Well this has never happened to me before - and I don't like it.

[Timeforatincture]

19:30 flight from Lanzarote ponced about for ages on the tarmac then threw us all off at 23:30. No offer of accommodation or any indication of time of replacement flight. At least a cafe is open (poor sod at the till) and we had a bottle of gin. You had this?

I get it. Genuinely I do.

I learned long ago reading the "small print" in airline tickets is essential. I don't worry so much about flying in EU space but we've got caught up by Serbian Airlines from Sydney to Madrid. The trip was beyond horrendous and even with full insurance, we couldn't claim the 18 awful hours spent in the Belgrade airport.

I know you are all cold, tired and wanting to arrive at your destination. Unfortunately, even if you have full travelling insurance it's unlikely that a flight running 4 hours late, would qualify for a claim.

No she means that they had booked a hotel at Gatwick to go to on landing, that they did not use.

That's always a risk when travelling close to school return times though. Perhaps I'm just used to delays, living on an island where lifeline boats and planes are frequently delayed or cancelled, and folk are often travelling for essential reasons. Kicking off never helps. Being respectfully assertive does. Hopefully they'll be back home soon.

I understand, I was stuck with a 6 year old when the volcano went off, we had to find last minute, accomodation, we'd travelled around 50 miles to airport, then had to wait for coaches for hours and hours, and then be driven across Europe. All with no-one having a fucking clue what was happening, no clean clothes, no certainty of anything... I've been there.

Snap!!! Also stick with a 5yo in Southern Spain and had coach journey all the way to Dover!

Same year leaning in Gatwick and on decent got diverted to Glasgow (was snowing badly and Gatwick full due to flights diverted there 🤦‍♀️)

Time and Glitter I hope you manage to get home soon and I have nothing but empathy for you. It's horrid being stuck for goodness knows how long and having to fork out extra money that you don't know will be returned.

Good luck with this afternoons flight 🤞

There are some weird responses on this thread. You could say to most problems to 'put it in perspective'. The OPs don't sound to me like they are going ott, they've not used words in some MN threads like 'devastated' or said they want anyone sacked or the airline closed down or anything. They are annoyed at being delayed for hours and hours with no explanation.

I find airlines do make these situations worse. They don't want to release the reason especially if there is fault on their side in case it affects compensation and they are cagey about when it will be sorted, in case it doesn't happen as planned. This just makes the whole thing worse for passengers as they feel kept in the dark and know there is likely going to be a battle for compensation (I've seen a plane breakdown classed as an 'act of god' before)

If they came out and sincerely apologised, confirmed if compensation would or would not be available and up to what limit, and gave a realistic idea of when people might be getting home (even if its qualified by 'there is a 50 50 chance we might not get take off clearance then and it will be pushed back a couple of hours).

I've been on a few very late flights where the flight is delayed by a half hour or so and it gets pushed back and back...and the people who are knowledgeable about it are looking on flight radars etc and realise that it was never going to be just half an hour late as it hadn't taken off from the previous destination, it was always going to be a minimum of a couple of hours. And if the airline had been up front about this it would be easier to deal with (little things like could have a proper meal instead of thinking you've got to grab a sandwich because you're off in half an hour)

But the airline should have done this for you. I meant BA when I said “they”.

Oh yes, we got diverted once on the way to Krakow, ended up in Warsaw, had to hang around for a coach! Took 5 hours, they dropped us at the airport, we'd missed our transfer, so had to wait overnight for the next plane...which also got diverted 😂 took us 2 days to get to our destination, the flight was supposed to be 3 and a half hours 😬

@DrinkFeckArseBrick trying to find perspective really does help a lot of problems, something I've learnt through bitter experience. It doesn't mean I don't sympathise, just that I found it helped me not get too trapped in the stress of the moment. I'm actually quite an anxious person, and perspective helps stop me spiralling. We're all different.

I'm a parent, yes.

There are some weird responses on this thread. You could say to most problems to 'put it in perspective'.

some posters get a kick out of being contrary & like to feel superior.

I mean when my flight was delayed, I went onto Youtube & learned how to fly and then build a plane to get us all home. No point whinging about it as some people are dying as we speak 🙄

What a nasty sneery comment.

British Airways is not a charter flight.

I know you meant BA and that’s the problem 👍🏻. Their subcontractors refused to assist last night and walked off away from us all saying they didn’t work for BA so it wasn’t their problem. That is what is what is annoying everyone - the lack of accountability. Both barrels was probably a slight exaggeration this morning, I was polite which is how I got the updated info that hasn’t yet been published

Ha! This. ^

Thinking of you both! You must be feeling so tired and grotty. How lovely that you’ve met another MNetter. You’ll sleep like logs tonight!

They can’t confirm at the time whether compensation will or will not be available because it’s impossible to apply the legal analysis to the situation until it’s all resolved and the plane has landed at destination. However they are legally obliged to (a) provide care & assistance and (b) make you aware of your right to put in a claim at a later date.

FWIW I don't think OP and @Glittertwins are being remotely demanding or dramatic. They seem to be quite stoic and behaving pretty reasonably and proportionately to me. I could tell you some stories about dramatic passenger demands.

We had a KLM flight out of Riga in February years ago, heavy snow and ice being cleared on the runway, plane wings being de-iced etc. We sat on it for two hours (while watching an Air Austria plane come in, disembark, cleaned, filled and go again 😁) got taken back to the terminal for another few hours before finally getting back on.

By god did the pilot gun the engines to get that bugger off the icy runway, you could feel it was quite unstable. Once we were settled in the air, the cabin crew (who were superb) came round giving out free miniatures to calm the nerves 🤣

It's nothing to do with feeling superior - it's about offering suggestions of what helped us cope. It's very easy for our emotions to run away with us in stressful situations, but perspective simply involves focusing on what you can actually do - now, and what you need to 'file away' to deal with later. It's a tool. As stated, I speak from experience of having potential cancellations, delays, plans changed every time we travel outwith our immediate area. I've also stated several times that I hope they're home soon.

Make sure you fill out the form for compensation. When flights are delayed you can get money back for each ticket.

Something that's none of your business perhaps? Who knows, maybe they were repatriating a deceased person or carrying some other essential item. They also might have changed the route, based on your comment about the mountain, there will be different weight limits for different ascents. Sometimes one issue leads to others and it all snowballs.
@Vielleicht all fair points . But giving the delayed passengers some information would go a long way to alleviating the situation .
It is the passengers business. Not to have every single detail , should there be a deceased person on board that doesn't have to be spelled out . Surely they could just allude to sensitive cargo or something .

What in the name of all that is holy are you talking about? BA has a legal obligation under UK 261 to provide overnight accommodation.

I think saying they were overweight for the mountain ascent was enough information. Clearly, updates of estimated/hoped departure time would be helpful though.

It's nothing to do with feeling superior

@Vielleicht & yet you assumed I was talking about you! 😆

It's a factual comment, the last thing I want to do is being nasty to the OP.

I'm simply trying to make her understand that cheap charter airlines between the UK and EU destinations are not going to provide free accommodation because the plane was 3/4 hours late, and they are tired and pissed off.