On the beach package deal - flying with Wizz Air

dazzler9000

Hi all, hoping somebody can help steer me in the right direction.

1 - I had a holiday booked (flights and accommodation) but it was cancelled by on the beach due to flight issues 6 days before departure (I was set to fly with Wizz Air). I received a full refund and booked another holiday, which cost a lot more due to the late notice. Am I entitled to any compensation here or is the refund the best I can expect?


2 - My second holiday was again booked through on the beach. My return flight from Tenerife to Luton was cancelled due to the Luton airport melting. It was chaos at the airport and the help desk said that there we no more Wizz Air flights for 3 days. We were told to re-book an alternative flight with Jet2. Fortunately, we managed to get a reasonable flight for the 3 of us for the following day (370 euros), 24 hours later (they provided a hotel for the night, but we incurred taxi fares back the airport the following day), but we had to fly into Stansted airport. Once in Stansted, I needed to book a coach to get me to my car in Luton. 
All in all, rather stressful.


I've tried dealing with Wizz Air and on the beach and I know they are both very difficult to deal with and unlikely to answer any emails. I'm fairly sure on the beach have closed down their phone lines.

Can somebody please tell me who I need to go after for compensation?  Would it be on the beach or Wizz Air?

Will I be successful due to the melting runway not being Wizz Air's fault? It's somebodies fault, so somebody should compensate.

Am I entitled to the cancelled flight compensation and a full refund of my Jet2 flights? 

dazzler9000

Is the money-saving expert resolver service the best way to go?

Alan_Bowen

You should be able to claim for the first cancellation by Wizz from the airline itself, you haven't indicated where you were travellinh=g to but it will probably be £220 per person if the cancellation was within 14 days of travel. There should be a claim form on the Wizz website, don't use resolver.

The melting runway at Luton was not Wizz's fault, we don't expect 40-degree heat in Bedfordshire so you cannot claim from them. As to who to blame for global warming, well there is you for flying, or the cows for expelling too much methane, in reality so long as you were looked after that is all you can hope for. If you paid for the return flights and taxi, then On the Beach as the package organiser are responsible, look on their website for an email address

dazzler9000

Thanks, I will attempt to claim through Wizz Air. That was the one I was least expecting to be successful with to be honest. The first cancelled trip was to Fuerteventura.


Reference the runway melting, somebody is responsible. It's certainly not my fault. My argument is that I never stepped foot on their plane, so they at the very least owe me a refund for the flight I paid for. 

I have emailed onthebeach and am waiting on a response.

CKhalvashi

Just to double check here, was the cancelled flight more than 2 weeks out? There would be no claim to compensation if yes. I'm asking as you don't state which flight was cancelled. Each flight is legally a separate event under the legislation. You will be entitled to a refund, however this is likely to be minus OTB fees.

For the second booking OTB will be responsible for the taxi fares as the package provider due to being outside of Wizz's control. I have replied already to someone on the same flight as you, which can be found by clicking here.

The form you'll need for the compensation is here if this applies, but it may need to be completed by the booking owner, which I'm assuming as you've booked a package is not yourself but your chosen agent.

From experience, Wizz are one of the better airlines to deal with (second this year probably to Ryanair for me). OTB have a reputation of not being so.

Voyager2002

dazzler9000 said:

Thanks, I will attempt to claim through Wizz Air. That was the one I was least expecting to be successful with to be honest. The first cancelled trip was to Fuerteventura.


Reference the runway melting, somebody is responsible. It's certainly not my fault. My argument is that I never stepped foot on their plane, so they at the very least owe me a refund for the flight I paid for. 

I have emailed onthebeach and am waiting on a response.

The runway melting was not the fault of the airline, so while passengers have a right to re-routing (or a refund) and care during any time when they are delayed, there is no right to compensation. Since you had bought a package you can claim from your travel agent, as already advised.

eskbanker

dazzler9000 said:

Will I be successful due to the melting runway not being Wizz Air's fault? It's somebodies fault, so somebody should compensate.

dazzler9000 said:

Reference the runway melting, somebody is responsible. It's certainly not my fault.

While it's obviously not your, or the airline's, or the package provider's, fault, it doesn't really move you any further forward to be able to pin it on the airport operator, who has no liability to pay compensation in such circumstances, but, as above, follow the correct process for reimbursement of qualifying expenses from the relevant parties.

dazzler9000

Thanks for the advice so far. So, just to clear this up.~

In reply to CKhalvashi post (it wouldn't let me quote).

1 - The first package deal was cancelled on the 5th of July and was set to leave on the 11th (W95121) and return on the 18th (W95122), so all within the 14 days. I've already received a refund but as you've said, I should be due compensation also. To push for this, I need to go direct to Wizz Air. via their claim form? But you've mentioned for the second package, this needs to be done via the booking owner. So do I need to get ONB to initiate the claim?

2 - Here you mention that ONB are responsible for taxi fares and I'm assuming compensation for delays and the additional flight I had to buy, but then you link to Wizz Airs claim form? 


Bit confused (last night was a heavy night). So are we saying both claims 1 & 2 need to be made through ONB? Also, the second package, am I likely to get cancelled compensation and reimbursement for my flights (remember, there was no help at the airport and we were essentially on our own).

CKhalvashi

dazzler9000 said:

Thanks for the advice so far. So, just to clear this up.~

In reply to CKhalvashi post (it wouldn't let me quote).

1 - The first package deal was cancelled on the 5th of July and was set to leave on the 11th (W95121) and return on the 18th (W95122), so all within the 14 days. I've already received a refund but as you've said, I should be due compensation also. To push for this, I need to go direct to Wizz Air. via their claim form? But you've mentioned for the second package, this needs to be done via the booking owner. So do I need to get ONB to initiate the claim?

2 - Here you mention that ONB are responsible for taxi fares and I'm assuming compensation for delays and the additional flight I had to buy, but then you link to Wizz Airs claim form? 


Bit confused (last night was a heavy night). So are we saying both claims 1 & 2 need to be made through ONB? Also, the second package, am I likely to get cancelled compensation and reimbursement for my flights (remember, there was no help at the airport and we were essentially on our own).

The date wouldn't be relevant in this case as still within 14 days, as long as Wizz didn't send an e-mail for a cancellation on the 18th on or before the 4th (which is possible and OTB may not have passed to you until the 5th, which would be outside Wizz's control).

You will need to get OTB to initiate the claim if you are not the booking owner. Whose e-mail address was used? Yours or one of the On The Beach? This will be the booking owner. I have linked the form so you can try to do this, however it may not work.

If you are the booking owner, you claim by logging in with your Wizz account and going through that claim form. If OTB are the booking owner, for security reasons you will need to go through them. In this case the money will be returned to your Wizz account (plus 20%), and you can then fill a form to have this returned to your bank account without the 20% if you wish.

On the Beach will be liable for your additional expenses as the package provider.

W9 is Wizz Air UK, not Wizz Air Hungary. Wizz Air UK were therefore the operator of your flight.

I hope this makes sense.

dazzler9000

Thanks, I will try and chase ONB next week as they, in theory, are the booking owner.

I emailed them on Wednesday, but I'm not holding my breath. I know they've closed their phone line which is useful.

It seems a little unfair that this all falls on them, but I suppose they claim this money back from somewhere.

dazzler9000

If all else fails and I have no luck with anyone. Is contacting my credit card provider an option or my travel insurance, or should I just persevere with ONB.

Also, wondering if I should just give this to one of those companies that recoup compensation?