Delayed due to heathrow baggage loading

lisyloo

Hi,

been delayed 5.5 hours due to missing a connection after late Flight due to baggage loading delays.
is this outside the airlines control?

I think I know the answer but thought I’d check with more knowledgeable folks

eskbanker

Baggage handling would typically be seen as within the airline's control, but perhaps worth fleshing out some more detail in case there are any reasons why that might not be the case?

lisyloo

We were told (on the announcement) that we were late leaving because the bags weren’t loaded due to a shortage of baggage handling staff at heathrow, that then incurred a further ATC delay due to missing the slot.
when we arrived at columbo (sri Lanka) our connecting flight had already left and we were put on the next one.
arrival delay (and gap between the 2 flights) was 5.5 hours

eskbanker

Are you able to quantify how much of the delay was baggage handling (likely to be within the airline's control) and ATC restrictions (not within the airline's control)?  Have you claimed yet, and if so, has it been rejected?

Westin

Was this UL504 on September 2nd with an onwards connection in CMB to Male/MLE?

Were you on one thru ticket LHR/CMB/MLE or separate booked onward flight from CMB?

lisyloo

eskbanker said:

Are you able to quantify how much of the delay was baggage handling (likely to be within the airline's control) and ATC restrictions (not within the airline's control)?  Have you claimed yet, and if so, has it been rejected?

it appeared to be something like 1 hour waiting for bags (the announcement said they weren’t yet loaded) and then a shorter delay circa 15 mins waiting for the next ATC slot.

no claim put in as yet 

lisyloo

Westin said:

Was this UL504 on September 2nd with an onwards connection in CMB to Male/MLE?

Were you on one thru ticket LHR/CMB/MLE or separate booked onward flight from CMB?

Yes and one ticket (we didn’t have to go and get our luggage).

lisyloo

Claim submitted and thread bookmarked.

Westin

02SEP UL504 | LHR STD 2130 LHR ATD 2224 | CMB STA 1245 CMB ATA 1349

Seems just under the hour late from LHR and then 1h04m late into CMB.

It is obviously the missed connection at CMB that created the 5.5h delay to your final destination in Male.

With ATC in the mix, just the short initial LHR ground delay, and that it is SriLankan Airlines, I suspect that they will refute the claim.  No harm I guess in submitting a claim as you have done but perhaps don’t bank on an easy payout. 

Just dinner missed in paradise, hopefully you will quickly get over your longer than expected trip out to the Maldives.

lisyloo

Yes sure, first world problems for the privileged.
managed to arrive in time for dinner :-)

I thought it was the delay at arrival of the destination that counted? I.e. the 5.5 hours.
either way will keep you updated.

Westin

It is lisyloo, but we are talking about UL…