apologise and in some cases offer a goodwill gesture.  This can be sometimes Avios or mile credits, or a £ payment.  Your travel insurer would ultimately need confirmation from the airline of the flight cancellation and delay in departure from MAN.

If you were told that retesting was required then I can see validity in that claim.  Perhaps first check with Aer Lingus as to how they suggest that is addressed (presumably all on the flight would be impacted), but failing this I can see it might be necessary to contact your travel insurer.  This is all probably new ground for all.  

Most travel insurance will only have a very small and limited pay out for a delayed departure.  I really would not get your hopes up on this making up for the stress and lost day of holiday.  My annual insurance it is a measly £20 per adult per 24hr period.

I would for now focus on just enjoying your holiday in Florida and see what Aer Lingus sends you in the meantime if they have not already given you a flight delay letter.   Comp claim can wait until you are back.

glenandemm

Hi pal thanks for replying, they gave us this letter at the airport but not had anything in emails as such and that’s the only contact we’ve had from them.
I’ve not contacted the insurance company yet but do you think I should and see what they can do?
was waiting for aer lingus to get back first.

Westin

When you get back off your holiday, if you have not heard from Aer Lingus, get in touch with them in the first instance.  A brief summary of your issue and what you would reasonably like as recompense.

Ditto with contact to your travel insurer after your holiday.

Don't let this all get in the way of your Florida holiday now.