Airlines must pay compensation for delays from mechanical failure

[Hotel Tango]

Does that mean you can now sue your local taxi driver or bus company if they are late for a tech problem.

Yes, if it's more than an acceptable delay. The thing is that if your bus or taxi breaks down, generally a replacement will be along within 10 to 30 minutes. If a taxi/bus firm left me stranded for more than 3 hours and I missed my non-refundable flight as a consequence for instance, you can bet that I would most certainly claim compensation! I do however build in my own buffer of 60 minutes with my taxi/bus timings in the event of a delay. Of course, if they were delayed by unforeseen traffic congestion I would claim from my travel insurance.

[Piltdown Man]

HT - I believe you have poor grasp of what is reasonable. Claiming compensation for subsequent losses as a result of a cab/bus running late is morally wrong unless you told the carrier of the consequences of such outcomes before they agreed to provide you with a service. You lack a moral compass. It's as unfair as me taking you to court for stress incurred from reading your posts on pprune. But, what I'll do, as I have spare cash, is see if I can do that. If such action is possible, we'll have a fine day in court! I hope you are rich. I'm looking forward to it already.

PM

[Hartington]

An earlier post talks about changing the way airlines think. I may have an example. Two weeks ago I flew LGW/AGP on BA. When we checked there was a 40ish minute delay posted. We finally departed about 90 late. It was only when the Captain mentioned this wasn't the plane that was supposed to operate this flight that I wondered if a substitution had occurred to avoid compensation. No proof, just me surmising.

Things HAVE changed. In the late 70s I was a travel agent and went to HKG on BA. On the day of our return a tropical storm blew in and closed Kai Tak for about 36 hours. I was using an agent discount but there was no argument they just put me in a hotel (can't remember the meal deal).

Only a few months later I was in Nepal, two days walk from the nearest road. But the village had an airfield (only 3 hours walk) and I had a reservation back to Kathmandu. Checked in, went through security (oh please, the whole airport building was a two room hut!) and settled down to wait. After a while THE RNAC employee announced the flight was cancelled BUThe stressed, it would come the next day. Nobody believed him and everyone just started walking to Pokhara. After a night on the trail we got to Pokhara in time for the late flight but it was ... cancelled. Next morning the plane made an attempt to take a load on sacks to Jomsom, failed and finally we were on our way back to KTM. I doubt much has changed in the intervening 35 odd years. God help them if the compensation culture gets to Nepal.

[Piltdown Man]

Which flight to cancel...

I work for a largish airline and I can tell you for certain that the decision to cancel a flight is not taken lightly. The decision itself is taken by our Operations department and they use a cost tool to help them make their decision. I believe no flight can be cancelled without some cost and that applies to flights that are scheduled to operate in six months time. The costs include marketing costs, loss of reputation, goodwill as well as the direct costs. Not surprisingly, compensation features prominently in the list of costs. This element becomes one of the greatest costs from two weeks before departure until the flight has been completed. And by completed, I mean the passengers have had the opportunity to get to the destination they booked and paid to go to.

PM