can i claim compensation for being stranded.

A question about : can i claim compensation for being stranded.

hi, we managed to fly back from crete when the icelandic volcano ash situation, however we didn't manage to fly back to our original airport (Manchester) we had to land at heathrow due to the ash concentration levels being to high at Manchester at the time.
we landed at Manchester and was told to stay put as coaches were being sorted to take us to Manchester, 8 hours later they were no where to be seen and therefore we had to make our own travel arrangements to get back home.
at the time my daughter was 2 and it was quite distressing for us, we were offered no food vouchers or anything and the airline crew were no help...

would this class as delayed, since we didn't make it to our destination ????? we managed to get a refund on our coach fair, but still doesn't defeat the object of us being stranded with no information from the travel company, which was thomas cook...

many thanks and any advice would be helpful....

Best answers:

• Whilst leaving you at Heathrow was not good customer service and entitles you to the cost of getting home, it's not really being "stranded" is it? I can't think of anywhere that would offer you more travel options back to Manchester!
• yes being stranded maybe an extremity however, doesn't defeat the object that we didn't get to our destination when we paid alot of money for the holiday our first as a family, to which we didn't arrive to our destination when we paid to.
  my question is, can we claim from the airline, as they didn't deliver us to our requested airport and was left to make our own way home, when they said they would take us home???
• Calculate your reasonable costs: food and drink while waiting; the value of your time; and of course the actual transport costs. Invite the airline to meet these expenses. As for legal obligation, difficult to say, so be polite.
• I would guess this would be an extraordinary circumstance - if they paid the journey home, and any other costs incurred, then that would probably be a fair outcome.