How about the following case:
Original booked with AB for January 27th:
AB8951, CPH - TXL, 7:40 pm – 8:40 pm
AB8070, TXL-WAW, 9:30 pm – 10:50 pm
Real Flighttimes (all according flightaware)
Jan 27th 2014: AB8951, CPH - TXL, 10:27 pm – 11:09 pm
Jan 28th 2014: AB8038, TXL-WAW, 9:30 am – 10:23 am
Yes, there was snow at CPH. Allright, but:
- The flight from TXL to CPH (AB8092) arrived at 8:06 pm instead of the scheduled 6:45 pm cause it left TXL at 7:28 pm instead of 5:55 pm. Real arrival at the gate in CPH was indeed even later than the mentioned 8:15 pm boarding time on the displays at CPH cause it arrived at 8:22 pm at the finger
Other comparable flights from TXL departured nearly on time (f.ex. 4U8062 at 6:10 pm instead 5:50 pm ; LH197 at 6:12 pm instead 5:45 pm ; AF1835 at 6:22 pm anstatt 6:00 pm ; LH2047 at 6:33pm instead 6:10pm) while others were delayed but not that much as AB9092
- A scheduled arrival was possible for many planes at this time at CPH. Even some were delayed, AB8092 was the one with the most delay
- Departures from CPH all went with a slight delay, but none so dramatic as my AB8951.
- I asked for a rebooking on LOT Airlines before (Scheduled from CPH,8:25 pm, at WAW: 9:20 pm; really: 9:30 pm - 10:45pm) but was denied cause the plane would be exactly the one which flies to WAW afterwards as I was told
So: Have I any right to complain? Yes, there was snow but according the rules - as far as I understand them - it is not my problem when the arriving flight is late due any circumstances. Also, snow in January should be normal.
Yes, AB paid for the needed hotel in Berlin and also allowed me to change my "return flight" (WAW-TXL-DUS) which was originally scheduled for Jan 28th 10:45 am. But I had travel expensed like taxi costs and I had to pay one night more in WAW.
Thanks for your feedback!