Originally Posted by
ATNotts
Yet the circumstances under which compensation can be wrung from airlines (or rail operators) appears to take no account of the law the "sh1t happens".
There are plenty of escape clauses for airlines. But the vast majority of cases in which compensation is paid are as a result of events that were entirely forseeable or statistically predictable, but for which the airline decided not to implement contingency plans.
The difference between you driving to Birmingham is that you haven't entered into a contract of conveyance with anyone. Not Volvo or their suppliers, Highways England, Esso.. But when I hand money to an airline they are contractually OBLIGED to convey me in some manner consistent with the advertised timings or to pay compensation. Not just for the cost of the ticket but also for the time lost in waiting for the airline to uphold their end of the deal.
Airlines are not our friends, they are avaricious businesses that will screw us over in an instant if it makes them a dollar more. Why defend them when the tables are turned?