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Firstly, thank you for reading this.
I was hoping for a little advice — I recall, many years ago (pre-Covid and pre-Forum), the many daily comments in the “Bits” articles about MCOL, Section 75 & EU 261, but I’ve never had to make a claim, so any advice would be very much welcomed with regard to the below.
Basically, three weeks ago a BA flight to ZRH was cancelled because a member of the crew accidentally armed the emergency slide and damage was caused to the catering truck beneath. I know this simply as, when we we transferred to an alternate aircraft, which left 2 hrs 45 mins after the original flight’s scheduled departure time, the captain came on the tannoy — the same captain who was about to fly the first aircraft — and admitted that a member of his crew had accidentally fired the emergency slide and that was the reason for the delay and change of aircraft.
As a result of this accident:
(1) I arrived into Zurich three hours late
(2) I missed my scheduled SBB train to the Alps — the ticket I had bought was one where I had to take a particular train which left an exact time: I couldn’t take a later train without then having to buy a new train ticket — and I was subsequently forced to buy a new ticket
(3) The delay and aircraft change meant that there was no catering on the replacement flight — I was flying in “J”
My question is: as I did have an LV travel insurance policy, do I simply get in touch with LV about this train ticket I was forced to buy plus the lack of catering on my rescheduled flight? Or do I contact BA?
I am really quite ignorant about such things — my apologies! — so any guidance would be warmly welcomed.
All the best.
The train ticket – yes this is a matter for insurance
Lack of catering – this is a BA issue – complete the complaint form an they will toss some avios your way.
The train ticket isn’t technically BA’s responsibility and the missing catering isn’t LV’s responsibility. You will need to make a claim to BA who will probably offer a few Avios for the missing catering and may pay for the train as a matter of goodwill. If they refuse, then you can make an insurance claim unless there’s an excess that renders it not worthwhile.
In respect of the delay and potential eligibility for £220pp UK261 compensation, it needs to be over three hours and all of it within NA’s control.
BA Flyer IHG Stayer,
Many thanks for this — I do greatly appreciate this.
BA Flyer IHG Stayer
JDB,
Many thanks indeed for sparing the time to write this — it’s all a very useful resource, so thank you.
The train ticket isn’t technically BA’s responsibility and the missing catering isn’t LV’s responsibility. You will need to make a claim to BA who will probably offer a few Avios for the missing catering and may pay for the train as a matter of goodwill. If they refuse, then you can make an insurance claim unless there’s an excess that renders it not worthwhile.
In respect of the delay and potential eligibility for £220pp UK261 compensation, it needs to be over three hours and all of it within NA’s control.
Presume you mean the slide was deployed – it is armed every single flight.
1) What was the exact timing of arrival? If you were >3 hours to doors opening from your original scheduled arrival time, then it is likely BA will owe you UK261 compensation. They only cant pay if it is an extraordinary circumstance (not just if it is ‘outside BA’s control’). One of their staff not following training and setting a slide off and/or a technical fault is unlikely to fulfill this criteria.
2) Additionally, BA is not responsible for the missed train ticket. But… it is probably worth asking if BA will pay for the replacement train ticket and provide a receipt. They may well say no, but it is possible they say yes.
2b) You should obtain proof your flight was delayed from BA, and claim the cost of the train ticket off LV, under a likely travel disruption part of your policy. Any excesses on the policy may well not make this worthwhile.
3) Complain to BA about lack of catering. You will not get much, but they probably bung you some avios. If you bought any food it is worth including the receipts for this. If it was between planned takeoff and actual takeoff, then they will probably have to pay under UK261 as the delay was over 2 hours, and they have a duty of care. If it was anywhere else/other time they might pay as a gesture of goodwill. Or might not.
To make a complaint to BA I have found the following: Send a letter by royal mail tracked to BA customer services, they will actually respond to this rather than waiting in a call centre queto speak to someone whose first language is not English, or your email just disappears.
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