MSE News: Bmibaby faces probe over failure to pay ash expenses

A question about : MSE News: Bmibaby faces probe over failure to pay ash expenses

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

Budget airline bmibaby could face investigation by the airline regulator for failing to compensate passengers stranded by the volcanic ash could ...

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Bmibaby faces probe over failure to pay ash expenses

Best answers:

• All this law needs teeth and enforcement.
  So CAA, AUC and EC need to enforce the law.
• As much as I agree that people should have been compensated because that is the law, the rule is an !!! IMHO. This regulation was never intended for what it is being used for. It was to make sure that airlines treated the customer fairly if there was a substantial delay or cancellation brought about by the airline, not to redress people for 6 days of being grounded due the overreaction of the CAA. The insurance industry must be thankful that the EU got them out of a potential sticky situation.
  Anyway, has anyone seen where the dust cloud went? Maybe it is in the same place as the CATOSTROPHIC oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
• simple answer for customer caught up with bmi is to search the forum and see what a passenger did who wasnt happy, he took them to the small claims court and bmi didnt fight him. For other companies who havent paid the issue is more complicated as they will probablyfight it but BMI didnt so the option is definately there.
• I am having a similar problem with SWISS Airlines. At the time when I was stranded in Russia I was advised by a SWISS representative that all reasonable accommodation and food expenses incurred until by return flight was available would be reimbursed on my return to the UK. Unfortunately SWISS Airlines changed their minds saying as it was a "force majeure" they would not compensate. Well out of order and well out of pocket!!
• Hi Tiff5000,
  I have the same problem with Swiss.
  Does anyone have a UK address for Swiss International Air Lines please?
  I believe that UK small claims cases need to be served to a UK address, or the case would have to be persued via the Swiss authorities www.BAZL.admin.ch
  Thanks,
  *j*
• Thanks for that eslick.
  That is the only address I can find at the moment. There was a registered address showing at Companies House, but it no longer seems to be valid.
  I was wondering if anone else had a "more proper" address.
  AUC suggested that the Heathrow one may not be a very good one to use, and Swiss are only offering their Basel address.
  Still I'm not quite at the stage of deciding to go down the UK small claims or the Swiss BAZL.admin.ch route yet.
  I'm awaiting AUC's reply and also need to consider Section 75 with the credit card company.
  Oh, and yes, Swiss are signed up to EU 2004/261. They seem to have settled the cheap claims and are delaying on anything more expensive.
  More patience and persistence I guess.
  *j*
• I was stranded in Egypt for five days. I travelled with my kids and a friend. We flew with Monarch on a holiday of Longwood. Monarch say its up to Longwood and Longwood say its up to Monarch. Its was months ago and I'm out of pocket.