Vueling - regulator

jicms

Could anyone please let me know who is the regulator/adjudicator for Vueling? 

Alan_Bowen

The Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency, also known by the acronym AESA (Spanish: Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea ), is the national aviation authority for Spain where Vueling is based but is that what you want? If you are querying an EU 261 claim then many airlines have signed up to UK schemes but it seems Vueling, although part of the IAG group that includes BA and Iberia who have signed, Vueling has not so you may have to consider legal action. Alternatively, you may wish to instruct a no win no fee solicitor, Bott and Co are highly recommended on this site.

jicms

Thanks so much. That's very helpful. Our flight was delayed and they stated technical difficulties outside of their control. I will definitely use a no win no fee claims company, probably Bott who I've seen mentioned on MSE. 

Alan_Bowen

Technical difficulties are very rarely outside the airline's control. If the elastic band breaks they used the wrong elastic band...

jicms

Bott have advised they cannot help.  Presumably that means the technical difficulties were outside of their control.

Caz3121

maybe try EUClaim...they have a flight checker on their site. Enter the flight details and date and it should indicate whether compensation may be due

jicms

I've already entered flight details on a few claim sites and they say I'm eligible. It probably just shows there was a technical difficulty but when they investigate further find it was out of their control. Bott was MSE's recommendation for checking.

bagand96

jicms said:

I've already entered flight details on a few claim sites and they say I'm eligible. It probably just shows there was a technical difficulty but when they investigate further find it was out of their control. Bott was MSE's recommendation for checking.

I'm always sceptical of the website claim checkers. I don't know what information the websites have that isn't out there already. As you say I think once they do some more research they can always say they can't help.

As Alan said, most technical difficulties are not deemed to be outside of the airline's control. Did Bott & Co give a reason for not being able to help? It could be as simple as they Vueling are a difficult one to deal with so not worth their time? No harm in trying another company if they are no win no fee. EU claim for example are based in the EU (Netherlands) which means they may find it easier to chase Vueling legally 

dar341

Hi all, a question on a similar subject; last week my flight Bilbao-Gatwick was cancelled as we were boarding. We weren’t told why but see handed a lettter at the airport saying that accommodation and other reasonable expenses would be reimbursed if we accepted the alternative travel arrangement offered by Vueling. This turned out to be 5 days later and also knot direct. I accepted so as not to endanger any claim but now Vueling say they will not reimburse as the flight was cancelled due to weather conditions. Any advice? Claim on travel insurance ? 

Many thanks 

eskbanker

dar341 said:

Hi all, a question on a similar subject; last week my flight Bilbao-Gatwick was cancelled as we were boarding. We weren’t told why but see handed a lettter at the airport saying that accommodation and other reasonable expenses would be reimbursed if we accepted the alternative travel arrangement offered by Vueling. This turned out to be 5 days later and also knot direct. I accepted so as not to endanger any claim but now Vueling say they will not reimburse as the flight was cancelled due to weather conditions. Any advice? Claim on travel insurance ? 

There are two separate issues that are often conflated - reimbursement/rerouting and compensation.

When cancelling a flight, an EU airline is legally obliged to offer you the choice between a refund or a rearranged flight, and if accepting the latter, they must pay costs for accommodation and associated transport charges while awaiting the flight - this applies regardless of what caused the cancellation.

However, compensation is different and is only payable if it was caused by an issue within the airline's control, so weather would be deemed extraordinary circumstances, and no compensation would be due.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/flight-delays/#cancelrules

Caz3121

if the delay was weather then they don't pay compensation but they are still liable to reimburse the expenses during the wait
they even cover it on their website under Airport Assistance

• Tickets for meals and beverages according to the length of the delay.
• 2 telephone calls, faxes or e-mails.
• If you have to wait overnight: accommodation, meals and transport to your accommodation and back to the airport.

did you make it clear you were claiming reimbursement of expenses or did you claim for compensation?