Denied boarding

sisters09

I was on my way  to tomorrowland Belgium on Thursday 21st July 

Flight number ……Even stayed the night at the airport hotel the night before so had plenty of time! got to Manchester airport Thursday morning (in plenty of time)and Brussels airlines cancelled the flight before mine ! so they gave my seat away to the passengers of the cancelled flight and  had to come home absolutely devastating 

No other flights available and Brussels airline didn’t help at all ! Because it was a package ( flights/ festival/ camping/ transfers )£1000) all became effected . Waiting at the airport with no help and left stranded for 10 hours 

I had no option to get a lift back home  to Leeds 

CKhalvashi

This will be compensationable under the circumstances you describe, but unless booked as a package your other expenses will be a matter between you and your insurer.

If an official package, you will need to speak to the package organiser (the company whose name the ATOL is under) for a full refund and to get the ball rolling on compensation.

Caz3121

sisters09 said:

got to Manchester airport Thursday morning (in plenty of time)and Brussels airlines cancelled the flight before mine ! so they gave my seat away to the passengers of the cancelled flight 

had you checked in online in advance?
at what point/time were you advised there was not a seat for you? 

what 'should' have happened is that the airline should only have confirmed those delayed passengers that they had unsold seats for on the later flight until check-in closed 60 minutes before departure at which point the seats for any passengers not checked can be used.
If they overbooked the flight they should have asked for volunteers

sisters09

Yes I had checked in online in advance, and was not told about my seat being taken until I got to the gate! I had even booked a seat in advance. 

They even took my baggage off the plane in front of me so they knew I was there!
the aircraft didn’t take off until a hour after 

Caz3121

sisters09 said:

Yes I had checked in online in advance, and was not told about my seat being taken until I got to the gate! I had even booked a seat in advance. 

They even took my baggage off the plane in front of me so they knew I was there!
the aircraft didn’t take off until a hour after 

do you recall what time this was? was this more than 30 minutes before scheduled departure time?
If you were checked in and had a boarding pass then it sounds like they offloaded you from the flight to use your seat, they should not have done this unless it was past gate closure time
There should be an audit trail in their system that shows what time they offloaded you

sisters09

it was 45 minutes before the plane took off. They said it was dined boarding and offered me a £10 food voucher which I have proof. 

bagand96

You will be entitled to denied boarding compensation of £220 from Brussels Airlines.

You also were entitled to replacement transportation. Either another flight with Brussels Airlines or any other airline.  Or if none were available, by other means (ie train to London then Eurostar). The airline would have been responsible for paying for this, even if you arranged yourself. Given you didn't travel, instead you're entitled to refund of the flight costs from the airline (as well as the compensation)

However, if you have a proper package (everything booked together on one invoice, and an ATOL certificate issued) then you should be able to seek a full refund of everything you paid from the package organiser. 

JPears

For future reference, an EU or UK airline departing from anywhere or a non EU airline departing from UK or EU cannot unilateraly bump you off a flight legally. They must ask for volunteers at which point you name your price, over and above the statutory compensation you are due.

Unfortunately, even after 18 years of this law, airlines don't follow the law and are disingenuous, to say the least, with the information they do provide.

It won't help you but a letter to the CAA pointing out Brussel Airlines failure to follow the law should be sent.

Its time the toothless CAA did their job in regulating the airlines.

Your travel insurance (hopefully you have that) should cover some of the costs.