Entitled to receive compensation from Emirates?

GoofyLabrador

Dear, my situation (Dutch native) is as follows:

• Last December, I flew from Amsterdam (AMS) to Male (MLE) with Emirates, with one stop in Dubai (DXB).
• EK0148 (AMS - DXB) was slightly delayed, but sufficiently in time to catch the intended connecting flight EK 656 to MLE which would depart at 2:30 am.
• EK0656 (DXB - MLE) was cancelled due to bad weather and I was rebooked to EK0858 to MLE which would depart at 4:20 am.
• EK0658 (DXB - MLE) had a delay of 7 hours and 40 minutes, due to bad weather (forecasts).
• My overall delay for the DXB - MLE leg, including the cancellation of EK0656 and rebooking to EK0658, was more than 9 hours and 30 minutes.
• Because of this delay, I missed the connecting domestic flight from MLE (not with Emirates) and arrived in my resort one day later than expected.
• Emirates have sent me a written confirmation for the EK0658 delay specifically.
• I only received a complementary food and drink courtesy voucher from Emirates with an estimated value of 10-15 Euro (a sandwich and a soda) for DXB airport, and was not e.g., offered a room at one of their airport hotels.

I have not yet submitted a request for compensation, as the scope of the claim and odds are not sufficiently clear to me, and would appreciate receiving reliable advice. The delay occurred in Asia, not in Europe. Based on your expertise, would I be entitled to receive compensation from Emirates? If positive, for which delay, EK0658 solely or overall, considering my original flight from DXB was EK0656, and not EK0658?

Thanks!

eskbanker

If the root cause for both cancellation and delay was bad weather, then this is likely to mean that you're not entitled to compensation, as this will be deemed extraordinary circumstances beyond the airline's control - is that what Emirates have said within their written confirmation?

Worried_fool

No compensation, since bad weather is not their fault.

You were, however, entitled to "care" during the delay. They should have given you a hotel room, and had you simply paid for a reasonable room yourself they would have to reimburse you. Equally, had you bought sensible amounts of food that you required, they would have been 'on the hook' for the cost.

eskbanker

Not sure if there would actually have been an airline obligation to provide a hotel room, in the context of what was already an overnight itinerary, but if the 04:20 flight was confirmed in advance as having a 7 hour 40 minute delay (i.e. if it was known at 04:20 that it wouldn't depart until midday), as opposed to the delays being incremental during that period, then that might have supported the argument.

But yes, if OP didn't actually incur the cost of a hotel booked at their own expense then there's nothing to claim, although no harm in complaining to the airline with an argument that they should have provided accommodation, in case they'd be prepared to offer a gesture of goodwill…

GoofyLabrador

Thank you for the insights. This topic can be closed.