Right to compensation for flight cancelled due to engine failure

[Shimla999]

Hi, On 7 September, we were due to fly from Edinburgh to Barcelona with Vueling. Whilst on board the plane, after a 2-hour wait, we were informed that the flight was cancelled due to engine failure (there were mechanics on the plane checking everything). So, we had to disembark and wait again for hours to get our luggage back. We were offered alternative flights on Sunday 10 September but decided not to accept as we needed to be back in Spain before then. We managed to book flights through British Airways and got back yesterday. I have applied for a refund for our flights from Vueling but believe we are also entitled to compensation. Can anyone confirm that is the case when the flight is cancelled in these circumstances? I read that we may be entitled to either 250 or 400 euros compensation (depending on whether you think the distance between Edinburgh and Barcelona is below or above 1,500 km). Many thanks in advance!

I was never exactly sure why but my flight was cancelled when I turned up at the airport Vuelling had rebooked me on a later flight that night which I travelled on but I missed my train and ended up having to get a very expensive taxi (over 200 euros) to where I needed to be so I decided to claim the compensation
but I was fobbed off so many times , I had replies such as it was beyond our control so when I asked for proof there was none forthcoming, a few more emails later they said it had been paid into my account but it hadn't been , it took at least six months and countless chasing so keep going they are the worst

Wow, it doesn't sound like it's going to be easy, from what you are all saying. In our case, they cannot deny it was their fault - I mean engine failure is Vueling's fault - it was their plane and they had no other plane available to take us that day. In fact, we were offered a Vueling flight 4 days later and, as I think I mentioned, even around 8 hours after we got off the plane, we were still waiting for information about accommodation that we were supposed to be offered by Vueling. They kept on saying no accommodation was available in Edinburgh! I think what they meant by that that all the accommodation available (and there would have bee plenty, of course) was too expensive for them and they didn't want to pay. We didn't even get any food or drink paid for during the time we were waiting - all we got was a cup of water on the plane after two hours waiting. So much for their duty of care! By the way, it wasn't a Vueling desk in reality but another company that represented them at Edinburgh airport. The people there were truly horrendous - rude and very unhelpful. I had to get back home and so we booked British Airways flights to leave Edinburgh that night. They cost a lot, but we had to get back. So, now I am really out of pocket. However, I thought that I'd get the original Vueling tickets refunded plus the compensation and that would cover the cost of the BA flights. I checked out the Revolver site and, as a previous poster mentioned, they don't actually act for you with Vueling but give a phone number, address and templates for a letter of complaint. I'll already filled in the Vueling forms but am getting increasingly worried about how long it's going to take. I think I'll try trying to phone them and see if that helps.

Did you find it more effective to e-mail them rather than just wait for replies to their online claim forms? Maybe I should try that too. Can I ask which e-mail address you used to contact Vueling? Thanks! I take it you did get compensation in the end though.

@Shimla999

By the way, it wasn't a Vueling desk in reality but another company that represented them at Edinburgh airport. The people there were truly horrendous - rude and very unhelpful.

Not excusing the rudeness but sub-contracting out passenger handling to a third party company is now very common across the whole industry, most especially at airports that are only served by the airline in question a handful of times a day/week.

Yes I had the same my flight was from Gatwick and there is no one from vuelling there so I just found out as I checked in for my 6 am flight that it had been cancelled no emails from them at all .
I did the same as you applied through the website but I joined a Facebook page
Vuelling refund I think it was called.
The email I used was

[email protected]

But yes I did get the compensation eventually maybe 8 months later
It was a very frustrating experience don't give up

Hi,

I just wanted to update this thread and say I received full refund and compensation from Vueling. 😃 They refunded my tickets and also paid 400 euros per person compensation (as we were over 1,500 km from home). I did it without Resolver too - just by contacting Vueling directly.

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to claim compensation for the Ryanair flight that was cancelled due to COVID in April 2020, since my computer had serious problems in October that year and I lost lots of information, including all my e-mails to and from Ryanair about the flight. I don't know whether they would have any record of my booking if I send them my passport number - probably not though.

Anyway, good luck to anyone trying to get compensation or refunds - as you can see, it is possible! 😃