Massive delay...did my airline tell me porkies?

[Hard-Drive]

I recently flew, or should that be attempted to fly, with a UK carrier from LGW to GVA. However, the one hour flight turned into a complete disaster, with a 9 hour, yes 9 hour delay.

The flight was an early one, on the 1st March. We boarded the aircraft, a 757, and proceeded to sit on the stand for 2 hours. Apparently there was a problem with a "heater for a sensor". I assumed this to be pitot heat? The captain tried various things, powered down all electrical systems and back up, and apparently maintenance were down under the cockpit changing some cards, and then poking around the nose wheel (not that we saw anyone). After 2 hours none of this worked apparently, so off we got and hung around for another 7 hours.

I didn't think this totally unusual, however every single other flight (4 of them) that this carrier was operating that day was also delayed due to "technical issues". The airline was stunningly useless at communicating what in earth was going on, although at one point we were told that although they had a spare aircraft, they couldn't use it for us. There was a problem with the hold door, and as the flight was full, they couldn't take off with the problem...although if there had been less passengers on board, it would have been OK. Really????

Eventually they got another aircraft down from East Mids, and we boarded that catastrophically late and eventually got away. The airline was nothing short of pathetic in terms of updates, and perhaps not surprisingly, refused to send anyone down to speak to the passengers, leaving poor VA staff to deal with the baying crowd. The ONLY person we saw all day was stood smugly on the airbridge at GVA thanking out the "technical issue...not our problem..." letters...

So I guess we might have one of two scenarios here...

One, this is a shoddy airline which operates old knackers where all four aircraft they attempt to fly out of LGW go u/s...which seems highly improbable.

Two, it was the first of the month, someone had forgotten to pay fuel/landing fees or whatever it is that they need to pay and they were effectively grounded.

Before I let rip at the airline by way of a formal complaint, can anyone in the know enlighten me on the chances of a "heat sensor" grounding an aircraft and the probability of every aircraft going u/s with technical issues? Is there anything I can ask for which would back up the airline's story?

Thanks

[trashbat]

You should be able to claim the EU compensation for that. It being a technical issue doesn't excuse them - part and parcel of running an airline.

Edit: this lot will help, for a cut: http://www.bottonline.co.uk/flight-delay-compensat... - or you can do it yourself. My own (successful) attempt included a dragon drawn in MS Paint.

Edited by trashbat on Wednesday 26th March 07:47

[knight]

It is possible that whatever defect caused the tech delay required a new part to be fitted, they didn't have one and nobody else at LGW did either so they had to try and locate one from somewhere else.

[MOTORVATOR]

knight said:

It is possible that whatever defect caused the tech delay required a new part to be fitted, they didn't have one and nobody else at LGW did either so they had to try and locate one from somewhere else.

Many years ago on a flight to Corfu we had six or seven hours delay with zero info.

When we finally got in the air it was explained that we weren't going to Corfu at all and would be going to Rhodes first, apparently as one of their aircraft was missing a wheel and we were carrying it!

The captain seemed to rely on that fact that we should feel sorry for the other passengers that had been stranded for an age. What I couldn't get my head around though is why we weren't dropped off on the way but then another cycle of unload and load would have delayed them further I guess.

[S 8 GRN]

trashbat said:

You should be able to claim the EU compensation for that. It being a technical issue doesn't excuse them - part and parcel of running an airline.

Edit: this lot will help, for a cut: http://www.bottonline.co.uk/flight-delay-compensat... - or you can do it yourself. My own (successful) attempt included a dragon drawn in MS Paint.

Edited by trashbat on Wednesday 26th March 07:47

No need to use a third party - here is a link to a Which letter I used last year - I got 2500 Euros back which is exactly what I'd paid for my 4 return seats.

http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/action/lett...

[trashbat]

S 8 GRN said:

No need to use a third party - here is a link to a Which letter I used last year - I got 2500 Euros back which is exactly what I'd paid for my 4 return seats.

http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/action/lett...

Quite true. This is what I sent:

Dear easyJet,

Thank you for your eventual reply to my email, in which you reject my claim for compensation under EC Regulation 261/2004. You state that:

"It is inevitable that there will be occasions when we are unable to operate our flights, as scheduled, due to circumstances beyond our control. I am sure you will appreciate that disruption caused by Air Traffic Control is beyond our control."

This is both misleading and irrelevant. The extraordinary circumstances allowed for in the Regulation are, as made clear by numerous legal precedents, significant events that could not have been reasonably anticipated. Ordinary operational issues such as these do not fall under this definition, especially given that there was such ample opportunity to make alternative arrangements once the original delay had occurred.

Whilst I am increasingly wont to concede that running a functioning airline may indeed be beyond your control, I do not yet accept this as the case.

Perhaps it would help if I illustrate this point.

Figure 1: Not An Extraordinary Circumstance



Now, in a similar but subtly different example, Figure 2 shows an easyJet aircraft being destroyed by a magical fire breathing dragon, which is telepathically controlled by famous actor Dick Van Dyke. You may recognise Dick from 1990s TV show 'Diagnosis Murder'. The dragon is pink and has a crown. I mean, no-one could have predicted that, could they?

Figure 2: Quite An Extraordinary Circumstance



In this entirely imaginary dragon-related instance, it really is an extraordinary circumstance, and I suppose you would be able to conclusively prove as much, which is of course what you are legally obliged to do here.

Perhaps you could depict the events in Microsoft Paint? I find it very soothing.

I trust that my handy pictorial guide has clarified the matter, and that the sum of 250EUR in compensation is now forthcoming. Should this not be the case, then it is my intention to take easyJet Airline Company Limited to court after a notice period of fourteen calendar days, beginning on your receipt of this letter.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Ta very much,

trashers

[mattdaniels]

Hard-Drive said:

every single other flight (4 of them) that this carrier was operating that day was also delayed due to "technical issues".

Hard-Drive said:

So I guess we might have one of two scenarios here...

One, this is a shoddy airline which operates old knackers where all four aircraft they attempt to fly out of LGW go u/s...which seems highly improbable.

Two, it was the first of the month, someone had forgotten to pay fuel/landing fees or whatever it is that they need to pay and they were effectively grounded.

Scenario three - the later flights were planned to be operated by the aircraft you were sat on so with your flight delayed there was a knock on effect to their schedule?

[S 8 GRN]

trashbat said:

S 8 GRN said:

No need to use a third party - here is a link to a Which letter I used last year - I got 2500 Euros back which is exactly what I'd paid for my 4 return seats.

http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/action/lett...

Quite true. This is what I sent:

Dear easyJet,

Thank you for your eventual reply to my email, in which you reject my claim for compensation under EC Regulation 261/2004. You state that:

"It is inevitable that there will be occasions when we are unable to operate our flights, as scheduled, due to circumstances beyond our control. I am sure you will appreciate that disruption caused by Air Traffic Control is beyond our control."

This is both misleading and irrelevant. The extraordinary circumstances allowed for in the Regulation are, as made clear by numerous legal precedents, significant events that could not have been reasonably anticipated. Ordinary operational issues such as these do not fall under this definition, especially given that there was such ample opportunity to make alternative arrangements once the original delay had occurred.

Whilst I am increasingly wont to concede that running a functioning airline may indeed be beyond your control, I do not yet accept this as the case.

Perhaps it would help if I illustrate this point.

Figure 1: Not An Extraordinary Circumstance



Now, in a similar but subtly different example, Figure 2 shows an easyJet aircraft being destroyed by a magical fire breathing dragon, which is telepathically controlled by famous actor Dick Van Dyke. You may recognise Dick from 1990s TV show 'Diagnosis Murder'. The dragon is pink and has a crown. I mean, no-one could have predicted that, could they?

Figure 2: Quite An Extraordinary Circumstance



In this entirely imaginary dragon-related instance, it really is an extraordinary circumstance, and I suppose you would be able to conclusively prove as much, which is of course what you are legally obliged to do here.

Perhaps you could depict the events in Microsoft Paint? I find it very soothing.

I trust that my handy pictorial guide has clarified the matter, and that the sum of 250EUR in compensation is now forthcoming. Should this not be the case, then it is my intention to take easyJet Airline Company Limited to court after a notice period of fourteen calendar days, beginning on your receipt of this letter.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Ta very much,

trashers

Brilliant.

[ecsrobin]

trashbat said:

S 8 GRN said:

No need to use a third party - here is a link to a Which letter I used last year - I got 2500 Euros back which is exactly what I'd paid for my 4 return seats.

http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/action/lett...

Quite true. This is what I sent:

Dear easyJet,

Thank you for your eventual reply to my email, in which you reject my claim for compensation under EC Regulation 261/2004. You state that:

"It is inevitable that there will be occasions when we are unable to operate our flights, as scheduled, due to circumstances beyond our control. I am sure you will appreciate that disruption caused by Air Traffic Control is beyond our control."

This is both misleading and irrelevant. The extraordinary circumstances allowed for in the Regulation are, as made clear by numerous legal precedents, significant events that could not have been reasonably anticipated. Ordinary operational issues such as these do not fall under this definition, especially given that there was such ample opportunity to make alternative arrangements once the original delay had occurred.

Whilst I am increasingly wont to concede that running a functioning airline may indeed be beyond your control, I do not yet accept this as the case.

Perhaps it would help if I illustrate this point.

Figure 1: Not An Extraordinary Circumstance



Now, in a similar but subtly different example, Figure 2 shows an easyJet aircraft being destroyed by a magical fire breathing dragon, which is telepathically controlled by famous actor Dick Van Dyke. You may recognise Dick from 1990s TV show 'Diagnosis Murder'. The dragon is pink and has a crown. I mean, no-one could have predicted that, could they?

Figure 2: Quite An Extraordinary Circumstance



In this entirely imaginary dragon-related instance, it really is an extraordinary circumstance, and I suppose you would be able to conclusively prove as much, which is of course what you are legally obliged to do here.

Perhaps you could depict the events in Microsoft Paint? I find it very soothing.

I trust that my handy pictorial guide has clarified the matter, and that the sum of 250EUR in compensation is now forthcoming. Should this not be the case, then it is my intention to take easyJet Airline Company Limited to court after a notice period of fourteen calendar days, beginning on your receipt of this letter.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Ta very much,

trashers

[Mabbs9]

To answer your Q, a heating failure of one of the probes would need to be fixed before dispatch. Sometimes it's an easy fix, worst case is a new set of probes, but that would be very rare. They are expensive and it would be time consuming to fit. They're all calibrated and connect to Air Data Computers directly for some of them.

Probability of several A/C that day all grounded due to TEC issues? V small. I'm sure you appreciate there is huge redundancy with these machines and they regularly leave with minor faults because other systems safely fill the gaps.

I like your thinking about fees not being paid or possibly financial problems of some kind still outstanding?

Good luck with a resolution.