When your flight is cancelled you are entitled to a refund of the cost of your flight and EU regulation 261 states:
1. Passengers shall be offered free of charge:(a) meals and refreshments in a reasonable relation to the waiting time;(b) hotel accommodation in cases- where a stay of one or more nights becomes necessary, or- where a stay additional to that intended by the passenger becomes necessary;(c) transport between the airport and place of accommodation (hotel or other).
2. In addition, passengers shall be offered free of charge two telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or e-mails.
3. In applying this Article, the operating air carrier shall pay particular attention to the needs of persons with reduced mobilityand any persons accompanying them, as well as to the needs of unaccompanied children.However, Ryanair have stated that they will only refund the cost of the airline ticket itself and not pay any compensation in accordance with the EU rules. Ryanair argue that if a flight ticket is so cheap they can’t afford to pay compensation. Well…whilst I can understand how Ryanair feel and actually agree with them that it is unfair on airlines to have to pay this compensation they can’t just ignore the law.Instead Ryanair and other airlines should lobby the EU to change what is a law that surely should not apply in situations like the Iceland volcano.
Why have the EU imposed this law on airlines when it does not apply to trains, ferries and buses? How can compensation be paid out which may cost hundreds of pounds when the ticket could have cost only £50? Also, I can’t understand why some people panic about getting home. It is understandable to be worried if there is a war or a natural disaster that threatens the lives of UK citizens but most stranded holidaymakers had the luxury of an extended holiday.
I heard on the radio one family being interviewed who couldn’t get home for a week and their travel agent had arranged for them to keep their luxury villa with private swimming pool for an extra week free of charge and they still wanted to get home! If that was me and would be pretty happy about that.Anyway, as flights appear to be getting back to normal that is good news for everybody including me as I am hopefully flying off to Oslo, Norway on Friday morning for a few days.
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