I don't understand all the discussion whether Swiss should pay or not. Technically the answer is 'yes'. There is no force majeure exception for 'immediate assistance'. http://europa.eu/success50/xml/story_04_en.xml

Swiss is clearly in breach of the law and will be made pay but only after a claim and a fight from each individual passenger. Hence, the majority and non-frequent flyers will let them off. Sad customer service and I won't use them again for their attitude problem.

Swiss told me today that they had used their room allocations and also indicated they had no more money to pay for roooms.


You also have to understand that our individual travel insurances are tailored around the law. Since the airlines are obliged to pay, the insurance companies won't. I see no reason to let Swiss off the hook.

Whether the law is balanced, that discussion is a different matter.