To ask what happens now my flight has been cancelled?

[tpwk]

I was due on a flight that was cancelled tonight and the communication from the airline has been woeful.

Everyone at the airport just shrugged and said it wasn’t their problem, to go through the app and sort it out there.

I did that and I have a new flight tomorrow, and I’m in a hotel. I know things like dinner tonight and food tomorrow can be claimed back, but what about things like the Airbnb I’ve paid for for tonight in my original destination? I’ve messaged the hosts and explained that I won’t be there tonight, so I’m hopeful they’re going to keep the reservation for me, but if they don’t, then what?

How do I claim the compensation due under UK 261? What do I do now?

When this happened to me the airline paid for the hotel for that night, meals and transport to the hotel.

They didn’t cover the missed night in the hotel at my destination.

This is awful. They really shouldn’t be allowed to get away with this

Happened to me a few years ago
Tui paid us back the money within 5 days and we all got 350 each compensation within a month.

I think if you have books a package then airline / travel company is responsible

if you booked separately airline is responsible for flight and food accommodation while delayed

but your actual accommodation / air n b you would need to claim on your travel insurance

They may not have to OP, that may be one for your travel insurance. Expenses while you are waiting for your new flight will hopefully be covered.

No, they don’t. They’ve done what they have to do, which is get you a hotel, a new flight and cover your food costs.

They won't admit liability because it's not directly linked to the booking. They will pay for cost of the replacement hotel but not the one you haven't used.

You effectively can't claim twice for the same night of accomodation because that's what you are suggesting.

But you were paying for the AirBnB either way? That’s not a cost because of the missed flight? They’re paying for your hotel tonight as the only reason for that cost is your cancelled flight. They don’t pay for your mortgage too for one night because you’ve also got a house at home you could stay in but aren’t doing.

They’re not really getting away with it. Their job is to get you to your destination and look after you during any delays they cause. By covering a hotel, food and drinks they’re doing that.

Generally they pay compensation as well. Travel insurance will cover anything else.

Hi OP I am a travel insurer by trade. The CAA has some quite good guidance online. for costs and compensation | UK Civil Aviation Authority www.caa.co.uk/air-passengers/travel-problems-and-rights/travel-complaints/making-a-claim/claiming-for-costs-and-compensation/# CAA guidance Your airline must cover the costs of your hotel and reasonable food/out of pocket expenses. IME some can be tricky, notably Ryanair and BA. You can also arrange your own onward travel on a different airline so long as you act reasonably. In practice this means you do not upgrade the class and the cost is not excessive.

In terms of any onward costs, so the room you had booked, that maybe covered by travel insurance, but you would need to read the policy. Not all policies would I am afraid provide cover.

If your airline refuses to pay any of your reasonable costs, then an important point to note is that airlines usually belong to an arbitration scheme. They should but do not always disclose this, so again you can find out which scheme they belong to via google. This allows you to pursue a claim by filling in a form. BA in particular deal with complaints only via email and often ghost customers at some point.

We had a flight home cancelled by BA in 2023 whilst in Sardinia. We had to hire a car, drive to a different airport 3 hours away from where we were staying, stay in a hotel overnight, flew into Gatwick when our car was parked at Heathrow so we had National Express tickets on top. My husband had to complete an online form and submit receipts once we were home. BA paid out about 12 weeks later.

Make sure you keep all receipts, and submit the claim once you're home. You may not receive compensation though because the flight was cancelled. It depends on why the flight has been cancelled. Our flight cancelling wasn't BA's fault, it was air traffic control, so we weren't entitled to compensation.

No because the cost to them could be endless. They aren’t going to fork out £52k because a cancelled flight caused someone to miss their wedding for example.

their responsibilities are really clearly laid out in terms and conditions. Beyond that passengers are expected to take out travel insurance to cover things

This happened to me recently. This is a travel insurance claim. The airline wouldn’t pay for anything other than the flight they’d cancelled. They don’t care where you’re going when you land.

They have made it right - they are paying for your accommodation tonight so you haven't incurred any extra expense.

It’s shit, my friend has also been let down by easyJet tonight

not the Airbnb cos that is consequential
loss but you should be able to claim back for your new flight if you had to pay, plus hotel, meals . They cancelled on me a flight from Marseille to Manchester, put me on a flight from Nice to Liverpool and paid for car hire in France and a taxi back in the UK, hotel and meals. Eventually.

presumably you are still getting some or the Airbnb stay if you’re now arriving tomorrow? I don’t think you’ll get that back sadly. Ifs like people who buy gig tickets who can’t go cos easyJet cancelled. However you should be entitled to compensation - which is different and additional to claiming back costs

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/holiday-cancellations-and-compensation/if-your-flights-delayed-or-cancelled/

It’s in their t&c though. They aren’t hiding it. It’s the same as if a train was cancelled and you missed a concert or job interview. It’s not their responsibility. Their responsibility is limited otherwise the compensation would cripple the industry as the potential claim could be infinite.

That’s what insurance is for.

You’re paying for the Airbnb either way so that is not a cost incurred. Airbnb won’t cancel it if you don’t turn up, there is no policy that says you have to stay there! The airline won’t refund one night of Airbnb since it’s not an extra cost you incurred. Ditto travel insurance, what would you even be claiming for?

You may be entitled to a fixed amount of compensation from the airline. That should cover the excess on your insurance.

I’ve only had this happen once before. BA were brilliant - they didn’t even ask us, just booked us onto a new flight, and the staff at the airport told us who to email and how to get refunds for everything. We ended up much better off. Seems easyJet are happy to leave people out of pocket!

Not really. I’m at a hotel in the city centre, not my Airbnb in France!

The airline are supposed to refund all reasonable costs, so a hotel, food, transport. Then they should also process your delay claim, and providing it meets the criteria/rules, they pay per person the set amount dictated in law (this varies by flight length).

The travel insurance will only cover the out of pocket expenses that the airline won’t cover. There shouldn’t really be any items like this, but for me I had an additional car hire cost on return from the airport so that I could drive to the correct airport and get my car as I chose not to take a connecting flight as I had already been delayed by a day and a half, and it seemed safer to drive from where I was than spend another half a day awake in an airport to then drive home.

Everything to the airline first, keep receipts, don’t take the piss though, you don’t need a £1000 room when a £200 one will do etc. There shouldn’t be an issue in making the claim, but you can escalate to a complaint if needed after first following the standard process on the airlines website.

edited to add: the travel insurance may cover you for lost days on your trip…but you’ll need to read the terms and then contact them if unsure

I'm not sure I see the issue - you were told to use the app, you did, successfully, because now you're on a new flight tomorrow and have a room for the night?

Yes, the room is not the one you wanted - you wanted your airbnb, but easyjet have done their part.

If you want to claim for the airbnb - or any other indirect costs - that's what travel insurance is for.

Should have flown BA then.

Except you didnt. Probably because easyJet are cheaper. Which is why you chose them.

Just because one airline goes further than another, doesn't mean the airline that does less has failed to fulfil its legal duties. It just might mean that the airline that goes further (and charges more) has a business model which is about giving better customer service and getting repeat business from that than one which is a strictly budget airline that does everything as cheaply as possible.

Christ you’re harsh! Surely you can see why it’s disappointing

That’s what travel insurance is for.

It’s why holidays are better booked as a package if you want better compensation. You booked separately so have less rights to compensation. There’s choices to be made and you didn’t read up on what an airline will cover in these circumstances.