Air traffic control strike - didn't happen. Compensation for cancelled flight?

JCX BXC

Perhaps you should write your concerns to the relevant EU departments?

If I come across as having a lack of empathy, I apologise, it is not a nice situation, however it was not you affected and you seem completely and utterly outraged at the situation and that baffles me.

irishrebe

duffman13 wrote: »

irishrebe wrote: »

She was looking on their website right after she received the cancellation e-mail and saw that they had seats available. The flight then left the next day as planned. There was also a flight on the Monday morning with seats available, but they put her on the evening flight. No ability for her to choose a different flight without having to pay out of pocket for it. She couldn't get through to the airline to ask if she'd be refunded if she went ahead and booked one of those other flights. I still can't find definitive answer about that. Another poster said the airline was wrong to rebook her and that she should have been given a choice of alternative (that's certainly how it worked when my Aer Lingus flight was cancelled because of the volcano in Iceland). Yet apparently they can get away with doing just that and the passenger has to accept it? 

Would you like to defend the airline's horrific behaviour any further? I wonder would you change your tune if it was an elderly relative of yours they had stranded abroad. Strikes might happen, but there is no excuse for washing your hands of your responsibilities and abandoning your passengers, leading them to believe you won't be refunding any costs. Not sure why you're so insistent on defending this behaviour. The EU legislation is also totally lacking in logic to me. So the airline has to pay your hotel and food costs for several days until the flight they rebooked you onto leaves, but has no obligation at all to get you to where you're going on the day you need to get there? There are circumstances in which if a flight is delayed, they must fly you on another airline if needs be,  at their own cost, but this doesn't apply to cancellations. Where is the logic in that? About six different suitable flights operated on the day of her cancellation (including, as I said, one of the airline's own) but there's no obligation from the airline to put her on one of them? I can't be the only one to find that utterly ludicrous.

And she spoke to an agent who refused to put her on one the available alternative flights? I find that hard to believe, if you feel you have a case then apply for compensation under the directive

She couldn't get through! E-mail ignored, tweets ignored. Again, why is the onus on her to ring them at her own expense, anyway? How are they not obliged to let passengers choose flights in the first place? There is someone on Twitter right now asking if they can have a different alternative flight and are being told NO. They can take what they're offered or accept a refund. So either the airline is oblivious to this rule, or they just don't care.

irishrebe

JCX BXC wrote: »

Perhaps you should write your concerns to the relevant EU departments?

If I come across as having a lack of empathy, I apologise,  it is not a nice situation, however it was not you affected and you seem completely and utterly outraged at the situation and that baffles me.

Because I can't stand to see people being shafted like this. She just wanted to get home, and the airline's actions made everything ten times harder and more stressful than it ever needed to be. Also my granddad regularly flies on this route, and the idea of this happening to him is actually heartbreaking. He wouldn't be able to find and book a new hotel on his own, and would be relying on a Good Samaritan to help (airline staff had all fecked off home in this case). If airlines can just strand passengers with no assistance, then the legislation is severely lacking. I will indeed file a complaint.

john boye

irishrebe wrote: »

Friend of mine just missed coming home for his dad's funeral because of them.

It's a he now?

irishrebe

john boye wrote: »

irishrebe wrote: »

Friend of mine just missed coming home for his dad's funeral because of them.

It's a he now?

Jesus Christ, Einstein, I'm clearly talking about a different person. This one happened this week, with these new ATC strikes. Very obvious in the context of what I was replying to. Why don't you try learning how to read and employing a bit of common sense before spouting off your smart arse remarks in an attempt to catch me out and make yourself look clever?

Irish Steve

Less of the snarky remarks please, or the thread will be closed

basill

There is another strike this weekend. Best warn all of your friends and get the message out so that they don't get shafted. Perhaps email them all a copy of the EU regs as well in advance.

irishrebe

basill wrote: »

There is another strike this weekend. Best warn all of your friends and get the message out so that they don't get shafted. Perhaps email them all a copy of the EU regs as well in advance.

Well, someone who is flying for something important is going to get shafted no matter what happens, and anyone who hasn't the means or ability to book accommodation out of their own pocket is also going to get shafted, thanks to the weak and insufficient legislation which doesn't oblige airlines to provide passengers with accommodation when they cancel flights. Any idea when these clowns are going to stop striking?

basill

Its their national right. They are French. Happens every summer. The only thing that changes is the ATC sectors involved. They flip flop throughout the summer season. I wish Dublin would do the same on a bank holiday weekend. None of this last minute stuff though. Give me loads of warning so I can book somewhere nice and enjoy a weekend off.

irishrebe

basill wrote: »

Its their national right. They are French. Happens every summer. The only thing that changes is the ATC sectors involved. They flip flop throughout the summer season. I wish Dublin would do the same on a bank holiday weekend. None of this last minute stuff though. Give me loads of warning so I can book somewhere nice and enjoy a weekend off.

I've lived in France and this nonsense really is the epitome of the national 'me, me, me' mindset. They're a pile of @ssholes throwing a tantrum like a three-year-old, resulting in people missing weddings, funerals, job interviews and having their hard earned holidays ruined. No concern whatsoever about the fact the people they are hurting are normal people with their own responsibilities and problems. How do they get away with this? If you want a nice long weekend off, why don't you quit your job and book your nice holiday, without ruining the plans of thousands of innocent passengers? I wonder how people in in all the other industries cope without acting like spoiled brats and causing mayhem every single summer. EU legislation is utter cr@p is this regard. No obligation for the airlines to get passengers where they're going within a reasonable timeframe, or to refund alternative transport costs, so thousands of people are held to ransom, stranded abroad so the French ATC babies can bully people into getting what they want. Passenger protection my hole.

faoiarvok

irishrebe wrote: »

I've lived in France and this nonsense really is the epitome of the national 'me, me, me' mindset. They're a pile of @ssholes throwing a tantrum like a three-year-old, resulting in people missing weddings, funerals, job interviews and having their hard earned holidays ruined. No concern whatsoever about the fact the people they are hurting are normal people with their own responsibilities and problems. How do they get away with this? If you want a nice long weekend off, why don't you quit your job and book your nice holiday, without ruining the plans of thousands of innocent passengers? I wonder how people in in all the other industries cope without acting like spoiled brats and causing mayhem every single summer. EU legislation is utter cr@p is this regard. No obligation for the airlines to get passengers where they're going within a reasonable timeframe, or to refund alternative transport costs, so thousands of people are held to ransom, stranded abroad so the French ATC babies can bully people into getting what they want. Passenger protection my hole.

I don’t know what the grievance is in the latest strikes but often they aren’t striking for themselves, but in solidarity with other public sector employees.

basill

I think your TD would be the best place for you to voice your very real and detailed concerns.

faoiarvok

basill wrote: »

I think your TD would be the best place for you to voice your very real and detailed concerns.

Or MEP?