I love going on holiday, and like most people, one of the best bits is messaging your work colleagues with incessant unnecessary updates as to how much sun you’ve had and how warm the sea is.
However, on my return to Scotland from France last month, I emailed my department partner at midnight to update him with news that I was in the departure terminal and that my connecting flight had been cancelled with the airline arranging no alternative. Needless to say, I was late to work the next day, and had the sore neck as a souvenir from my “sleep” on the Gatwick terminal floor. Karma struck: the joy of unnecessary updates was over.
Luckily, I had read Alan Cameron’s Planes, Trains and Automobiles article, and had sent it on to enough clients, so I was well aware of what my rights and the airline’s obligations were in these circumstances. Under EU Regulation 261/2004, passengers are entitled to compensation if their flight arrives three hours later than planned, with certain exceptions.
With the information provided in Alan’s article – and its ‘sequel’ – and discussion with the Dispute Resolution team, I was able to get compensation even when the airline originally said I wasn’t eligible due to “extraordinary circumstances”.
I’m going on holiday tomorrow, and will probably not message my colleagues with photographs of me relaxing by lakes and mountains (I’m going to Switzerland, since you asked). Fingers crossed for no hassle returning back to work, knowing what my legal rights are, thanks to talking with Jackson Boyd’s Dispute Resolution team.
If you have any queries or any disputes with airlines regarding delayed/cancelled flight compensation, please contact us online by clicking here or speak to a member of our specialist team on 0333 222 1855 and we will happily assist you with any potential claim for compensation arising from your holiday or from your flights to and from your destination..
