On Saturday night (technically Sunday morning) I was due to fly on the LX177 from SIN back to Zürich and on to London. Unfortunately, the flight was cancelled as there was a mechanical issue. The pilot very helpfully came on the PA saying that there was a redundant instrument that they needed, which was broken, and they didn't have a spare at Changi. They would need fly a spare part out from Zürich and so the flight was cancelled to run 24 hours later. A pretty clear case of a mechanical delay if ever there was one (or so I thought).
Ironically the SQ52 to MAN was departing from the next gate, so asked to be put on that, and then I'd be able to jump on a train down to London. The staff didn't have ticketing abilities and by the time they got through to someone an hour later who could, it had closed, and I was rebooked on the SQ308 getting me in eight hours later.
I asked if they could put me up in the Crowne Plaza and was told that they didn't have an agreement with them so I should book it myself and claim it back, which I did.
So I submitted my claim via the website and they have come back with the most bollocks I think I've heard from an airline that even Boris Johnson would be proud of:
Your flight LX177 on 27 November 2022 unfortunately had to be delayed as a result of Technical restrictions. On behalf of SWISS and its cooperation partners, I apologize for the inconvenience you had as a result.
Official instruction must be followed by airlines, which cannot influence them.
We consider the described flight delay as necessary and this irregularity to be an extraordinary circumstance. This could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Therefore, I must deny your claim for compensation.
My reply to them was pretty direct. Asking them to confirm in writing that their position won't change as I'll take them to the small claims court in the UK upon receipt. Given such a clear cut case of having to pay out, there is clearly a deliberate policy to lie to passengers (and I don't use such hyperbole lightly). I'm simply not going to deal with such BS and take them immediately to court if they're going to play stupid games like that.