Nicofr68

Hello… does anyone know if the UK/EU 261 rules oblige an airline to replace a direct flight they have cancelled with an alternative direct flight (albeit with another carrier) on the same day or within 24 hours?

Norse have cancelled a direct flight and offer an indirect flight 12 hours previously with a 6 hour stopover to join one of their other flights making a total journey time of almost 24 hours instead of 9. Can I demand they replace a direct flight with a direct flight, given it will have to be with a different carrier, under 261 rules ?

thank you !

Romanianflyer

No, there is not such an obligation, not in the scope of EC/261, nor generally in airline ticketing. There is no harm in asking, but chances are practically 0 that they'd put you on a direct flight with another airline.

Remember that a contract of carriage just guarantees you being transported from A to B, in a certain travel class. How that's done exactly is irrelevant in case of irregular operations. The airline is in their rights to put you on a connecting flight in case your direct flight is cancelled, as what matters is that you are brought to your final destination. The same counts the other way around. Let's say you are booked on KLM, flying OSL-AMS-JFK and you planned to explore Amsterdam during your 10-hour layover. In case your Oslo to Amsterdam flight is cancelled and the airline decides to rebook you on a direct SAS flight from OSL to JFK, they are fulfilling their obligations according to EC/261. It's irrelevant that you wanted to have a layover in Amsterdam as per your original ticket, as what you booked was simply a ticket to New York, so getting you to that city is what matters.

Of course, depending on how close to your departure date the flight was cancelled, you may have the right to compensation if your arrival is way earlier/later than on your original flight.

hugolover

I don’t agree. A lot of airlines CofC is utter tosh and doesn’t hold up in law. For example, you book long haul C but the carrier decides to swap it for a narrow body with Eurobiz. CofC will say it’s still business and EU261 won’t help, but contract law will, good faith, consumer contracts and fairness.

Direct flights are nearly always sold at a premium over indirect, even if fares have gone up a lot since booking to blur that.

If airlines could you what you propose, it’s chaos, especially at the +14 mark so no compo. This is not America so a refund doesn’t make things right.

SK AAR

There is no such right. When the airline offers you an acceptable alternative - despite not being the preferred solution for you - the airline is not going to rebook you OAL (which will be much more expensive for the airline than rebooking you to their own flights). You have zero chance of getting the airline to rebook you in this situation, and you would have to buy the new ticket on your own and hope that the airline will be forced to reimburse you afterwards.

Take a (full) refund and book the desired flight on your own; much easier and time saving.

hugolover

God forbid you’re a disabled person, a young person, elderly, limited visa options, travelling with young ones etc.

Take the refund and rebook, if it’s too expensive now then just stay at home or take money from your savings, work a second job, all cos the airline is run like a crapshack .

Terrible advice 🤡.