Flight delays and compensation

Dr House

Dr House

Dr House

Soldato
Joined
17 Oct 2002
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Location
London
Am I he only one that feels a bit sorry for the airlines. It seems a bit unreasonable the amount of compensation they have to pay out for delayed flights.

I booked a pair of return flights for £70 Ret each to Gran Canaria last week. My flight out was delayed and now my flight back is delayed so it looks like they will have to pay us €400 Euro each per flight. That’s €1600 Euros in total.

I had the same issue from Marrakesh not long ago. It’s a nice bonus for me but it does seem a bit harsh on the airline.
 
Airlines have their own insurance and budget for these kind of scenarios.

My flights was cancelled, I just got a refund, no compensation.
 
There is no denying that EU261 compensation will influence decisions about whether or not to fly. I have yet to see any evidence however I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the smaller carriers were flying when they technically shouldn’t be to avoid paying out 150x lots of €400. It’s doesn’t compliment objective safety risk management.
 
I recently received 1800 Euros compensation from Air France for a delayed flight. I didn't feel sorry for them but I do wonder if those rules affected the way they handled the situation because I knew the plane's engine was broken before we boarded because the cowling was open and there were guys standing underneath it, looking at it and scratching their heads. But they boarded us anyway so we had an extra 4 hours sitting in the plane on top of the 12 hour flight, which with a 4 year old made it a much more difficult time. It would have been much nicer to spend that 4 hours in the terminal even if we were confined to the gate, but I think they boarded us in the hopes of taking off as soon as they could once it's fixed to cut down on the compensation, because the amount they have to pay out goes up with the length of the delay.

They claimed they didn't find the problem until we were already boarded but I don't believe a word of that and I suspect if it weren't for the rules on compensation, they would not have boarded us onto a broken plane.

I think the compensation rules are good in general but they certainly have their drawbacks.
 
Why would you feel sorry for them? If it's their fault then they pay, simple. If you pay for a service, which you then don't get and messes up your plans then damn right you should get something in return.
 
Scuzi said:
There is no denying that EU261 compensation will influence decisions about whether or not to fly. I have yet to see any evidence however I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the smaller carriers were flying when they technically shouldn’t be to avoid paying out 150x lots of €400. It’s doesn’t compliment objective safety risk management.
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Obviously little consolation to those involved and their families, but I would guess the penalties for a plane going down due to flying when it shouldn't would dwarf any compensation claims?

Not to mention the negative publicity around it
 
Haggisman said:
Obviously little consolation to those involved and their families, but I would guess the penalties for a plane going down due to flying when it shouldn't would dwarf any compensation claims?

Not to mention the negative publicity around it
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Dead people cost much less than living injured people. Oddly enough.
I have availed of the EU compo once for a delayed flight, once it failed as BA did some very dodgy stuff with transferring the person to Malaysian airlines instead of flying them, both were delayed, but the flight originated outside the EU on a non-Eu operator, so it was avoided.
 
So I'm currently trapped in Ireland. I've had to book hotels and spend money eating I wouldn't normally need to.

Will the airlines cover some or all of this?
 
rIcK said:
So I'm currently trapped in Ireland. I've had to book hotels and spend money eating I wouldn't normally need to.

Will the airlines cover some or all of this?
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Afaik Probably not because it’s out of their control, that’s what insurance is for.

You would normally eat wouldn’t you?
 
Raymond Lin said:
Do they still need to pay this post Brexit? I would think not...
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Yes they will, as all current applicable EU laws are being adopted as UK law under the EU Withdrawal Bill.

Ofc, EU261 could be repealed post Brexit, but I don't think any party has the stomach for it as it would be unpalatable for the pulic.
 
rIcK said:
So I'm currently trapped in Ireland. I've had to book hotels and spend money eating I wouldn't normally need to.

Will the airlines cover some or all of this?
Click to expand...
Yes they will, the "out of the airline's control" point (assuming its a weather issue) only applies to the fixed compensation you receive for delayed / cancelled flights. You are entitled to meals, hotels and a taxi to the airport under article 9 of EU 261/2004

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32004R0261:en:HTML
 
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