LondonElite

I feel your pain, but EC261 won't apply to either the delay or the downgrade I'm afraid. The delay requires you to be at least four hours late to your final destination (for longhaul flights). The downgrade was on a segment entirely within the US on a non-community carrier, so again EC261 won't apply. I think you should take this up with UA but my gut says they'll tell you to pound sand.

Kacee

As WineCountryUA noted, you're entitled to refund of the fare differential and UA will likely give you some cs comp in the $300 range.

You always have the option of waiting for a flight with an open J seat.

CashN

Update:

I missed the second connection in EWR. Had 2:30 min to get through customs and recheck golf bag and checked luggage. Took 45 min to get golf bag because elevator broke and slow TSA. Then it took 1:45 to check in bag and get through security. Decided to board the 8:15pm flight because F class was available, the 5:30 didn't have any F seats... ultimately got into LAX at 11:30 vs 5:30 planned.

All in all I was 4 hours delayed on outbound connection EWR to glasgow and missed tee time. Then 6 hour net delay on return. The biggest issue is that none of it was weather related, simply the 'awaiiting inbound, reason.

So much stress because the delay notification came at 1:00am in Hlasgow before my 5:30am pick up from Edinburgh. EDI had a flight, no f class but I couldn't get a hold of my colleague on the same flight with no status and limited flying experience.

I made it, tired and exhausted and I spent roughly 24 hours in airports yesterday. I hear the EU will provide compensation for the delay in Glasgow. I will try to pursue.

Not surprisingly I won't expect an auto email from united asking about my trip. Shockingly I only get them on ontime arrivals...

LondonElite

Your post is confusing. Where are you now? You are talking about the return so are you in Glasgow now? If your delay getting into LAX was six hours than you will receive compensation under EC261. This is paid by UA, not the EU. You can claim through their website. It has nothing to do with the late departure from GLA and everything to do with the late arrival at LAX.

Kacee

Not so sure about that. Sounds like there was a voluntary decision to wait for an F seat on the 8:15 p.m. rather than fly Y on the 5:30.

But I agree the posts are confusing.

UAgeek71

So an interesting one on the EU rules front. Traveling with infant in arms (3 months old). UA from ORD-BRU, then SAS from BRU-CPH. All booked as one reservation as ORD-BRU-CPH on UA 016 stock.

Get to BRU, get on the SAS flight, sat down in my assigned and ticketed seat - FA comes over and says they don't have the infant listed on the manifest or the ticket, and they won't let us fly. Removed me, the infant (and the Significant other) from the flight. We had to scramble in BRU to first check with SAS, and then United (which is no easy task with a little one, who is now getting cranky)- Finger pointing on every front. SAS blames UA, UA says SAS has all the info - on and on and on, but eventually get rebooked by SAS on the flight to CPH - 7 hours later.


Since I booked the ticket, and confirmed with UA on the infant, and they knew it was in fact infant in arms, as I was able to board and fly ORD-BRU, this was not likely my fault (other than I suspect now I will check every aspect of every ticket moving forward). Should I push it with UA, SAS or both for denied boarding under the EU rules???


Is this even a case of EU compensation due?

LondonElite

My guess would be denied boarding by SAS.

Aussienarelle

So I have never really focused on this issue very much, but have had my fair share of delayed and cancelled flights with United over the years, of which quite a number are from Europe (and significantly more going to Europe but know these flights do not qualify for EU261). I got to thinking due to a LOT flight that was delayed and resulted in them needing to overnight me and LOT explained to me the time is based on when I reach my ultimate destination not the delay of the original flight and thus my claim should be for the highest amount since the next flight was not until the next day.

In January, UA delayed the flight leaving FRA (to SFO) due to mechanical. Due to the delay they moved me to the next SFO-SAN flight, even though I was there for the original flight. Does the delay in arriving in SAN more than three hours after the original arrival time qualify for EU261 since it was all one reservation from Europe?

segiddins

Wrote into customer care with the following last month:

Just got the following response (nearly a month later):

They've deposited 3,500 miles.

Aussienarelle

So I am guessing based on the response it is only the delay in arrival from Europe to the USA, and not the final destination in the USA.

segiddins

It's my understanding that its the delay to the _final_ destination that matters for EU261, not the delay on the first flight if a connecting itinerary.

Aussienarelle

Thank you. So I think then I have a claim as it was more than six hours later. I originally wrote in but it was about the fact they had given my first class seat away on the SFO-SAN leg, sat me in a coach seat and then removed me from the plane and I had to wait for the next flight. I wrote in to enquire what happened and they said they would investigate and gave me an ETC for $200.

However, I think I was actually entitled to Euro 600 and they did not mention this to me.

Silver Fox

They will never mention EU261 to you. The delay is based on your original scheduled arrival time at your final destination.

Kacee

That nonsense was expressly rejected in Sturgeon v. Condor. I'd right back, citing Sturgeon, and politely demand they pony up.

porciuscato

As an aside, I would really like to heartily thank Kacee and all the other knowledgeable folks on this thread. You have probably saved people here many thousands of dollars. My own parents recently had a 4+ hour delay and were offered a lame 5K mile gesture. But thanks to the tidbits from this thread they ended up with a check for $680 each.