Monday 20 December 2010

Travelling during the snow.

If you suspect that your winter travel plans might be affected by the snow or other adverse weather conditions we would recommend your first port of call be the airline. They will be able to advise you if your flight is indeed running on time or not. We would recommend staying in regular contact with the airline in case the situation changes and certainly confirming all is well prior to setting off to the airport.

Please find further flight information on the following link: www.baa.com

Additional info can be obtained through our flight agent on: 01732 597010 – please ask for Neil or Ross.

If your flight is cancelled you are entitled (under Regulation (EC) 261/2004) to the following;

1. Refund or re-routing

1. If you decide not to travel you are entitled to a refund, within seven days, of the parts of the tickets not used. If it is a connecting flight and you have already made part of the journey and do not want to continue with it, reimbursement of the total price of the ticket (including parts of the journey not made if the flight is no longer serving any purpose in relation to your original travel plan) within seven days and a free flight back to point of departure.

You are not entitled (under Regulation (EC) 261/2004) to reimbursement of any other components of your trip such as hotel and transfer costs.

or

Re-routing to your final destination as soon as possible or, if you agree, at a later date. (If the airline flies you to another airport in your destination city then they must pay for the transfer to the airport you were booked for or to another close-by point of your choice).

2. Compensation

The airline is not obliged to pay compensation if it can prove that the cancellation was caused by "extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken".




3. Assistance at the airport

· Meals and refreshments in reasonable relation to waiting time

· Two free telephone calls, emails, telexes or faxes

· Overnight hotel accommodation and transfers

Regulation EC261/2004 states circumstances under which airlines must pay compensation to their passengers when their flights are disrupted. But it also says that airlines do not have to pay compensation when an event "has been caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken".

The Regulation also gives the following examples of such circumstances:

  • political instability
  • bad weather
  • security risks
  • unexpected flight safety shortcomings
  • strikes that affect the operation of an air carrier
  • air traffic management decisions

One of the most common reasons for delays and cancellations is what airlines call "technical problems". And airlines took the view that technical problems were "unexpected flight safety shortcomings". So they did not pay compensation when disruptions were caused by technical problems.

However, in December 2008, the European Court of Justice made a ruling that, as a general rule, airlines should not refuse to pay compensation when a flight is disrupted due to technical problems. They would only refuse to pay if the problem "stems from events which, by their nature or origin, are not inherent in the normal exercise of the activity of the air carrier concerned and are beyond its actual control".

To receive reimbursement for components of your trip other than that detailed above you will need to contact your travel insurance company. Individual policies will vary in the level of cover and the circumstances they protect, much like your car insurance. Unfortunately neither we nor our suppliers will be able to reimburse on any unused components of your trip or refund any additional purchase you might make.

We will however be happy to assist you, when possible, in making alternative arrangements to meet up with / cancel your trip should you suffer from a delayed departure, a reschedule or cancellation. Any additional costs will need to be met by you and later claimed from your insurance where applicable.

If your flights are delayed or cancelled due to adverse weather please let us know so that we can inform our ground teams and your accommodations not to expect you as scheduled. This will prevent cancellation should you arrive a few days later than planned and stop us worrying that you are lost in transit.

Should you need further advice please call us on 01227 753180. Please note; our sales office will be seasonally closed from 23rd Dec 2010 until the 3rd Jan 2011. In the event of an emergency during this time please contact: 07793 573238

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