dcadwell

Looks like their return flight is tomorrow, so hopefully they're not at the airport already.

blitzen

The flight in question was tomorrow and no one is expected to be at the airport a day early

Often1

OP needs to provide some specific facts and the exact compensation, if any, will not be known until after the flight arrives at JFK (presuming that JFK is the final ticketed destination).

1. If "bumped" means that OP's son was involuntarily transferred to another flight, he is then entitled to EC 261/2004 IDB compensation of EUR 600. Unlike US law, the compensation is not confined to overbooked flights which wind up as oversales.
2. In addition, if the son arrives at his final ticketed destination three or more hours later than scheduled, he is due EUR 300. If four or more hours, it is EUR 600.

Compensation is payable to the passenger, e.g. the son, not the tour company, and it is payable in cash (equivalent) not funny money (unless you want to negotiate for that.

It would be good if OP would return with the following:
1. What does he mean by "bumped?" By whom? Why?
2. Is JFK the final ticketed destination?
3. If not JFK, then where and at what time will the son arrive (vs. what time he was originally scheduled to arrive).

As you can see, you can't determine the delay until the aircraft arrives.

You need answers from your son and from DL. Forget the tour company and don't let the tour company intervene for you. All it needs to do is handle the reroute.

The Situation

Without much in the way of details, its hard to be helpful, but I would also ask questions about the tour company. It seems really odd that DL would bump such a large group to a different flight only 24 hours before departure. Perhaps this was the flight they were scheduled for all along and the tour company didn't want to take the blame for the screw up or there was a schedule change awhile ago that the tour company just now noticed. I don't know, but it all seems really odd, and I don't think that DL would make such a decision unilaterally without first consulting with the tour company since its a group booking. I would call DL and ask them to look up the history of the reservation.

WestCoastPDX

Silver Fox

And.......breathe out.......

DavidDTW

Sadly, we have become a society that monetizes EVERYTHING! That, plus a prevailing sense of entitlement, demands compensation.

Often1

I agree with you. But, EC 261/2004 is a statutory scheme. Perhaps it ought to be revised or repealed. But, so long as it is on the books, the answer to OP's question is as asked.

I do find it odd that the the first question people ask is about compensation. If my teen kid were being shuffled around overseas, I would focus 100% on getting him home and then turn to the money.

jrl767

this can be explained by the fact that you just joined FT a couple months ago (I'm not sure how long you may have been browsing thru the site, but the subject of compensation has been at the forefront of many airline sub-forums/fora on here for many years)

you, otoh, are one of the last people I would expect to say that, given your FT tenure

AviationFreak

blitzen

The Situation

Even when there are hurricanes, snowstorms, and mechanical issues every flight should take off and land on time. I similarly don't understand why everyone seems so determined to believe that every person and every company is somehow out to screw you. As I have grown older, I find that it is in fact very rare that people or companies are trying to screw you. Yes it does happen, but more often in business-to-business transactions rather than business-to-consumer transactions. People and companies really do want to deliver, but sometimes whether due to misunderstandings, poor training, snafus that just happen from time to time, or acts of God, things do not go as planned. From there, if you communicate and treat people with respect and smile, 99% of the time you walk away with at least a satisfactory result considering the circumstances and often you walk away with a great result. If you go in with the attitude that the airline trying to screw me because there is a blizzard dumping two feet of snow, I can pretty much guarantee you will not be happy with the outcome. Attitude makes a difference.

audio-nut

azepine00

you absolutely will pay extra - change fee and possibly fare difference - if you ask them to get you there early...

they dont seem to be very forgiving if pax are not at the gate on time.. ok then - i am late - i pay, they are late - they pay.. seems fair imo...

Often1

The change fee is EUR 0 on most legacy carriers.

That is, if you choose to purchase a fully flexible fare. On the other hand, if you, like most people, wish to take advantage of the substantial discount afforded by accepting an inflexible fare, the change fee is whatever it is you agreed to.

It's a nonsensical comparison. People choose the fare basis which suits them best. So, why are the vast majority of tickets purchased under penalty fares? Because that is what consumers want and they benefit from substantial discounts in return for occasionally having to make and pay for a change.

The discussion here is not whether there ought to be compensation (and frankly until OP returns with some details we can't be sure), but why the first thing that concerns people is what they will get. Not, "gee, how do I get my kid back from ATH and what can I do to backstop DL and the tour company?"