Aviation Discussion

[Peter Mugridge]

Claim it.

 

[Hornet]

On Sunday we were flying back from Sweden to Stansted and got caught up in the fiasco that had happened earlier, where a Ryanair flight had come in and the wrong door was opened (or left open) that resulted in people coming into departures and forcing everyone back through security.

As a result, the flight to us was delayed by three hours and we got back three hours seven minutes late.

Ryanair has emailed everyone to say we can NOT claim under the EU ruling that entitles us to €200 each, as it was 'exceptional circumstances'. From what I can see, it was circumstances that were solely down to them, and no doubt they'll have claims against them from other airlines and the airport itself in the coming weeks.

What's more, on the heavily delayed flight the cabin crew stuck to the story that it was caused by freezing fog and a shortage of de-icing equipment at Stansted. This was fine until we arrived at the ground crew started to talk to the cabin crew about what happened and who it was, followed by the crew telling them to shut up!

Quite farcical, but now I am left wondering what the best action is to take. It seems that making a claim against Ryanair could be a LONG battle and they're refusing to pay pending some additional review at the end of next month.

Anyone here have any advice? It's €600 in total, so not chicken feed.

You have proof that Ryanair are to blame for the fiasco, and not the Ground Handling Agent who may have left the door open? Your claim could well be against the Agent. See posts 2914/2915 in the following link:-

http://www.pprune.org/airlines-airports-routes/245928-stansted-2-a-146.html

Think it's the norm at Dublin Airport arriving at the 'A' (200) gates to mingle with O/B Passengers. I have often picked up a paper when arriving there. Once met a friend who was flying out when I arrived. Had a pint with him before I headed for Border Control and he joined his flight. Same happened at the old 82 to 90 gates at Heathrow T1 (Ireland/NI flights) when for several years after 9/11 I/B and O/B passengers quite happily mixed. They then changed the policy to segregate the I/B and O/B Irish passengers. Anyone who travelled through the 82 to 90 gates after that could tell you what a pain in the backside that became, especially as you might be on a final call, to find your way barred due to an arriving flight. The Stansted fiasco shows how paranoid UK Border Control has become. It's a ridiculous situation. Could try suing the UK Government for their idiotic policies.

 

[jon0844]

No, of course I don't have proof but am I supposed to identify the cause and go after them? Surely my contract was with Ryanair and Ryanair can claim from the person(s) responsible?

 

[Hornet]

No, of course I don't have proof but am I supposed to identify the cause and go after them? Surely my contract was with Ryanair and Ryanair can claim from the person(s) responsible?

http://www.ryanair.com/doc/faqs/eu261-gb.pdf

Ryanair will most likely tell you that they would not have been responsible for the open door (Ground Agents Responsibility), and that as your flight was delayed for security reasons (UK Border Agency Responsibility). Reading the above document, they would be within their right to deny your 'Right to Compensation'. I would assume the Ryanair Review you quoted would be after Ryanair had put in a claim of compensation against the organisation(s), to see if anybody put their hands up and took the blame. Ryanair are pretty ruthless in dealing with Airports/Organisations that cost them money.

 

[starrymarkb]

You have proof that Ryanair are to blame for the fiasco, and not the Ground Handling Agent who may have left the door open? Your claim could well be against the Agent. See posts 2914/2915 in the following link:-

http://www.pprune.org/airlines-airports-routes/245928-stansted-2-a-146.html

Think it's the norm at Dublin Airport arriving at the 'A' (200) gates to mingle with O/B Passengers. I have often picked up a paper when arriving there. Once met a friend who was flying out when I arrived. Had a pint with him before I headed for Border Control and he joined his flight. Same happened at the old 82 to 90 gates at Heathrow T1 (Ireland/NI flights) when for several years after 9/11 I/B and O/B passengers quite happily mixed. They then changed the policy to segregate the I/B and O/B Irish passengers. Anyone who travelled through the 82 to 90 gates after that could tell you what a pain in the backside that became, especially as you might be on a final call, to find your way barred due to an arriving flight. The Stansted fiasco shows how paranoid UK Border Control has become. It's a ridiculous situation. Could try suing the UK Government for their idiotic policies.

It is normal on the Domestic Piers at Glasgow as well. I guess the mixing of international passengers caused UKBA to panic. Of course common sense would be to re-check passports at the gate as it was a mixing of airside passengers who would have been screened in Lisbon (but then TPTB prob don't trust the Portuguese) It's not as if Landside and airside mixed (ie following an fire evacuation) in which case I could understand rechecking everyone.

 

[WestCoast]

No, of course I don't have proof but am I supposed to identify the cause and go after them? Surely my contract was with Ryanair and Ryanair can claim from the person(s) responsible?

I had a delayed flight (four hours) with Monarch Airlines last year and they only gave vague reasons about the delay. I simply claimed through EUclaim.co.uk and after about six months I was paid the full expected amount. I wouldn't normally endorse a no win-no fee legal service like this, but I found them efficient and the fee was not excessive. They may be able to help you as they specialise in these claims.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It is normal on the Domestic Piers at Glasgow as well. I guess the mixing of international passengers caused UKBA to panic. Of course common sense would be to re-check passports at the gate as it was a mixing of airside passengers who would have been screened in Lisbon (but then TPTB prob don't trust the Portuguese) It's not as if Landside and airside mixed (ie following an fire evacuation) in which case I could understand rechecking everyone.

Agreed, I don't understand the paranoia from the UKBA or airport authorities at all about arriving and departing passengers mixing. I remember when one of the piers in Manchester T1 used to be arranged liked that, now it's a mess with some gates having to be reached by steep sets of stairs under the 'arriving' passage.

All the passengers would have been security screened at their origin and had their documents checked by the exit Schengen controls and airline staff. Lots of airports outside the UK mix arriving and departing passengers quite happily, the Dublin example above but also big hubs like Amsterdam and Frankfurt. UK arrivals in e.g. Amsterdam mill around in the non-Schengen area with arriving and departing passengers, if you were connecting to say Portugal, Dutch border guards would admit you into to the Schengen area and there'd be no further regular controls. In Germany, the Government has actually legally designated the non-Schengen area of Frankfurt airport as not part of legal German soil. This has helped them curb an asylum problem apparently and improved security.

Additionally, has the UKBA considered the biggest transit hub in the UK, Heathrow T5. If you're connecting international-international you bypass UK border control and just go through security and then you're mixing with everybody in the main hall. You could ask not to take your flight then and it would be down to airport staff to establish you haven't been processed by UK immigration.

 

[starrymarkb]

I had a delayed flight (four hours) with Monarch Airlines last year and they only gave vague reasons about the delay. I simply claimed through EUclaim.co.uk and after about six months I was paid the full expected amount. I wouldn't normally endorse a no win-no fee legal service like this, but I found them efficient and the fee was not excessive. They may be able to help you as they specialise in these claims.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Agreed, I don't understand the paranoia from the UKBA or airport authorities at all about arriving and departing passengers mixing. I remember when one of the piers in Manchester T1 used to be arranged liked that, now it's a mess with some gates having to be reached by steep sets of stairs under the 'arriving' passage.

All the passengers would have been security screened at their origin and had their documents checked by the exit Schengen controls and airline staff. Lots of airports outside the UK mix arriving and departing passengers quite happily, the Dublin example above but also big hubs like Amsterdam and Frankfurt. UK arrivals in e.g. Amsterdam mill around in the non-Schengen area with arriving and departing passengers, if you were connecting to say Portugal, Dutch border guards would admit you into to the Schengen area and there'd be no further regular controls. In Germany, the Government has actually legally designated the non-Schengen area of Frankfurt airport as not part of legal German soil. This has helped them curb an asylum problem apparently and improved security.

Additionally, has the UKBA considered the biggest transit hub in the UK, Heathrow T5. If you're connecting international-international you bypass UK border control and just go through security and then you're mixing with everybody in the main hall. You could ask not to take your flight then and it would be down to airport staff to establish you haven't been processed by UK immigration.

Yes they do Border checks on connecting passengers at T5 - they also require transfer visas which are not cheap (£50pp)

 

[317 forever]

Flew from Edinburgh to Manchester for a short break this week and back again Q400 both trips.

Once again Flybe's weird Airport Check In policy kicked in......:cry:

On the way down I was allocated a seat and unable to change it without visiting the desk and paying a fee.

On the way back up I was able to change to an exit seat free of charge when checking in using the machine once again.

Both flights were one third full !!

Has anyone else experienced this situation and be able to furnish an explanation ?

I once had a Fly-BE seat that I didn't like on a flight nowhere near full. So, once the door was closed to prevent anyone else getting on, I changed seats.

 

[telstarbox]

New one for me today - booked with easyJet, not taking any hold bags. They've texted me to ask if I'd like to check in the cabin bags at the Bag Drop in exchange for free priority boarding. Does that mean they're expecting a busy flight and it will save them time boarding passengers with fewer bags in the cabin?

Also I didn't pay to select seats but the website allocated us 2 adjacent both ways for free Does it always do this unless there are no pairs remaining?

 

[starrymarkb]

New one for me today - booked with easyJet, not taking any hold bags. They've texted me to ask if I'd like to check in the cabin bags at the Bag Drop in exchange for free priority boarding. Does that mean they're expecting a busy flight and it will save them time boarding passengers with fewer bags in the cabin?

Also I didn't pay to select seats but the website allocated us 2 adjacent both ways for free Does it always do this unless there are no pairs remaining?

It does seem to try to sit people together if they check in early enough online.

 

[dievoyagerdie]

The algorithm always tries to sit passemgers travelling on the same booking together free of charge on a first come first served basis so as with all airlines who operate a similar system, check in as soon as you can. If they texted you then the flight is most likely a busy one, but not always.

 

[WestCoast]

Does anyone know which flight XJT524 from Geneva to Stansted on 16/01/15 (arrival: 08:25) actually is? I'm flying to Stansted tomorrow and noticed this flight on the official airport website arrivals. Curiousity has got the better of me, I have no idea which airline this is. I thought maybe ski charter, possible Titan Airways but Titan's code is ZT. :?

 

[Spamcan81]

XJT would seem to be the ICAO designator for X Jet. They operate in the corporate sector with bases in Denver, Dubai and Stansted.

 

[jon0844]

Claim it.

I have done through EUClaim (as I expect this won't be an easy one) and should know in a day or two if they'll 'take the case'.

 

[Butts]

Just used the last of my Flybe Rewards Points to book a trip from Glasgow to Barra - only £26 plus the points return.

Always wanted to land on a Beach

 

[Butts]

I have just returned from Inverness after an aborted trip to Dublin.

My itinerary was to fly to Dublin from Inverness, stay overnight and return the next day back into Inverness.

Unfortunately the Flight was cancelled and several plans to get me and others there via Manchester came to nothing due to the adverse weather conditions at that Airport.

However Flybe were extremely generous as I got £20 worth of vouchers to spend at catering outlets during the delay (3 separate vouchers at various points)

I didn't spend all day at the airport as I was able to pop into Inverness for a few hours during the delay and "see the sights".

Eventually we were sent in a taxi to a 4 Star Hotel in Inverness, where we enjoyed Dinner, a bed for the night and breakfast in the Morning.

A Taxi took us back to the Airport the next Morning but unfortunately the Flight had again been cancelled so I had to elect for a refund of what I had paid.

£15 each way

Plus to come 250 Euros compensation thanks to the EU !!!

A very profitable outing

ps forgot to mention got another £5 catering voucher this morning !!!

 

[fowler9]

Saw a Beluga take off from JLA today heading for Toulouse. Be interested to know what it was doing there? Was Howarden closed?

 

[dievoyagerdie]

Good old EU261. Airlines try and do all they can to help including a re route at MAN yet get punished and push up ticket prices for all of us!

You neglect to mention why the flights were cancelled originally.

 

[Aictos]

Just used the last of my Flybe Rewards Points to book a trip from Glasgow to Barra - only £26 plus the points return.

Always wanted to land on a Beach

Looked up fares with BA and Flybe...

British Airways flights: £124.31
Flybe flights: £148.26

Only thing I'm not sure of is the Glasgow to Barra flights now I know they're Flybe operated but are they BA codeshare flights?

 

[flymo]

Only thing I'm not sure of is the Glasgow to Barra flights now I know they're Flybe operated but are they BA codeshare flights?

Yes. The Flybe flight today for example is BE6851 with a codeshare flight number of BA4051.

 

[Aictos]

Yes. The Flybe flight today for example is BE6851 with a codeshare flight number of BA4051.

If that's the case I can't see why I can't book London to Barra via Glasgow for the day on the BA website, it gives me the flights there but says there's no return working until the following day

I rather just do the booking though one place but looks like I can't

 

[Butts]

Good old EU261. Airlines try and do all they can to help including a re route at MAN yet get punished and push up ticket prices for all of us!

You neglect to mention why the flights were cancelled originally.

They didn't give a specific reason but I suspect it was due to the problems at Manchester and their lack of spare capacity in the form of Aircraft at Inverness.

I had paid for my Hotel in Dublin so I'm not sure if I will be reimbursed for that. Also I had to make my own way home as my transport from Inverness was based on coming back from Ireland in the Evening. It was either that or hang about the City for 7 hours on a freezing cold day.

I bit the bullet and "sacrificed" my £1 megabus booking sourcing one earlier in the day at the prohibitive cost (for megabus) of £24. However that was 50% cheaper than the train and quicker
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Yes. The Flybe flight today for example is BE6851 with a codeshare flight number of BA4051.

It is actually operated by Loganair on behalf of Flybe - so you get free baggage and drink
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If that's the case I can't see why I can't book London to Barra via Glasgow for the day on the BA website, it gives me the flights there but says there's no return working until the following day

I rather just do the booking though one place but looks like I can't

Most days there is just one flight per day which lands and goes straight back virtually. I have had to stay the night in March. There may be more flights in the Summer.

 

[flymo]

If that's the case I can't see why I can't book London to Barra via Glasgow for the day on the BA website, it gives me the flights there but says there's no return working until the following day

I rather just do the booking though one place but looks like I can't

It is on the ground in Barra for 20 minutes so this may be confusing the booking engine. There is always the possibility of booking as two singles but this is hugely more expensive... and having to get off the plane then back on again might prohibit this.

Is it possible to book by phone with BA ??

 

[Butts]

It is on the ground in Barra for 20 minutes so this may be confusing the booking engine. There is always the possibility of booking as two singles but this is hugely more expensive... and having to get off the plane then back on again might prohibit this.

Is it possible to book by phone with BA ??

Yes, but it costs extra - not sure how much. Check website for phone number.

 

[telstarbox]

London City Airport granted permission to expand from 70,000 to 111,000 flights per year:

http://www.londoncityairport.com/News/ReadPressRelease/1469

In a step forward in easing aviation capacity in the South East, plans to expand London City Airport have been given the go-ahead.

The decision, granted on Tuesday [3 February], clears the way for a £200 million investment that will enable the airport to operate up to a permitted 111,000 annual flights, from the 70,000 currently flying. This new capacity will help ease the pressure on existing airport infrastructure in London and the UK while a decision is made on where new runway capacity will be delivered, and in the period before it becomes operational in the late 2020s.

By 2023 the expansion programme will:

Generate additional short-haul aviation capacity for the UK
Create 1,500 new jobs and a further 500 during construction
Double economic impact to £1.5bn per annum
Facilitate greater levels of inward investment in East London
Deliver a world-class international gateway to London

The plans include developing existing infrastructure to increase runway capacity, to allow more take-offs and landings at peak times and accommodate the next generation of quieter, more fuel efficient aircraft. These aircraft have longer ranges and will open up new markets not currently served from London City Airport.

 

[Butts]

Anyone been through T1 at Heathrow lately ?

I was there yesterday on a "fag run" to Luxembourg it's like The Marie Celeste

Mind you after the normal hustle and bustle a welcome change !!!


Rumours are reaching me that LHR has finally weakened and opened a "smoking facility" airside in T4 . Can anyone confirm this ?

Also Butts inadvertently passed through 4 Security Screenings with a tiny tube of toothpaste in his hand luggage ( one of those you get free at hotels in a "dental pack" with a Brush.



Glasgow

LHR T1 & T5

Luxembourg

 

[pompeyfan]

Is Murcia San javier airport still open and operation, I notice it's no longer showing on my flightradar App, but the likes of Farnborough is....

 

[NathanPrior]

My flight back from Philadelphia in September has been put back from 19:23 to 18:24, quite odd to change the time really, any possible reasons why?

 

[pne]

My flight back from Philadelphia in September has been put back from 19:23 to 18:24, quite odd to change the time really, any possible reasons why?

The first thing that comes to my mind is that it's got something to do with Summer Time / Daylight Saving Time, as the start and end dates in the US and UK are not synchronised.

 

[CC 72100]

Is Murcia San javier airport still open and operation, I notice it's no longer showing on my flightradar App, but the likes of Farnborough is....

Yes - passenger numbers are down, the debate about the staff when Corvera finally opens rumbles on, but for the moment Murcia San Javier is still open, with 254 flights in January and just under 20,000 passengers. A few links:

http://www.laverdad.es/murcia/201502/14/trafico-aeropuerto-javier-desplomo-20150214004056-v.html (Spanish)

http://murciatoday.com/protesters-demand-a-lifeline-for-san-javier-airport_24678-a.html#.VOD-I_msV8E

http://murciatoday.com/san-javier-a...era-opens_24416-a.html?Banner=13#.VOEAUvmsV8E

It's funny that you mention it actually - I'm currently writing a report about over-ambitious and consequently underused infrastructure in Spain for one of my modules, and Corvera, among with other 'ghost' airports will most likely feature.