Manchester Airport missed flight due to security delays

Lukeharbottle

Just wondering if anyone else has had experience of the recent chaos at Manchester airport and missing flights because of it? We arrived as instructed by EasyJet 2hrs before our 6:10am flight but were met by scenes unlike anything I’ve ever seen! We missed our flight due to the check in and security delays and had to rebook a flight with another airline that afternoon. Staff said we should raise a complaint with the airport to claim money back. Has anyone done the same? Any tips? Success?

Alan_Bowen

I am sure there are many in your situation but your difficulty is you have no obvious contract with the airport and they will argue that the scenes of chaos have been in the press and on TV, much to their dismay, for weeks. I have certainly been advising passengers to arrive 4 hours before departure for the last month, I personally stopped using the airport in 2012 when delays at security even on a Sunday evening were unacceptable, it isn't a new crisis, just a bigger one. 

You should certainly write and demand a refund, but you should also expect them to turn it down, whether you then issue legal proceedings through the small claims court and hope they settle quietly to stop others from doing it, is up to you. The average delay for court hearings, if they defend it, was listed at 51 weeks when I last checked a few weeks ago!! 

uss_tish

Don't think delay was due to security, think it was delay to the flight itself but a family member missed his onward connecting flight when first flight from Manchester was delayed. He had to stay overnight in a hotel. Also missed 1st day in new job, he is beyond furious. Employer not too sympathetic and left him to sort out hotel and rebooking onward flight and transfers himself having booked them for him originally. 

Caz3121

uss_tish said:

a family member missed his onward connecting flight when first flight from Manchester was delayed. He had to stay overnight in a hotel. Also missed 1st day in new job, he is beyond furious. Employer not too sympathetic and left him to sort out hotel and rebooking onward flight and transfers himself having booked them for him originally. 

if both flights were on a single ticket then the airline would be responsible for rebooking and accommodation.
If flights were on separate tickets then there is no protection. (it is up to the booker to ensure sufficient time between flights - often 5 hours is suggested for separate tickets)
Was this on one ticket? how long was the delay and what was the reason?

daveyjp

From what I have picked up this is a situation which falls through the gaps in terms of recompense.  Airport operators don't have to ensure you will make your flight, even if you arrive in plenty of time.

You generally can't claim on insurance for missed departure as you made it to the airport and its not the fault with the airline as the flight was provided and you missing it wasn't due to their lack of performance.

I do agree with the earlier poster that Manchester had been chaotic for many years.  Even back in 2004 we waited almost two hours for luggage due to lack of staff.  Their advice?  Go home and collect it tomorrow!

uss_tish

@Caz3121 sorry don't know the details but I'm sure he will sort it with his employers. Despite their lack of sympathy at the time they have been helpful since

Tranboy

Said on the news today delays could continue for weeks until new staff in place and security cleared.