Isles of Scilly Skybus cancelled flights.

Beefer54

I was due to fly to St Marys from Lands End at 11am on 27th June. On the afternoon of 26th June I was contacted by my travel company to inform me that the flight was cancelled due to crewing issues (The pilot was sick). I was told that I had been booked on the Scillonian 3 ferry at 8am and to be at the airport for a 6.45am bus to take me to the port of Penzance for the 8am departure to St Marys. I called Skybus operations and was told that there was indeed a sick pilot and that the flight had been cancelled. I was told that they do not offer compensation or even a refund of the difference in fare. I duly turned up and took the ferry. On checking the next day on Flight aware I was surprised to see a Skybus flight leaving Lands End at 11.05am and landing in St Marys at 11.22am. According to Skybus this flight never took place.

I would like to know if I am entitled to denied boarding compensation as the flight did operate to schedule, although I did arrive at my destination at around the same time but by a different mode of transport and at great personal inconvenience due to having a hotel eleven minutes from the airport but having to be awake at 5am in order to meet the requirements of my transportation to the ferry.

My return trip was also cancelled due to a supposed weather issue at Lands End. As there were no further flights that day I was alloted a hotel room. I had to pay for this room at £250 and was told to contact my insurer and that I would be put on the following days ferry. No mention again of any compensation or refund of fare. I also lost a night in a hotel in Penzance at another £140 and only managed to arrive at my second hotel the next day at 10pm due to the timing of the return ferry.

I checked the weather at Lands End and it appeared to be ok at the time of my return flight although an earlier flight did divert to Newquay. This flight refused to return to St Marys to operate any later flights that day. How do I stand with any form of refund or compensation for this flight?

I really do not understand how they can operate this schedule. They sell day return trips to customers that have no idea that they may not return as they had thought. I had a group of four, two parents and two teenage daughters on a day trip at the desk and they were told that they had to travel to an outlying island by boat and pay £500 per room for an overnight stay.

I would be very grateful for any help as I fear this is going to be an uphill struggle with Skybus.

Thank you in advance.

eskbanker

When UK airlines cancel flights, they are legally obliged to (a) arrange alternative transport at the earliest opportunity, (b) pay expenses, such as accommodation, and (c) pay fixed tariff compensation (unless due to extraordinary circumstances beyond their control). Crew sickness isn't deemed such extraordinary circumstances, but adverse weather conditions are.

The same applies for denied boarding, but the extraordinary circumstances exemption isn't relevant here.

So, you are due compensation from the airline for the outbound flight, but only the £250 hotel cost (again from the airline, not your insurer) for the inward one if they're claiming adverse weather, unless you can prove otherwise.

Humphreyshalfmoon

There is a claim form on their website https://www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk/claims/ which should help you with your claim.