Package holiday, flight cancelled

pwe

We bought a package holiday eg return flights & hotels, last month 

We arrived at the airport (Gatwick) on Monday this week to be told that the outbound flight was cancelled as the destination airport was closed due to bad weather, and that there would be no flight within the next 24 hours

We were told to return home and await updates

Later the same evening, the airline messaged to say a new flight had been scheduled the next day (ie 24 hours after the initial cancellation)

We returned to the airport and all was well, got on the flight and we’re now enjoying the holiday

But we’ve lost a nights (pre-paid) accommodation, and incurred additional travel and car parking expenses 

Do we have a valid claim to compensation, and if so, would this be with our insurer, the airline or the travel agent ?

With thanks in advance

la531983

If it was a weather event there is no compensation due for the flight delay, however out of pocket expenses should be covered by the airline. 
You would need to talk to whoever the operator was about the night you have missed.

eskbanker

If the flight was cancelled due to weather conditions severe enough to qualify as extraordinary circumstances, then there is no compensation due under the UK/EC261 flight delay/cancellation regulations.  The airline should reimburse the extra travel to and from the airport though.

You should be able to claim against your package provider, under the Package Travel Regulations, as your holiday was subjected to a change of duration, and therefore the price should be adjusted accordingly (by the value of one night's accommodation).

Not sure about extra car parking - the airline won't be liable under the regulations and I'm not sure the package provider is either, would the amount justify an insurance claim?

la531983

How has extra car parking been incurred, didnt the car park operator let you leave and come back again to resume the same booking?

Westin

Madeira?  

pwe

Westin said:

Madeira?  

Mauritius. Cyclone Belal 

pwe

la531983 said:

How has extra car parking been incurred, didnt the car park operator let you leave and come back again to resume the same booking?

Well, we’d book a Meet ‘n Greet’ service, so having dropped the car with them, they took it off-site for the duration, then had to bring it back, which invoked their ‘rebooking’ charge

Meet ‘n Greet…more like Snap & Grunt 🤭

Westin

pwe said:

We bought a package holiday eg return flights & hotels, last month 

We arrived at the airport (Gatwick) on Monday this week to be told that the outbound flight was cancelled as the destination airport was closed due to bad weather, and that there would be no flight within the next 24 hours

We were told to return home and await updates

Later the same evening, the airline messaged to say a new flight had been scheduled the next day (ie 24 hours after the initial cancellation)

We returned to the airport and all was well, got on the flight and we’re now enjoying the holiday

But we’ve lost a nights (pre-paid) accommodation, and incurred additional travel and car parking expenses 

Do we have a valid claim to compensation, and if so, would this be with our insurer, the airline or the travel agent ?

With thanks in advance

A cyclone clearly comes under a weather event.  Now you are in Mauritius you have probably seen the damage/heard how bad it was.  

The airline should have offered meals and overnight accommodation whilst delayed. Assume it was better for you to return to the comfort of your home for the night.  If the airline did not offer the hotel then you may have a claim against them for your extra costs to get back home and back again to the airport the next day. If however your choice to go home then no right to recompense for your car parking costs.

The travel agent is clearly not at fault.  If a package holiday with a tour operator, and if you feel that strongly about it, write in when you get back. They might work with the hotel to see about a one night refund for your (non) stay.

Have a look at your travel insurance to see if/what the cover is for a delayed departure.  Many policies I have seen it is quite low (£10-£25 pp).

This might have to go down as ‘one of those things’. A travel adventure to tell your friends about when you return.  

For now, get on and enjoy your holiday. 

pwe

Westin said:

pwe said:

We bought a package holiday eg return flights & hotels, last month 

We arrived at the airport (Gatwick) on Monday this week to be told that the outbound flight was cancelled as the destination airport was closed due to bad weather, and that there would be no flight within the next 24 hours

We were told to return home and await updates

Later the same evening, the airline messaged to say a new flight had been scheduled the next day (ie 24 hours after the initial cancellation)

We returned to the airport and all was well, got on the flight and we’re now enjoying the holiday

But we’ve lost a nights (pre-paid) accommodation, and incurred additional travel and car parking expenses 

Do we have a valid claim to compensation, and if so, would this be with our insurer, the airline or the travel agent ?

With thanks in advance

A cyclone clearly comes under a weather event.  Now you are in Mauritius you have probably seen the damage/heard how bad it was.  

The airline should have offered meals and overnight accommodation whilst delayed. Assume it was better for you to return to the comfort of your home for the night.  If the airline did not offer the hotel then you may have a claim against them for your extra costs to get back home and back again to the airport the next day. If however your choice to go home then no right to recompense for your car parking costs.

The travel agent is clearly not at fault.  If a package holiday with a tour operator, and if you feel that strongly about it, write in when you get back. They might work with the hotel to see about a one night refund for your (non) stay.

Have a look at your travel insurance to see if/what the cover is for a delayed departure.  Many policies I have seen it is quite low (£10-£25 pp).

This might have to go down as ‘one of those things’. A travel adventure to tell your friends about when you return.  

For now, get on and enjoy your holiday. 

Great information, thank you, I am grateful and will heed upon our return

NB: aside from a few fallen tree branches, there’s zero evidence here that a cyclone had passed 75 miles distant just 24 hours prior. 

As you say, there is a season for these things and they seem to be well prepared and braced for the worst. Other countries, not so much