"We can't take off until we find earplugs for the back of the plane"
Mar 2, 2020, 11:49 am
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 87
"We can't take off until we find earplugs for the back of the plane"
BA633 ATH-LHR tonight.
Captain came on tannoy after loading all passengers, saying there was a technical issue and he had two options for us [gulp, never a good sign].
The outbound crew reported really awful, loud noise of air escaping near row 30, so people toward back can either stay on, or be offloaded for the 02:20 flight. He was very keen to point out it wasn't a safety issue, just extremely uncomfortable.
Oh and they couldn't take off for now because they needed to source earplugs for those who still want to travel.
I was in row 32 so elected to take a later plane, to be fair to BA they were flexible about times.
But I noticed after 1.5 hours they still hadn't taken off, so those earplugs must be elusive!
Captain came on tannoy after loading all passengers, saying there was a technical issue and he had two options for us [gulp, never a good sign].
The outbound crew reported really awful, loud noise of air escaping near row 30, so people toward back can either stay on, or be offloaded for the 02:20 flight. He was very keen to point out it wasn't a safety issue, just extremely uncomfortable.
Oh and they couldn't take off for now because they needed to source earplugs for those who still want to travel.
I was in row 32 so elected to take a later plane, to be fair to BA they were flexible about times.
But I noticed after 1.5 hours they still hadn't taken off, so those earplugs must be elusive!
Mar 2, 2020, 11:53 am
#2
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That's a new one on me, I've not (um) heard of this before. This has the hallmark of more people asking to de-plane as the delays creep on. Or the crew found more things wrong / can't get the paperwork signed off.
Mar 2, 2020, 11:58 am
#3
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One word, wow.
I wonder what our resident EC261/04 expert (whose already replied) thinks about if you choose to deplane, would that count as voluntary and therefore prevent compensation?
I wonder what our resident EC261/04 expert (whose already replied) thinks about if you choose to deplane, would that count as voluntary and therefore prevent compensation?
Mar 2, 2020, 12:05 pm
#4
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 87
I may be paraphrasing about the sound being like air escaping, I can't remember his exact words, but something like that is the kind of impression I came away with.
Either way, cabin crews are normally pretty good at looking unflappable but they looked quite put out by this, so it must have been really bad.
I'd assumed it would not be eligible under 261, since I voluntarily elected to leave the plane.
Either way, cabin crews are normally pretty good at looking unflappable but they looked quite put out by this, so it must have been really bad.
I'd assumed it would not be eligible under 261, since I voluntarily elected to leave the plane.
Last edited by drsabs; Mar 2, 2020 at 12:10 pm
Mar 2, 2020, 12:07 pm
#5
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I don't think it's in scope for EC261, if you volunteer to go off, but you would be in scope for claiming under the Consumer Rights Act on the basis that it's not fit for purpose. Hopefully a suitable Avios gesture will head that off.
Mar 2, 2020, 2:45 pm
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