Originally Posted by hannah120
Thanks for this.This is really helpful.
I have also looked into compensation for the 24 hour delay-which I think I am right in saying I am unlikely to get because it was a technical fault?
Re the downgrading,what if they said that was the only type of seat available on that flight at that time?
They should still compensate you the 75% even if it wasn't available - unless they offered for you to stay extra nights for free to get the same class and you declined at which point it becomes a grey area!
Re compensation if you have travel insurance then you might be able to get some compensation but in my experience this is minimal. You are very unlikely to get any additional compensation from the airline. This said I was delayed in the USA for 2 days due to bad weather and eventually after complaiing and writing 3 letters I got the equivilent of £100 off my next BMI flight - but this was in main due to the appaling service I recieved at the airport during my 48 hour delay. However you should have had a hotel and meals etc
Just in case you want to quote more of the EC regulations ....
Here are the relevant bits of the articles for you.
Article 6 Delay
1. When an operating air carrier reasonably expects a flight
to be delayed beyond its scheduled time of departure:
(c) for four hours or more
passengers shall be offered by the operating air carrier:
(i) the assistance specified in Article 9(1)(a) and 9(2); and
(ii) when the reasonably expected time of departure is at least
the day after the time of departure previously announced,
the assistance specified in Article 9(1)(b) and 9(1)(c); and
(iii) when the delay is at least five hours, the assistance specified
in Article 8(1)(a).
Basically this means you should have got meals and refreshments in reasonable relation to the waiting time; hotel accommodation in cases where a stay of one or more nights becomes necessary,
transport between the airport and place of accommodation and offered free of charge two telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or e-mails.
Article 8
Right to reimbursement or re-routing
Which basically says you should be re routed and be offered the choice between
(b) re-routing, under
comparable transport conditions, to their
final destination at the earliest opportunity; or
(c) re-routing, under
comparable transport conditions, to their
final destination at a later date at the passenger's convenience,
subject to availability of seats.