Changes to flights - is there anything we can do?

PNEfan

On Aug 20th we booked (and paid for) flights from Gatwick to Paphos for May 2008 half term with PriceRightFlights. These were advertised as XL flights, with the return due to arrive at Gatwick at 19:00.

On Jan 14th we were contacted with amended flight details involving an alternative airline and the return arriving at 22:45. I accepted the changes but informed PRF that I was not happy about the much later arrival as I have to be at work early the next morning.

Since then we received a second change still with the 22:45 return, but now flying out to Larnaca. As our holiday home is near Paphos, this will involve us in much inconvenience and extra cost for the transfers.

I complained to PRF who say there are no alternatives, and refuse to recompense us for extra expense.

No doubt the rules and small print protect PRF. Is there anything we can do?

dmg24

Could you cancel and find another airline?

bazza1603

Hi,

Since they have not offered the same return airport you should refuse the change. At the very least they should offer a transfer.

Have you tried speaking to Xl Direct, as it sounds to me like they cannot be bothered.

Good Luck

Baz

bagand96

bazza's advice is sound, try speaking to XL direct. At the end of the day PriceRightFlights are just an agent, and if XL are chyanging their flying schedules they can't help it. I would expect them to be a bit more proactive for you though.

You are entitled to cancel your booking and receive a full refund, obviously it just depends if you could find anything suitable as an alternative.

Engadine

When flights are changed and it is considered a major change then normally you can get a refund. A major change is considered as being a flight time change of more than 12 hours, your UK airport being changed.

You said that on the first change the airline was changed but you don't say which airline you were changed to. If the airline has been changed not a lot of point in contacting XL.

Flight changes do happen frequently, as charter airlines publish their flights so early and the slot times for the flights have not been confirmed it does always say in their terms and conditions that there may sometimes be changes etc

It is normally about this time of year that the airlines get their slot times confirmed or declined so they end up changing flight times or cancelling flights totally.

If your flight has been changed from XL then it may mean they are not operating the flight any longer. When you booked with Pricefirhgflights they should have sent you a copy of their terms and conditions or if you booked online there terms and conditions should have been there to read.

I have tried on their site but can't bring up any flights that are available and no sign of any terms and conditions.

Below is a copy of the section from XL's booking conditions that refers to flight changes, the airline you have been changed to should have a similar policy

3. What happens if you cancel or change my flight?

We plan our flying programme many months in advance, and although it is unlikely that we have to make any changes to confirmed bookings it can happen. From time to time for operational or commercial reasons it may be necessary to make changes to or cancel your flight after your booking has been accepted.

Provided you have paid the amounts due on time, we will not cancel/change your flight within 8 weeks of departure except as a result of force majeure or a Significant Change (as defined below). We can cancel your flight outside this 8 week period including for operational or commercial reasons. If we do this you will be entitled to receive only a refund of any money already paid.

We do not pay compensation for, or inform you of changes other than Significant Changes. We will inform you, however, of a change in the time of your return or departure flight if the change, though not a Significant Change, is of more than 2 hours.

In the case of a Significant Change within 8 weeks of your departure you will have the choice of: (a) accepting the changed arrangements; (b) not accepting the changed arrangements and receive a full refund plus the compensation set out below. The compensation below is the minimum compensation we will pay depending on the circumstances and the exact date of change or cancellation.
Where your flight is cancelled within 8 weeks of your departure, if available, accepting an alternative flight of equivalent or higher standard (where the alternative is cheaper, the difference would be refunded to you) plus the compensation mentioned below
Where your flight is cancelled within 8 weeks of your departure, if available, accepting an alternative flight of equivalent or higher standard (where the alternative is cheaper, the difference would be refunded to you) plus the compensation mentioned below.

The following made before day of departure constitute a Significant Change: (a) change in the departure time or return by more than 8 hours, (b) a change in UK departure airport on your outward/return flight to one which is more inconvenient to you; c) a change in your flight from a day flight to a night flight if the time of your departure and/or return has changed by more than 4 hours. A 'night flight' means one that is planned to depart from the UK between 22.00 and 05.59 and arriving back in the UK between 24.00 and 05.59.

Period before departure Compensation per full
within which a Significant Change fare paying passenger
is notified: (excludes infants):

Greater than 56 day £nil
29 - 55 days £10
15 -28 days £15
8- 14 days £20
0-7 days £25

If you wish we can give you a credit note against a future booking with us instead of cash.

We will not make compensation payments for any cancellation/changes caused as a result 'force majeure'. Force Majeure means any inability by us to perform our contractual obligations resulting from any cause or reason whatsoever beyond our reasonable control. This includes, but is not limited, to acts of war (whether war is declared or not), the threat of war, riots, civil disturbances, industrial disputes, terrorist activity, natural disasters, fire, technical problems to transport, airline failure, closure or disruption to airspace or airport or airline failure.

3. What happens if you cancel or change my flight?

We plan our flying programme many months in advance, and although it is unlikely that we have to make any changes to confirmed bookings it can happen. From time to time for operational or commercial reasons it may be necessary to make changes to or cancel your flight after your booking has been accepted.

Provided you have paid the amounts due on time, we will not cancel/change your flight within 8 weeks of departure except as a result of force majeure or a Significant Change (as defined below). We can cancel your flight outside this 8 week period including for operational or commercial reasons. If we do this you will be entitled to receive only a refund of any money already paid.

We do not pay compensation for, or inform you of changes other than Significant Changes. We will inform you, however, of a change in the time of your return or departure flight if the change, though not a Significant Change, is of more than 2 hours.

In the case of a Significant Change within 8 weeks of your departure you will have the choice of: (a) accepting the changed arrangements; (b) not accepting the changed arrangements and receive a full refund plus the compensation set out below. The compensation below is the minimum compensation we will pay depending on the circumstances and the exact date of change or cancellation.
Where your flight is cancelled within 8 weeks of your departure, if available, accepting an alternative flight of equivalent or higher standard (where the alternative is cheaper, the difference would be refunded to you) plus the compensation mentioned below
Where your flight is cancelled within 8 weeks of your departure, if available, accepting an alternative flight of equivalent or higher standard (where the alternative is cheaper, the difference would be refunded to you) plus the compensation mentioned below.

The following made before day of departure constitute a Significant Change: (a) change in the departure time or return by more than 8 hours, (b) a change in UK departure airport on your outward/return flight to one which is more inconvenient to you; c) a change in your flight from a day flight to a night flight if the time of your departure and/or return has changed by more than 4 hours. A 'night flight' means one that is planned to depart from the UK between 22.00 and 05.59 and arriving back in the UK between 24.00 and 05.59.

Period before departure Compensation per full
within which a Significant Change fare paying passenger
is notified: (excludes infants):

Greater than 56 day £nil
29 - 55 days £10
15 -28 days £15
8- 14 days £20
0-7 days £25

If you wish we can give you a credit note against a future booking with us instead of cash.

We will not make compensation payments for any cancellation/changes caused as a result 'force majeure'. Force Majeure means any inability by us to perform our contractual obligations resulting from any cause or reason whatsoever beyond our reasonable control. This includes, but is not limited, to acts of war (whether war is declared or not), the threat of war, riots, civil disturbances, industrial disputes, terrorist activity, natural disasters, fire, technical problems to transport, airline failure, closure or disruption to airspace or airport or airline failure.

3. What happens if you cancel or change my flight?

We plan our flying programme many months in advance, and although it is unlikely that we have to make any changes to confirmed bookings it can happen. From time to time for operational or commercial reasons it may be necessary to make changes to or cancel your flight after your booking has been accepted.

Provided you have paid the amounts due on time, we will not cancel/change your flight within 8 weeks of departure except as a result of force majeure or a Significant Change (as defined below). We can cancel your flight outside this 8 week period including for operational or commercial reasons. If we do this you will be entitled to receive only a refund of any money already paid.

We do not pay compensation for, or inform you of changes other than Significant Changes. We will inform you, however, of a change in the time of your return or departure flight if the change, though not a Significant Change, is of more than 2 hours.

In the case of a Significant Change within 8 weeks of your departure you will have the choice of: (a) accepting the changed arrangements; (b) not accepting the changed arrangements and receive a full refund plus the compensation set out below. The compensation below is the minimum compensation we will pay depending on the circumstances and the exact date of change or cancellation.
Where your flight is cancelled within 8 weeks of your departure, if available, accepting an alternative flight of equivalent or higher standard (where the alternative is cheaper, the difference would be refunded to you) plus the compensation mentioned below
Where your flight is cancelled within 8 weeks of your departure, if available, accepting an alternative flight of equivalent or higher standard (where the alternative is cheaper, the difference would be refunded to you) plus the compensation mentioned below.

The following made before day of departure constitute a Significant Change: (a) change in the departure time or return by more than 8 hours, (b) a change in UK departure airport on your outward/return flight to one which is more inconvenient to you; c) a change in your flight from a day flight to a night flight if the time of your departure and/or return has changed by more than 4 hours. A 'night flight' means one that is planned to depart from the UK between 22.00 and 05.59 and arriving back in the UK between 24.00 and 05.59.

Period before departure Compensation per full
within which a Significant Change fare paying passenger
is notified: (excludes infants):

Greater than 56 day £nil
29 - 55 days £10
15 -28 days £15
8- 14 days £20
0-7 days £25

If you wish we can give you a credit note against a future booking with us instead of cash.

We will not make compensation payments for any cancellation/changes caused as a result 'force majeure'. Force Majeure means any inability by us to perform our contractual obligations resulting from any cause or reason whatsoever beyond our reasonable control. This includes, but is not limited, to acts of war (whether war is declared or not), the threat of war, riots, civil disturbances, industrial disputes, terrorist activity, natural disasters, fire, technical problems to transport, airline failure, closure or disruption to airspace or airport or airline failure.

3. What happens if you cancel or change my flight?

We plan our flying programme many months in advance, and although it is unlikely that we have to make any changes to confirmed bookings it can happen. From time to time for operational or commercial reasons it may be necessary to make changes to or cancel your flight after your booking has been accepted.

Provided you have paid the amounts due on time, we will not cancel/change your flight within 8 weeks of departure except as a result of force majeure or a Significant Change (as defined below). We can cancel your flight outside this 8 week period including for operational or commercial reasons. If we do this you will be entitled to receive only a refund of any money already paid.

We do not pay compensation for, or inform you of changes other than Significant Changes. We will inform you, however, of a change in the time of your return or departure flight if the change, though not a Significant Change, is of more than 2 hours.

In the case of a Significant Change within 8 weeks of your departure you will have the choice of: (a) accepting the changed arrangements; (b) not accepting the changed arrangements and receive a full refund plus the compensation set out below. The compensation below is the minimum compensation we will pay depending on the circumstances and the exact date of change or cancellation.
Where your flight is cancelled within 8 weeks of your departure, if available, accepting an alternative flight of equivalent or higher standard (where the alternative is cheaper, the difference would be refunded to you) plus the compensation mentioned below
Where your flight is cancelled within 8 weeks of your departure, if available, accepting an alternative flight of equivalent or higher standard (where the alternative is cheaper, the difference would be refunded to you) plus the compensation mentioned below.

The following made before day of departure constitute a Significant Change: (a) change in the departure time or return by more than 8 hours, (b) a change in UK departure airport on your outward/return flight to one which is more inconvenient to you; c) a change in your flight from a day flight to a night flight if the time of your departure and/or return has changed by more than 4 hours. A 'night flight' means one that is planned to depart from the UK between 22.00 and 05.59 and arriving back in the UK between 24.00 and 05.59.

Period before departure Compensation per full
within which a Significant Change fare paying passenger
is notified: (excludes infants):

Greater than 56 day £nil
29 - 55 days £10
15 -28 days £15
8- 14 days £20
0-7 days £25

If you wish we can give you a credit note against a future booking with us instead of cash.

We will not make compensation payments for any cancellation/changes caused as a result 'force majeure'. Force Majeure means any inability by us to perform our contractual obligations resulting from any cause or reason whatsoever beyond our reasonable control. This includes, but is not limited, to acts of war (whether war is declared or not), the threat of war, riots, civil disturbances, industrial disputes, terrorist activity, natural disasters, fire, technical problems to transport, airline failure, closure or disruption to airspace or airport or airline failure.

bagand96

You said that on the first change the airline was changed but you don't say which airline you were changed to. If the airline has been changed not a lot of point in contacting XL.

Will still be worth contacting XL, as the booking will probably still be an XL booking. With charter flights your point of contact is the tour operator not the airline, as the tour operator handle bookings and also issue the tickets. Even though XL are not flying it with one their own aircraft, its still their booking, as they are the tour operator who chartered the flight. XL use Air Malta a lot amongst others.

The only other situation is if Price Right Flights have completely cancelled your booking and booked you on another tour operators flights, which I dount they could do without speaking to you first.