4hr+ delay on short hall flight - compensation?

[Dr Murdoch]

Hi, short story - unfortunately last Thursday we encountered a 4hr delay to our BA flight from Heathrow to Hamburg, I assume we are able to claim some form of compensation? If so, do we go direct via BA or an alternative organisation?

Long story - Flight due at 11am. We boarded the plan and were told immediately that there was an issue with the plane that engineers were trying to solve, 30mins later we were told that the issue could be fixed and that they were now trying to find a replacement plane, and we would disembark once one had been found. A further half an hour later we were asked to disembark and go back to the terminal and await further instructions.....

Upon arriving at the terminal we were told to immediate head to Gate 10d (downstairs, no cafes). We were getting hungry and I asked whether I had time to nip back upstairs to grab some sandwiches, but I was advised this wasn't an option. We then get put on a transfer bus, but rather than pull away when it was full, it just sat idling for another 30mins! We then got going and arrive at the replacement plane, and then rather then get off we are kept waiting for another 20mins...

We finally get on the plane, we all found out seats, however this plane was far larger than the original, which resulted in the rear 3rd of the plane being empty. Due to the balancing issues, there then proceeded to be 1.5hrs of musical chairs as the staff (inc co pilot) moved people around!

At 3.10pm we finally started taxiing! Some 4hrs late and about 5 hours since anyone had eaten. Unfortunately, due to the late change of plane, no food was on board apart from snacks, which we were charged full price for. Although we did get 'one' complimentary drink!

All in all an utter shambles.

Icing on the cake, it was my 11 year old sons birthday, so he lost 4hrs being stuck on planes and hungry! This obviously impacted on our plans in Hamburg, including his dinner! Grrrt

Rant over.

[Dr Murdoch]

StevieBee said:

It does appear so at the time but in the scheme of things, it's better to have technical issues on the ground rather that at 35,000ft. Better to be four hours late than four decades early!

You were also fortunate this happened at Heathrow - BA's hub airport. Anywhere else and that four hours could easily have been 14 or more.

I had no issue with grounding that plane, its more with the 3.5hrs after that decision was taken that I have an issue with (being kept on plane, on buses, no food and then another 1.5hrs on a plane whist they figured out who should sit where (should/could that have not been done whilst passengers waited in the terminal?).

[Dr Murdoch]

Thanks all.

I'll contact BA and see where I get....