Flight Delay on an AA flight into EU purchased via Iberia

caustin01

Hello MSE,

Recently, I had a flight on AA from Madrid to Miami return, purchased through Iberia.

The AA flight after 1.5 hrs into the flight had to turn back to Miami due to high decibel sounds in the Premium/Business area that could not be identified by the crew.

After arriving in Miami, we were put on another aircraft and landed in Madrid +8hrs - highly stressed.

After 2 months, AA finally gave their conclusion re any compensation for this high stressful flight as follows: Can you provide any comments on how to take this forward? So much for a OneWorld Union!

Best wishes

[Removed by Forum Team]

July 11, 2023
Hello [Removed by Forum Team]:
Thank you for reaching out to us. I am very sorry for the delayed response. We are currently experiencing a higher than normal incoming volume and our reply time is longer than we'd prefer. On behalf of American Airlines, thank you for contacting Customer Relations. We appreciate the opportunity to address your claim for compensation based on European Regulation 261/2004. We regret your flight AA68 from Miami to Madrid was delayed. Please accept our apology for the inconvenience and impact on your travel plans this irregularity caused. It is never our intent to create difficulties for you, or any of our passengers, and appreciate that this disruption was a frustrating experience. As you have correctly identified, European Union Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 of the European Parliament and Council has established common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of cancellations or long delays of flights. Under this regulation, in the event of a flight cancellation or delay, passengers are entitled to established levels of compensation. However, this regulation does not apply when a flight is cancelled or delayed for less than 3-hours, flight is departing from the United States or a flight is cancelled or delayed due to weather or Air Traffic Control issues. Since flight AA68 departed the United States, American Airlines is not required to provide the compensation you have referred to. As a gesture of goodwill and to encourage your continued business we have issued one $50 USD trip credit per passenger (via a separate email). It may be used towards the purchase of a ticket on American or American Eagle within 12 months from the date of issue. While the voucher itself is nontransferable and cannot be sold or bartered, you may use it to buy a ticket for a friend or relative if you prefer. We appreciate you very much, [Removed by Forum Team] , and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you on board another American flight.
Sincerely
[Removed by Forum Team]
Customer Relations
American Airlines
[Removed by Forum Team]

eskbanker

Seems to me that their response correctly identifies that the EC261 regulations don't apply to a flight to the EU operated by an American airline (regardless of who it was booked through and which airline alliance it's a member of), and therefore no compensation is due under these. Nothing stopping you from trying to negotiate a better goodwill gesture, but you're not legally entitled to anything here, unless you can find anything within AA's conditions of carriage that offers something....

P.S. You might want to redact your name and booking reference from that post.

Caz3121

their response is correct, for non-EU/UK airlines, only flights departing from the EU/UK are covered by regulations.
Have you checked your travel insurance policy? some have a payment per x hours delay. Mine only kicks in after 12 hour delay (and £20 for each 12 hours) but might be worth checking yours

caustin01

Thanks how do I change the post please to remove names etc. 

eskbanker

caustin01 said:

Thanks how do I change the post please to remove names etc. 

New users don't have the ability to edit their own posts, but I think you should be able to use the 'report' option to bring it to the attention of the forum admins, who can redact for you.