CANCELLED AER LINGUS FLIGHT JFK - MANCHESTER

dec9

My sons just arrived at JFK airport with his wife and 3 young children for a Aer Lingus flight back to Manchester. (Booked through British Airways ). They have been told its been cancelled and the next flights is at 7.05pm on Christmas Eve. (its now 10.20pm Sunday 22/12/24.) We don't know yet why the flights been cancelled. Why its been cancelled we don't know yet other than a technical issue.
What are his rights as to who pays for a hotel, transport food etc? He has 3 young kids and its minus 11degrees.

TadleyBaggie

The flight from Manchester to JFK was canceled, so there is no plane even in JFK make the flight. There have been high winds on the eastern side of the UK today, plenty of cancellations due to that.

Checked the incoming Aer Lingus A330 to Manchester on Sunday, there were 2. One the aircraft was later used for flight to Barbados. The other (G-EILA) looks like it should have been used for the JFK flight but it has not left Manchester according to Flightradar24. 

bagand96

This is covered under EC261 regulations.  https://www.caa.co.uk/passengers-and-public/resolving-travel-problems/delays-and-cancellations/cancellations/

The airline are responsible for arranging an alternative flight. They are also responsible for care during the delay (hotels, food etc). In addition maybe  compensation depending on the cause of the cancellation, but that can be worried about later.

If Aer Lingus aren't providing a hotel/meals then he can arrange his own and claim back later. Keep expenses reasonable and keep receipts.

Also, he doesn't have to accept their rearranged flight if there's more suitable alternatives. Most airlines will give you their next available flight, however if this means a significant delay (like 2 days!) then they should offer alternatives.

Plenty of indirect flights from NYC to MAN tomorrow 23rd (or even late tonight) on other airlines. 

Brie

Likely to due with the weather in the UK - a lot of flights cancelled at Heathrow and so it likely that there's a knock on effect to other flights coming and going.