Flight delays and Compensation

[coocoocachoo84]

Hi Everyone!

Last weekend, I was to fly Perth- SING- London on Qantas in Business Class.

When i got to the airport in Perth, they informed me that the flight from Sing- Lon had been delayed by at least 12 hours due to mechanical difficulties, and they would be putting us up in a hotel in Singapore. The flight then got delayed by another 5 hours and we ended up getting to London almost 18 hours later than we were supposed to.

When I was told of the delay in Perth I asked if there was a later flight from Perth I could take but I was informed no. There were no other flights from Singapore that could be taken either.

Qantas did put us up in a nice hotel and fed us etc and then I thought no more about it (even though it meant i missed out on the day in London as originally planned)

I was then talking to another friend about it who said I would be entitled to compensation, due to the delay.

Despite how many google searches I do, i can only find compensation in relation to flights departing from EU countries. Does anyone know anything about compo (either monetary or points) that we would be entitled to for this huge delay?

Thanks heaps!

 

[Standby]

If you get bumped because of overbooking the airline has t get you to yr destination by whatever means to arrive within 4hrs otherwise (and this prob varies) I have been told its about USD400.
As for Mech probs so long as they do all poss and you get fed/watered and a bed with reasonable efficency ad carried in the same cabin I'm not sure you would get much.
If the delay cost you for unused accom etc in the arrival port I'd definitely ask that cost was covered.
good luck......but as Ben Cousins now has tattooed on his stomach
"Such is Life"

 

[Mal]

I'm not overly familiar with the EU directives on flight delays, except that they are very often abused by airlines to ensure that payout's don't occur.

A mechanical fault is normally deemed ineligible, due to it not being within the carrier's control if you were to put in a claim.

As the flight was *to* the EU, (and not on an EU carrier) then I don't believe it is eligible for any EU delay compensation even if the delay was Qantas' fault.

As Standby metioned, If you suffer financial loss from the delay, then feel free to write to Qantas specifying the compensation you are seeking.

Travel insurance often pays out $$$ for delays of over X hours (X being between 4 and 12 hours normally). Are you sure you aren't covered under that?

PS - Some people would deem a 18 hour stopover free of charge in Singapore a bonus to a holiday. Qantas looked after you well in this instance. Other airlines may have treated you much worse.
PPS - Welcome to AFF!

 

[NM]

The airline owes you nothing, but you may have a valid claim from your travel insurance provider. But do note that most travel insurance policies limit payment due to delays to reimburse you for costs incurred and set a maximum amount for specific periods of time (say $100 for 24 hours) and usually require you to provide receipts of the expenses incurred to substantiate your claim. Given that the airline paid your accommodation, meals and transfers, there is probably little scope left under most travel insurance policies for an additional claim.

 

[Happy Dude]

Check the wording of your insurance policy. Some policies will reimburse reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses if your journey is disrupted.

But, in the case of policies from 1cover, not if the disruption is caused by a mechanical fault with the aircraft.

Obviously you'd have to actually incurr the expense, and there'd be slim chances of being compensated for 'loss of enjoyment'.

 

[NM]

Check the wording of your insurance policy. Some policies will reimburse reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses if your journey is disrupted.

But, in the case of policies from 1cover, not if the disruption is caused by a mechanical fault with the aircraft.

Obviously you'd have to actually incurr the expense, and there'd be slim chances of being compensated for 'loss of enjoyment'.

As Qantas has already paid the accommodation, meals and transfers costs, there is little scope left for a travel insurance claim to cover those items. It is generally accepted as being the airline's responsibility to cover those costs for such delays, which is why many travel insurance policies exclude payments under these circumstances.

 

[Happy Dude]

It is generally accepted as being the airline's responsibility to cover those costs for such delays

Yes, but not expenses incurred (missed connections on a different airline, pre paid accomm, car hire etc) as a result of the mechanical failure. That's where a good travel insurance policy comes in. IMO and painful experience, a policy that excludes reimbursement for knock-on expenses incurred as a result of an airline's mechanical failure is not a good policy.

(Not entirely OT with the OP's situation but worth nothing)

which is why many travel insurance policies exclude payments under these circumstances.

Not the one with a citibank visa gold card.

 

[NM]

Yes, but not expenses incurred (missed connections on a different airline, pre paid accomm, car hire etc) as a result of the mechanical failure. That's where a good travel insurance policy comes in. IMO and painful experience, a policy that excludes reimbursement for knock-on expenses incurred as a result of an airline's mechanical failure is not a good policy.

(Not entirely OT with the OP's situation but worth nothing)



Not the one with a citibank visa gold card.

Yes, travel insurance should cover any costs incured for follow-on events. But not for the actual accommodation, meals, transfers incurred for the actual delayed flights.

 

[jbc]

I was help up in London earlier year (mech probs) for 14 hours, housed and fed by Qantas and received a substantial voucher a few weeks later. I'm only Silver so I was surprised.

 

[Dave Noble]

I was help up in London earlier year (mech probs) for 14 hours, housed and fed by Qantas and received a substantial voucher a few weeks later. I'm only Silver so I was surprised.

In Europe there are legal requirements regarding delay compensation though

Dave