I demand compenasation!

[Basher]

Well, according to a lot of the airport stricken holidaymakers anyway!

What happened in the past? Did everyone submit claims? Did everyone complain hysterically, screaming at company representatives?

For crying out loud, the weather is bloody treacherous! OK, what do they want? Planes to take off on schedule then all pile up at the end of the runway crashing and burning?
We are experiencing freak weather conditions, is it the airport or airlines fault?

No skin off my nose, I'm staying home for Christmas!

 

[madandra]

I would love to see there faces if the boarded a plane with ice on the wings and pilots screen completely frozen and told they will take off on time .. there would be a bloody mutiny stampede back to the terminal and they would be on TV saying their ifes were put at risk. There is no pleasing some folk.

 

[Ethan]

Well, according to a lot of the airport stricken holidaymakers anyway!

What happened in the past? Did everyone submit claims? Did everyone complain hysterically, screaming at company representatives?

For crying out loud, the weather is bloody treacherous! OK, what do they want? Planes to take off on schedule then all pile up at the end of the runway crashing and burning?
We are experiencing freak weather conditions, is it the airport or airlines fault?

No skin off my nose, I'm staying home for Christmas!

Bad weather is one thing, but if the airport has not planned properly to deal with it, they have to accept some responsibility. One of the rate limiting steps at Heathrow is deicing, and that is a bloke with a hose standing on the back of a flat bed truck. If BAA choose to hire too few blokes, then they have to carry some responsibility for delays and missed connections elsewhere. They know exactly how many planes will need done.

I'm staying at home for Christmas too.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Totally agree. Bet it was the stranded Yanks banging on about compo - you're not in your sue at any cost country now. Get over it.

It is a great shame that everyones plans have been disrupted and arguably Heathrow should have been better prepared as the government have hinted at. However this is the stuation you are in so deal with it. The airling staff are doing what they can for you so actually help them by letting them get on with it and not ranting and raving at them - Moan over

 

[brendy]

When I was "stranded" in the first bout of snow week and a bit ago, I was well looked after, put up in a decent hotel, dinner bed and breakfast. I got a coach to and from the hotel and choice of return flights the next day. Other times I would have had to book a room somewhere myself and keep receipts. I think the lesson a lot of folks need to learn here is that we are merely ants on this planet and poo sometimes happens. That is what travel insurance is for, suing the air companies etc is not on. If they were to be taken to court by the masses, kiss cheerio to moderately priced flights which will hurt more people than those upset by a couple of days of snow.

 

[Leftie]

Bet it was the stranded Yanks banging on about compo - you're not in your sue at any cost country now. Get over it.

Unfortunately H, what the US does today, GB does tomorrow. The sue culture, ambulance chasers, etc is here now and flourishing. At least Auntie BBC doesn't yet screen or broadcast their adverts, yet!

 

[surefire]

Totally agree. Bet it was the stranded Yanks banging on about compo - you're not in your sue at any cost country now. Get over it.

Funnily enough, because of EU laws, I believe EU carriers have to offer far more in compensation than US airlines.

 

[0]

The EU what great organisation that is not !!!!!!!!!!

 

[SatchFan]

Totally agree with Brendy about travel insurance. As long as you buy decent cover you will be OK. Part of my job used to be selling travel insurance and it was amazing the number of people who would pay hundreds or thousands for flights and holidays but wouldn't pay £20 for insurance. Madness.

Mind you, I do feel a bit sorry for those who are stuck. A BBC reporter outside Gatwick was asked who the passengers were venting their anger on and he said anybody and everybody. It's just the Xmas factor. He compared it to the situation with the volcanic ash earlier in the year where people were far more accepting of the situation.

 

[chrisd]

Totally agree with Brendy about travel insurance. As long as you buy decent cover you will be OK. Part of my job used to be selling travel insurance and it was amazing the number of people who would pay hundreds or thousands for flights and holidays but wouldn't pay £20 for insurance. Madness.

I bought the top price hoiday insurance from Insure and Go for annual cover - it looked to cover everything until I tried to get back the costs of getting home from Portugal in the "ash cloud" problems

Oh no, a small clause buried deep within 12 pages of small print is what they try as a get out - I have gone to the Ombudsmen service over it - the airline (British Airways) were brilliant though!


Chris

 

[SatchFan]

Chris

I had a similar experience last year. My mum died two days before we were due to go on holiday but the insurers were initially reluctant to pay out because she had an existing medical condition. The wording in the small print was a bit ambiguous and it took us six months before they finally paid up.

Might be worth checking out Moneysavingexpert.com as there is loads of info on your rights regarding volcanic ash.

Despite the aggro you and I have experienced I still say people are mad if they don't insure themselves.

 

[chrisd]

Chris

I had a similar experience last year. My mum died two days before we were due to go on holiday but the insurers were initially reluctant to pay out because she had an existing medical condition. The wording in the small print was a bit ambiguous and it took us six months before they finally paid up.

Might be worth checking out Moneysavingexpert.com as there is loads of info on your rights regarding volcanic ash.

Despite the aggro you and I have experienced I still say people are mad if they don't insure themselves.

Sorry to read your story. I absolutely agree, it is vital to have insurance. I just wish that the insurance companies were fair and honest when a claim is made. I understand that they cant cover every eventuality but they, more and more these days, seek to hide behind small print that you coudn't interpret if you wanted.


Chris