Aer Lingus flight cancelled

Lucuma

My European flight was cancelled recently due to a technical fault. I was rebooked the following day and was put up in a hotel and got my dinner etc. Am I still entitled to the approx. 300 euro compensation? And if so how do I go about getting it? I tried sending a generic request to their customer service but have heard nothing back.

Vic_08

Lucuma wrote: »

My European flight was cancelled recently due to a technical fault. I was rebooked the following day and was put up in a hotel and got my dinner etc. Am I still entitled to the approx. 300 euro compensation? And if so how do I go about getting it? I tried sending a generic request to their customer service but have heard nothing back.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_261/2004

Lucuma

I'd be interested in hearing if anyone has actually successfully claimed this compensation in addition to being put up in a hotel etc. Aer Lingus are ignoring me so far. Is there a knack to getting the compensation?

jackinthemix94

Lucuma wrote: »

I'd be interested in hearing if anyone has actually successfully claimed this compensation in addition to being put up in a hotel etc. Aer Lingus are ignoring me so far. Is there a knack to getting the compensation?

I've claimed it. IAG companies are notorious for being absolute cnuts when it comes to paying out. I've claimed from US airlines who have been fairly co-operative.

If all else fails, I have friends that used one of the third parties that charges a % of the compensation - and that worked well for them - I'd only use them if EI continue to ignore you though.

EverythingGood

jackinthemix94 wrote: »

I've claimed it. IAG companies are notorious for being absolute cnuts when it comes to paying out. I've claimed from US airlines who have been fairly co-operative.

If all else fails, I have friends that used one of the third parties that charges a % of the compensation - and that worked well for them - I'd only use them if EI continue to ignore you though.

Are US airlines subject to EU261??

joeguevara

I went straight to the Airline Regulator when America Airlines refused to help. Got paid in full within 3 weeks.

If an airline is flying out of a European Airport they are subject to the Regulation.

EverythingGood

joeguevara wrote: »

I went straight to the Airline Regulator when America Airlines refused to help. Got paid in full within 3 weeks.

If an airline is flying out of a European Airport they are subject to the Regulation.

And into - EU261 only applies for flights that takeoff and land within the EU, and Schengen area's.

goingnowhere

EC216

Applies

Flights within the EEA (no matter the registry of the aircraft, so fifth freedom flights come under the rules)
Flights operated by a EEA carrier into or out of the EEA
Flight operated by any carrier departing the EEA

So any flight operated by Aer Lingus is covered no mater the destination or origin.

If you fly with a US carrier its only the trip to the US is covered, the trip back to Europe EC261 does not apply, however US DoT rules apply which may result in compenstation

Lucuma

jackinthemix94 wrote: »

Lucuma wrote: »

I'd be interested in hearing if anyone has actually successfully claimed this compensation in addition to being put up in a hotel etc. Aer Lingus are ignoring me so far. Is there a knack to getting the compensation?

I've claimed it. IAG companies are notorious for being absolute cnuts when it comes to paying out. I've claimed from US airlines who have been fairly co-operative.

If all else fails, I have friends that used one of the third parties that charges a % of the compensation - and that worked well for them - I'd only use them if EI continue to ignore you though.

Did you email them, ring them or write to them? I'm going to try writing to them and keep a coyp of the letter. Putting an enquiry in their customer service hasn't worked so far

jackinthemix94

Lucuma wrote: »

Did you email them, ring them or write to them? I'm going to try writing to them and keep a coyp of the letter. Putting an enquiry in their customer service hasn't worked so far

I emailed them, and then reached out to them on Twitter with the reference number they emailed me with to follow up - I got a response within 7 days.

If you google EU 261, you'll find templates of the letter that you need to send them, you can just adapt it with all your details as necessary.

Rasmus

Is there anyone on here that was ultimately successful in a claim? Can anyone give me a reccommendation for a 3rd party agency to help expedite my claim? (which has been ignored so far by Aer Lingus).

maggz

I had to book a new flight when Aer lingus cancelled my flight after hours of delay and then had to return the plane to the original airport. Anyway they said they would refund the flight and every time I call them they say I will get the refund and it's "pending". However this is 2 months now. Any idea how long they take. They say there's no one in that dept I can talk to..

maggz

I went through airhelp, it was a pretty easy process, but still waiting on the money back!!

SVI40

Under EU 216 you are entitled to compensation, up to €600.

Everything you need to know is here:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32004R0261&from=EN

Also note this:

Article 4, paragraph 3, the words, “immediately compensate”.

I had similar, and first thing you need to do is lodge a claim on their web site. Once you get a claim number, write to them, indicating why you should get your refund, plus compensation, and point out to them Article 4, paragraph 3.

They tried to offer me for only out of pocket expenses, then the lowest value compensation, but the legislation is quite clear. They just hope you will give up.

Send you letter to the Customer Relations Department, Dublin Airport.

Rasmus

maggz wrote: »

I went through airhelp, it was a pretty easy process, but still waiting on the money back!!

Thanks! I dread to ask, how long has it been??

SVI40

Rasmus wrote: »

Thanks! I dread to ask, how long has it been??

In my case, once the Customer Care has stopped faffing me around and I dug my heals in, a couple of days to get the cheque. My friend who was travelling with me, go the claim number, and then straight away wrote to them, outlining what he was claiming for, and had the cheque in a week.

Dickerty

I have a beauty for you - my wife was one of 100 passengers stuck in Lanzarote for 48 hours after they cancelled a flight for technical reasons. Upon arriving back in Dublin, they were offered a goodwill gesture of €250 each, which I am sure many people took, as they don't know their rights...

maggz

SVI40 wrote: »

In my case, once the Customer Care has stopped faffing me around and I dug my heals in, a couple of days to get the cheque. My friend who was travelling with me, go the claim number, and then straight away wrote to them, outlining what he was claiming for, and had the cheque in a week.

So Airhelp said that Aer Lingus are slow and it takes on average 51 days. We are waiting now over 2 months..

Who did you call to dig in your heels? Did you ask to speak to a manager or something?? I need to do this!!

SVI40

Hi,

Aer Lingus took ages to get back to me. I eventually had to contact them via their FB page, as there are no details on how to contact them. They told me the same, backlog story.

Because I was denied boarding, Article 4, Paragraph 3 kicked in, and it is for "Immediate Compensation!.

If you have your claim number, write to them immediately with the claim number, and your reason for claiming, and point out to them how much you are due.

If you wait for them, it will take ages, so take the bull by the horns, and get on to them, and keep the pressure on.

Really, there is no need to use any 3rd party to make the claim for you, plus, it just adds another layer causing more delay.

maggz

Thanks SVI40 - they owe me 2 amounts - 1 for the 2 delayed flights (which I'm using Airhelp for) and 1 for the extra flight I had to purchase because of the first flight being cancelled (which I'm going direct for). It's a mess!! I will take the bull by the horns, I just didn't have the energy for a battle so was hoping it would resolve itself, but obv not!!!!

SVI40

Hi Maggz,

You're welcome. Yep, you will have to push, but it only took me 10 minutes to write a nice polite, but forceful letter to Aer Lingus, and in return I got €400.00 from them.