American Airlines - flight cancelled and compensation

Sheep Shagger

Apologies, another compensation query (I did read the similar one about someone else's Ryanair flight).

In summary, our flight on 18/2 was cancelled in the early hours on the morning of the original flight so was only about 8 hours notice. AA say it was weather related (there were storms but Aer Lingus flights left that day to US as normal). It turns out the aircraft never left the US so there was no plane for us in Dublin.

Called the airline that morning, the next days Dublin flight was full so we got pushed out a full 2 days (they offered Belfast the next day which we declined as no pre clearance from there).

Looking at flight refund websites and citizens advice it seems we should be eligible for €600pp (party of 4 so €2400). Only thing is they want about €900 plus any additional legals if they are needed.

Has anyone done this themselves? Is it easy?

Airline website is like a maze with no clear procedure for requesting compensation.

Travel agent is less than useless, they said all we are entitled to is what out travel insurance covers (€160pp each).

SweetSand

Ugh, that’s a tough one. I read Ryan air post as well. So, few years ago our flight from Shannon to Providence (by Norwegian) was delayed by more than 3 hours. We were actually told at the check in desk to claim compensation and we were given food vouchers. Long story short - myself and daughters were on one booking and husband was on a different one. I claimed through one of those companies and they were charging small percentage if case was approved. I did get compensation for 3 of us but when we tried to get it for my husband few weeks later (traveled on the same flight just different booking) - he got nothing. Tried it through company I claimed through and directly through airline. I know if there is weather conditions involved - you don’t get anything. Doesn’t matter if the plane left original destination. What I would do - try to claim it but don’t use any helper companies. Just Google EU flight delay compensation flight delay, I think it’s form EU261.

Ups, after I wrote all that I just remembered - airline has to be registered in EU for that compensation to work (unless something changed). I think you might have no luck here but worth checking it out anyway.

SweetSand

I was wrong re airline needed to be registered in EU part but weather conditions can be hard one to fight. I would still def fill the forms and see what happens.

Sheep Shagger

What forms though, can't find them...can only find online sites wanting to charge for claim service.

lynchie

Extreme weather is excluded from EU261 so assuming the delay to the inbound flight was caused by the severe weather in the US the previous days you won't be entitled to compensation.

Sheep Shagger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118760147#Comment_118760147

Thanks, suspect they will try and use the weather excuse but there were no extreme storms that day (other airlines flew as normal) and looking at the previous week, AA cancelled flights out of Dublin also. The cynic in me would say the cancelled the flights due to low passenger numbers and to consolidate flights.

Maybe these no win, no fee places are the only way to go to fight the case?

athlone573

If you have the patience to fill out the form on the IAA website with all the details, they will eventually give you a second opinion. If it is weather related I wouldn't hold out too much hope of a favourable outcome.

endofrainbow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118760951#Comment_118760951

Unlikely they were cancelled due to low passenger numbers. It would be a logistical nightmare trying to re-arrange aircraft, crew, landing slots, passengers etc. Plus, any compensation due would wipe out any savings by consolidating flights.

Weather related delays and cancellations are not as obvious as they seem. For example, the weather in Dublin may have been fine but the weather in Chicago was bad (or somewhere along the route) and this led to a knock on effect for the flight departing New York if say, the aircraft was coming from Chicago (crew members might have been out of hours). Too many variables and airlines don't tend to cancel flights without very good reason.

lynchie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118760951#Comment_118760951

There was a winter storm across the Midwest on Feb 17th with thousands of flights cancelled. This would have caused the delays on the 18th onwards.

Sheep Shagger

Some AA flights cancelled the previous week to from Dublin so thought it may be regular thing while passenger numbers are rebuilding...