Denied Boarding due to maintenance

camsadge

I received an email about 12 hours before my flight saying they denied my Boarding due to maintenance issues. I would like to check my rights. Does the airline need to book me with a different company if their first flight out is to days later. 

This flight is from Belgrade to london with wizzair. 

I'm on the way to the airport as the email which was sent just said I was entitled to a refund or the next flight with them.

Westin

The Wizzair flight today from Belgrade to London Luton is showing an on time departure.

Please share more details.

la531983

Westin said:

The Wizzair flight today from Belgrade to London Luton is showing an on time departure.

Please share more details.

Could be a plane swap tbf, the A321 has 50 more seats than the A320.
Showing as a A320 today. 

silvercar

camsadge said:

I received an email about 12 hours before my flight saying they denied my Boarding due to maintenance issues. I would like to check my rights. Does the airline need to book me with a different company if their first flight out is to days later. 

This flight is from Belgrade to london with wizzair. 

I'm on the way to the airport as the email which was sent just said I was entitled to a refund or the next flight with them.

The short answer is yes, they have to get you to your destination. And that can include via other airlines, if they have no flight operating.

Maintenance or an aircraft swap would be covered by the rules as being within the airlines control.

Persuading them to do so maybe more difficult. If you are confident of your position, and the airline refuse, you could buy yourself a ticket on another airline and take Wizz to court. Not hassle free, but an option.

camsadge

I was first at the airport and now first on standby. So I'm hoping for the best.

Regarding the flight it is on time but a plane swap. I was told the new plane has 50 fewer seats and they have denied around 30 people.

Call centre was useless just saying my options are a refund, the next flight with them which is Wednesday evening or 120% credit. Didn't mention anything about the compensation. 

saajan_12

Compensation is different to the refund/rerouting.
- You're entitled to refund or rerouting (at your choice) regardless of the cause. If they get you there via the standby on the original flight, then great. If not, then demand an alternate routing. If they don't provide it, then book yourself, retaining proof that you asked for an alternate, and that what you booked was the best price. 

- You may also be entitled to compensation for a UK departing if the cause was within the airline's control (UK261)

camsadge

saajan_12 said:

Compensation is different to the refund/rerouting.
- You're entitled to refund or rerouting (at your choice) regardless of the cause. If they get you there via the standby on the original flight, then great. If not, then demand an alternate routing. If they don't provide it, then book yourself, retaining proof that you asked for an alternate, and that what you booked was the best price. 

- You may also be entitled to compensation for a UK departing if the cause was within the airline's control (UK261)

Thank you makes sense. Would much rather just get home but at least I know what I'm entitled to now.

la531983

You wIll struggle to find a direct routing anywhere to London Luton today tbh, the only other flight from there to anywhere in the UK today leaves half an hour before the Wizz one (to Heathrow) and no chance they would get him on that in time.

RogerPensionGuy

If maintenance is routine stuff and caused you an upset, then they should sort you out well.

If maintenance is because of something not in their control like some damages, they may say outside their control and maybe won't be so nice to you.

Fingers crossed you have a nice flight.

la531983

RogerPensionGuy said:

If maintenance is routine stuff and caused you an upset, then they should sort you out well.

If maintenance is because of something not in their control like some damages, they may say outside their control and maybe won't be so nice to you.

Fingers crossed you have a nice flight.

The reason is irrelevant, they still have a duty to get him to his destination. "Compo" after the event is a different issue altogher.

eskbanker

saajan_12 said:

Compensation is different to the refund/rerouting.
- You're entitled to refund or rerouting (at your choice) regardless of the cause. If they get you there via the standby on the original flight, then great. If not, then demand an alternate routing. If they don't provide it, then book yourself, retaining proof that you asked for an alternate, and that what you booked was the best price. 

- You may also be entitled to compensation for a UK departing if the cause was within the airline's control (UK261)

The cause makes no difference when denying boarding - compensation is an automatic right under article 4 of the regulations, and isn't negated by any extraordinary circumstances.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2004/261/article/4

Not sure whether the Wizzair flights concerned are operated by the UK or the other arm of the airline, which would determine whether the claim falls within the UK or the EU regulations, but they're identical to all intents and purposes.