Frankfurt + Snow?

[kezsco]

Hi all,

Came into FRA the day after the they closed for one night last month (snow). Returning home tomorrow (QF6) and FRA is expecting cold (-3 to -7) and snow.

So, I am just wondering if anyone has experience with FRA in case they close the airport again.

1) Does Qantas pay for a night at a hotel?
2) is there compensation for an extended delay?

I hope all goes well and I can fly out as planned. Flights can still leave in the snow right?

Thanks all

 

[newformula]

I hope all goes well and I can fly out as planned. Flights can still leave in the snow right?

I left LHR on Tuesday in dumping snow, but with good visibility. We had a 2.5 hour delay on the stand while we were deiced, and there was probably around 2-3 inches on the ground by the time we flew. It started snowing about an hour before departure.

It wasn't particularly windy, and as I said, visibility was good even though it was snowing.

Good luck...

 

[dragonman]

Hi all,

Came into FRA the day after the they closed for one night last month (snow). Returning home tomorrow (QF6) and FRA is expecting cold (-3 to -7) and snow.

So, I am just wondering if anyone has experience with FRA in case they close the airport again.

1) Does Qantas pay for a night at a hotel?
2) is there compensation for an extended delay?

I hope all goes well and I can fly out as planned. Flights can still leave in the snow right?

Thanks all

Just arrived at Denver from FRA after transitting through there this morning from prague. I was flying on LH after BA re-routed me. It was snowing when we arrived and still snowing when we left (20 mins late while plane was de-iced).

 

[anat0l]

Check your travel insurance; you might be able to make a claim for accommodation there.

In addition, and I'm not in the know, but I wonder if the EU Regulation 261/2004 applies in this circumstance? In which case the airline (QF) would be obliged (as the pax is leaving a port within the EU, irrespective of the fact that QF is not an airline owned within the EU) to offer accommodation. Not sure about extended delays and the relevant provisions there. On the other hand, it seems Regulation 261/2004 does not need to be followed if the circumstances are beyond the reasonable control of the airline. A fine line to tread, because although most of us know we can't control weather (sic, no pun intended) it is snowing, raining, hailing, sleeting etc., the EU did rule some time ago that technical faults are not considered exceptional circumstances beyond airline control, so I wonder if it might rule that dealing with weather is a regular part of business and thus doesn't constitute exceptional circumstances either.

In the case that Regulation 261/2004 doesn't apply and you don't have any travel insurance, I'd be hard to convince that QF will offer you accommodation, especially for an extended delay. I'm not sure whether QF will, in cases of extreme weather like this, the option for rerouting or refund without charge. (Similar to how BA and QF were dealing with potential or current strike actions).