There should be a fine for cheap airlcrafts that cancel there customers flights home, what do you think?

Question

My neighbour just came back from holiday in europe, with his sister and four children, when arriving at the airport, they got told that there flight had been cancelled due to bad weather.They would not wait for all the passengers, so instead the airline cancelled all flights, took off and flew back to England leaving everyone to make there own way home, it took them an extra two days, and the cost was more than the holiday to start with, i think this is awful, and the goverment should fine these airlines for not taking care of there customers, and how dare they not even offer a refund on there flights back, they would not even help them find alternitive routes home, all those poor people,most of them with children, i wont mention the airline, but it doesnt take a genius to work it out. what can be done to stop this? what can be done? this really puts my back up.These companys get away with so much and nothing ever seems to get done. Well i wont use them, I'd rather go by ship or train

Answer 1

there are rules to protect passengers and airlines can be fined heavily.

for the UK search for ATOL

also check this site: http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/publications/flyrights.htm

good luck

Answer 2

Airlines cannot control the weather. This would seem a perfectly logical statement, but most passengers forget this the second they set foot in the airport.

Most airlines would have offered the next flight back (even if this meant the next day) most likely on a standby basis considering that they were already probably fully booked and couldn't guarantee a seat.

The airline, regardless of whether they are full service or discount are under no obligation to provide alternative arrangements if bad weather caused the cancellation. Most would make their best efforts to assist. I suspect that, like most passengers, particularly those with children who think they are owed special treatment, were entirely unreasonable in their expectations and were unwilling to listen to the airline or airport staff who would have tried to assist them.

Answer 3

I think its just a risk we take. Maybe it was get the plane stranded for a while, or get some people home. Yes, they should take care of all the passengers and get them hotels or alternate transportation. But reasons for cancellation are mostly due to safety, weather, maintenance, etc. Was this a charter flight, or scheduled airline? Most airlines in the States try to get everyone a way home one way or another, but if the airports closed, you don't have much of a choice, especially when the hotels fill up.

Answer 4

Different airlines have different policies. Some airlines may put you up in a hotel if there is a mechanical failure and you cannot fly out that same night. What was nice is at least they fed you. Many airlines will not go that extra step. With fuel still being expensive and airlines cutting back on staff and flights, it seems as though the customer is affected the most in terms of poorer service and more cramped flights. Also complaints may not work unless you are one of their best customers. In short, I don't think we have much leverage right now.

Answer 5

ya fine them great idea, our ticket prices are not nearly high enough, and I think there may be 1 or two airlines that haven't filed bankrupt yet.

It's a service that you CHOOSE to use, nobody forces you or anyone else to buy an airline ticket,

Furthermore every person in the world is affected by the weather,
The airline HAS to refund the ticket money, or provide a comparable flight ( even if at a different date ) if they didn't do this I would contact an attorney.

How would you like it if you called in to work because the roads were impossible to drive on, and your employer sent you a bill for all the potential $ that the business could have made?

Answer 6

Something you should remember. Airlines do not and cannot control the weather. I agree that the airline should have to refund the money. But, as a passenger on an aircraft you should realize that weather plays a vital role in flight and no flight. Also you should stop and think that everything and everyone does not and will not revolve around us and our needs. Sometimes we forget how spoiled we are today. We are accustomed to having what we want, when we want. We are a spoiled!

Answer 7

Contact the (FAA) Federal Aeronautics Administration.
Tell them all the details of what happened and ask if the airlines bears any responsibility for arranging for hotel accomodations, ground transportation, and food for the duration. Then to provide for connecting links to the final distination.
I agree. Those airlines shouldn't be permitted to do business in the United States if they can't accept the responsibility that's imposed on other US Airlines.

Answer 8

Sure, fine them. Just be ready when they lobby for you to be fined when you show up late for work.

I don't know about England or the EU, but in the States your neighbor would be able to sue for the difference in what he paid for the original tickets and what he finally had to pay to get his family home. Also, he should file a report with the customer service dept. of the airline.

Answer 9

nope the airlines can't control the weather. I say when flying its the risk you take. I'm rather tired of the news showing all the people that have been stuck all over the US. I would have found another way home.

Answer 10

They can be sued but it takes time, money and endurance. If it had happened to me a few years ago I would have chased them but life is too short. Its hard but you just have to write these things off to experience. Nothing to stop you or your neighbour writing to the papers and getting together a bunch of people with similar happenings. You could then form a pressure group. Good luck