The Airline Has Changed My Flight
“I’m due to fly to Australia for a family get together in just over two weeks, and it was all planned so that I’d be flying from Gatwick in the evening, giving me enough time to get to the airport during the day. I also booked extra legroom, a bigger baggage allowance and other perks for the flight as it’s going to be a long one.
“I had a telephone call from the airline this morning saying that the flight has had to be cancelled, and they will be switching me to an earlier one, which leaves at 10am. Not only that, but the plane is smaller, they can’t guarantee me more legroom, and I can’t have the extra baggage allowance.
“I paid for the extras, and although they are willing to refund the extra I paid, they refuse to budge on anything else, so now I’m either going to have to book a taxi or stay in a Gatwick hotel overnight. The flight will be uncomfortable, and I will have to take less baggage with me.“
Advice
Oh dear, it’s a difficult problem, but sadly there probably isn’t much that you can do in this case, because the details of your flight were changed well in advance. The airline are also offering to refund the premium that you paid for the extra baggage and leg room, so legally they don’t have to do any more than that.Under EU law, you could alternatively ask the airline for a refund of the cost of your ticket, but that won’t help in your situation, when you still need to get to Australia.
Because your flight is departing on the same day as your original one, even though you have to stay overnight or book a taxi, you’re still expected to cover the extra cost. Most airlines have a clause in their booking terms and conditions which gets them out of the responsibility for extra costs like this. In most cases, if the new flight time is within 12 hours of the one you’d originally booked, you won’t be entitled to anything.
The only possible loophole to this would be if your flight had been changed drastically – from a day flight to a night one. A night flight is usually defined as a flight which leaves the UK between the hours of 10pm and 6am. If your flight had been changed the other way round, and was departing at least three hours later than originally planned, you might be able to squeeze some compensation out of the airline.
What Should I Do Next?
It’s still worth appealing to their better nature, and asking them for a discount or some money back on the flight, due to the inconvenience that the change in flight times has caused.It’s also up to you to make sure that you don’t pay over the odds if you’re going to try and claim any kind of compensation. Stick to a basic hotel, or get the cheapest quote for a taxi you can find, and ask them very nicely if they wouldn’t mind contributing.
If they say no – there’s nothing you can do, I’m afraid
.
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Caroline199 - Your Question:
I have booked a holiday to Tokyo flying direct. A three day stay then a cruise. I have been told now that it is not a direct flight with a stopover in Singapore. I cannot do this because I’m over 80 and suffer with arthritis and the journey would be too long for me.THe travel agent has offered me a cruise instead but it would mean the expense of travelling to Southampton.They have refused a complete refund which I do think is unfair.patricia
Our Response:
Will they reimburse your travel expenses to Southampton? What are the terms and conditions of the booking?
YourTravelRights - 1-May-18 @ 11:30 AM
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Dave - 20-Jan-18 @ 10:44 PM
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Our Response:
You may have to contact family or friends to see if someone can loan you the money for a fare home?
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Pete - 16-Nov-17 @ 12:11 AM
Ang - Your Question:
I have booked a cheap 7 night holiday to tenerife with thomson for myself and my husband and my brother and sister in law and 2 friends. We booked because the original flight times were very good and allowed us to land and get home in plenty of time to start work the next day. I have just reviewed my booking online and the flight times both ways have now been changed without any notice so much that the return flights home have now changed from landing at 5.40pm to after 01.30am the following day thus meaning we will all have to book an extra day off work and lose money due to lack of holidays. surely this isn't right? Any advice on what can be done would be greatly appreciated thanks
Our Response:
You need to check the terms and conditions in your holiday booking. There is nothing set in law about compensation unless your flight is delayed or cancelled.
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Ang - 8-Oct-17 @ 12:40 AM
Griff- Your Question:
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Our Response:
The dates on this have changed significantly enough that you should be offered a refund. You could also take up the holiday with the new dates and try to claim compensation for the incovenience, additional parking fee etc.
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Griff - 7-Sep-17 @ 1:38 PM
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Derekdec - 23-Aug-17 @ 4:45 PM
Pauline - Your Question:
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Our Response:
It seems odd to do so if there are still seats available on the earlier flight. Have you spoken to them? Was it booked directly via the airline or using a tour operator/holiday company.
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Hi I'm wondering if you can give me any advice. I had a flight booked from NEwcatle to Mykonos, via a 3 hour stop over in Barcelona. I've just found out (by trying to book my brother on to the flight) that the company have cancelled all flights from my airport. They've not informed me of this even though I've since found out the decision was made 6 months ago and they've not let me know. The flight they have offered me is to fly from Edinburgh but with it already being an indirect flight, adding the 3 hours of travel to Edinburgh would make it too long for my child. If I get a gerund am I entitled to any compensation as I will now have to fly the day before with a different company meaning I will have to pay an extra nights accommodation Thanks
Our Response:
You are entitlted to a refund. Any application for compensation will be dealt with separately and is not part of consumer rights legislation.
YourTravelRights - 8-Aug-17 @ 2:49 PM
Hi I'm wondering if you can give me any advice. I had a flight booked from NEwcatle to Mykonos, via a 3 hour stop over in Barcelona.
I've just found out (by trying to book my brother on to the flight) that the company have cancelled all flights from my airport. They've not informed me of this even though I've since found out the decision was made 6 months ago and they've not let me know.
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Jolene - 7-Aug-17 @ 4:05 PM
Chris - Your Question:
In February IBooked 10 night holiday from Gatwick 17.4.18 to Turkey. I Just received the tour operators email stating Gatwick flight cancelled on 17.4.18 and so Holiday has been changed to 14.4.18 for 10 nights.I checked their website which still has the flight out of Gatwick on 17.4.18 for 11 nights.I have asked if I could travel on the 17.4.18 for 11 nights and pay for the extra 1 night.The agent insists there were no flights and said the computer needs updating? I thought their systems were live.I was told to accept the 3 day holiday change or cancel the booking.What are my legal rights please.
Our Response:
Unfortunately if your holiday operator can only get the flights they tell you, then you may have to cancel for a refund. If they flights you want are available, is there a chance you could arrange the rest of your holiday yourself?
YourTravelRights - 26-Jul-17 @ 1:56 PM
I have booked a flight from Glasgow to Orlando for next year with Thomas Cook and they have just informed me that my flying time will increase from 8 hrs 40 mins to just over 12 hours as we will also touch down in Manchester but will not get off the plane......absolutely horrified at thought if sitting on a plane this long but they are refusing to di anything as sat it is a MINOR change! Not to me it isnt!!!!!!
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Scotty - 22-Jul-17 @ 9:27 AM
In February IBooked 10 night holidayfrom Gatwick 17.4.18 to Turkey. I Just received the tour operators email stating Gatwick flight cancelled on 17.4.18and so Holiday has been changed to 14.4.18 for 10 nights.
I checked their website which still has the flight out of Gatwick on 17.4.18 for 11 nights.
I have asked if I could travel on the 17.4.18 for 11 nights and pay for the extra 1 night.
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Lan123 - 17-Jul-17 @ 6:42 PM
HT87 - Your Question:
Hi, I wonder if you could advise, I have a flight booked for NCL-DUB-JFK on the 28th November (NCL flight was at 8.30am). I have just received an email stating the flight is now being moved to the 27th November (leaving NCL at 3.45pm) - this change means that there will be a stopover at Dublin (arrive at Dublin 5pm and leave Dublin at 10.50am on the 28th November). This means that I now have to find a hotel for the night while in Dublin (the other flight option they gave me was a lot worse and was still leaving on the 27th but meant staying over in Cork and also an extra flight - so the alternative flight just wasn't an option). I wondered that if I accepted this change and leave on the 27th and just booked a hotel in Dublin, would the airline pay (or at least contribute towards) this?Many thanks in advance
Our Response:
Contact them and find out. The airline's website should show you whether you can cancel/expect a refund. Many of them will offer a partial or full refund if you flights have changed by 12 hours or more.
YourTravelRights - 6-Jul-17 @ 11:27 AM
Hi,
I wonder if you could advise, I have a flight booked for NCL-DUB-JFK on the 28th November (NCL flight was at 8.30am).
I have just received an email stating the flight is now being moved to the 27th November (leaving NCL at 3.45pm) - this change means that there will be a stopover at Dublin (arrive at Dublin 5pm and leave Dublin at 10.50am on the 28th November).
This means that I now have to find a hotel for the night while in Dublin (the other flight option they gave me was a lot worse and was still leaving on the 27th but meant staying over in Cork and also an extra flight - so the alternative flight just wasn't an option).
I wondered that if I accepted this change and leave on the 27th and just booked a hotel in Dublin, would the airline pay (or at least contribute towards) this?
Many thanks in advance
HT87 - 5-Jul-17 @ 10:27 AM
Havana - Your Question:
HelloWe originally booked our flights with Easijet as the flight was leaving at 7.20 in the morning from Manchester to Greece, we booked an overnight Hotel. They have now changed the flight time 4.15 pm which is 9 hours later. Are they able to do this. Would I be entitled to compensation. We should have been landing back 14 nights later at midday but are now arrive back at 00.10 in the early hours. This means we will arrive in Greece late and miss some holiday.
Our Response:
You can usually claim some compensation if your flight times have changed by more than 12 hours or have moved into another day.
YourTravelRights - 4-Jul-17 @ 2:10 PM
Spud - Your Question:
I am due to fly to Bulgaria tonight at 2255 but my flight has been cancelled to1030 tomorrow it has already been changed twice today can I claim my money back if I don't go on holiday by choice due to the worry of not being back in time for an appointment on the day after we are supposed to be back as we have just found out this has been ongoing with the airline for 5 weeks
Our Response:
You may be entitled to a refund on your flight if the times have been changed so that the new flight time is more than 12 hours later than originally stated or it is on a different day. It's highly unlikely you will be able to cancel your holiday or return flight because of this.
YourTravelRights - 4-Jul-17 @ 12:47 PM
