"Enroute restrictions" as "extraordinary circumstances"
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 8
"Enroute restrictions" as "extraordinary circumstances"
Hi,
I've claimed compensation under regulation 261/2004 for a flight that was delayed more than three hours.
The airline (Swiss) is now claiming that the delay was caused due to "enroute restrictions" (I'm thinking they meant to wrote "en-route"). I've never heard of this, and I can't google any information whatsoever on it, nor do I get even one hit when I search for the term here on Flyertalk.
Anyone have any idea what they're talking about, and more specifically, if it is covered by the concept of "extraordinary circumstances"?
Best regards!
/H
I've claimed compensation under regulation 261/2004 for a flight that was delayed more than three hours.
The airline (Swiss) is now claiming that the delay was caused due to "enroute restrictions" (I'm thinking they meant to wrote "en-route"). I've never heard of this, and I can't google any information whatsoever on it, nor do I get even one hit when I search for the term here on Flyertalk.
Anyone have any idea what they're talking about, and more specifically, if it is covered by the concept of "extraordinary circumstances"?
Best regards!
/H
#2
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
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The only one I can think of was the recent French ATC strike that forced airline to either detour that airspace or wait for one of the limited slots. Whatever that may be, ask SWISS what exactly they mean by this term?
#3
Join Date: Aug 2004
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#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 8
Right you are. I wasn't nitpicking their grammar though, I meant for purposes of establishing what the concept they were referring to is generally called.
Not really - I'm sure they did, but this was more than two years ago, and as the delay was rather small we didn't mind it at the time. It made us miss our connecting flight (or rather, they refused to let us board our connecting flight even though we just would have made it) and subsequently the delay became quite large though.
#5
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This could have been due to:
1. WX conditions (which change constantly)
2. ATC
3. Security (which would account for the vague language). Some people prefer to be delayed rather than brought down my a missile.
1. WX conditions (which change constantly)
2. ATC
3. Security (which would account for the vague language). Some people prefer to be delayed rather than brought down my a missile.
#6
Join Date: Aug 2005
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And even if there were a valid reason, it still doesn't mean that they tried to find alternative ways for the OP to reach his final destination in time.
HTB.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 8
Or it could have been something they don't want to mention because it would sound too ludicrous. So as long as they don't name the reason I wouldn't even start to consider it being valid.
And even if there were a valid reason, it still doesn't mean that they tried to find alternative ways for the OP to reach his final destination in time.
HTB.
And even if there were a valid reason, it still doesn't mean that they tried to find alternative ways for the OP to reach his final destination in time.
HTB.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 8
ATC - no idea what this is.
I concur, a delay would be preferable to a missile-strike. It would definitely be covered by extraordinary circumstances though, so seeing how this was years ago and the airlines hardly is interested to compensate us, there shouldn't be much trouble stating that it was extraordinary security reasons that caused the delay.
#9
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WX = Weather
ATC = Air Traffic Control
#10
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,460
Problem with the denial is, as (almost all, including LH group as a whole) airlines tend to deny EU261 requests extremely often in the first attempt with "vague reasoning", the very few times where actually a proper reason exists to not having to hand out compensation (Assuming that everyone here knows that they can't claim when it has been something obviously not in the hand of the airline, ie weather/strike actions, and won't try to claim if such thing happens) can easily be overlooked.
Maybe LH group should have another "Textbaustein" they use in case it was REALLY something being a valid exclusion reason, so the experienced traveller (vs. the not-so-experienced, who will still be giving up receiving the regular "we don't need to pay because we don't need to" reason) at least understands that in this very case, it might indeed not be possible to get the compensation funds
Maybe LH group should have another "Textbaustein" they use in case it was REALLY something being a valid exclusion reason, so the experienced traveller (vs. the not-so-experienced, who will still be giving up receiving the regular "we don't need to pay because we don't need to" reason) at least understands that in this very case, it might indeed not be possible to get the compensation funds
#11
Join Date: Aug 2004
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..and subsequently the delay became quite large though.
I'd still ask LX for a translation or a less alternate universe explanation.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 8
Here's a useful page: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/glossary.php
WX = Weather
ATC = Air Traffic Control
WX = Weather
ATC = Air Traffic Control
#13
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,756
Maybe this is a easier way to get the compensation than contesting the 'enroute delays'.
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 8
The ECJ ruled (against Iberia) that if you present yourself for boarding on your connecting flight (i.e. at the gate when boarding hasn't finished) but your seat has been given away, then you are due the full IDB compensation.
Maybe this is a easier way to get the compensation than contesting the 'enroute delays'.
Maybe this is a easier way to get the compensation than contesting the 'enroute delays'.