What’s the most extraordinary excuse you’ve heard?

If airlines do end up having to pay out more by way of compensation, then I would expect to see the costs passed on to passengers by way of fare increases.

This may also result in a competitive advantage for more punctual airlines, because their fares may not have to rise as much as those of their less efficient competitors.

Personally, I’d sooner arrive later (in safety) than earlier (on equipment that has been rushed into service to avoid financial penalties). I really don’t want to see airlines cutting corners on maintenance just to avoid financial penalties .

From Bristol to Faro, 3 hours late excuse ‘the pilot did not turn up’ had to fly another in from Belfast.

Our flight to Bucharest was delayed by 7 hours 15 mins. We had passed through Boarding and the plane was on the runway with the luggage ready to be loaded when we were told to return to the Departure Lounge. No information was given except to keep checking the departure board. It was rumoured a tyre had been damaged on landing but no-one was able to give any information. When we were eventually called to Board, passengers were handed a sheet of paper which we understood to be information on how to make a claim for compensation but they ran out and told us to ask when we arrived at Bucharest. On arrival no-one seemed to know what we were talking about and likewise on our return, so we never received this communication. We have been refused compensation by Blue Air who have given various reasons ranging from “a bird strike” to “despite the anticipated delay the passengers used our services”.

I was two days later getting home and had to go via another country and stay overnight in another country. This was due to “industrial action” – NO OTHER AIRLINES had a problem sorting out their passengers and rescheduling flights – RYANAIR chose to cancel flights and leave passengers stranded abroad to queue for 12 hours to obtain a rescheduled flight for next day to another country and the day after that to our home airport. I’ve been informed that the French air traffic control industrial action was not unexpected. In my view this is not deemed as extroadinary circumstances. In any event Ryanair have refused compensation and have not paid my loss of wages for two days loss of work nor have they refunded my seat allocation payment I made for my original flight that was cancelled. Ryanair had no consideration whatsoever for their stranded passengers in Alicante Airport in March, no one gave us any direction as to what to do and all phone lines to Ryanair, internet chat live and online booking to reschedule ourselves were all NOT WORKING. not happy with Ryanair.

We recently flew with Easy jet from Munich flight EZY5386. The flight was delayed by over 12 hours and they are refusing compensation. They are saying that this qualifies as ‘extraordinary’under EC Regulation 261/2004 as the disruption was caused by ‘ATC slot restrictions’. It feels like a bit of a cop out. Does anyone know if there have been on any court rulings along these lines?

Just had ‘changing the captains chair’ as an excuse in Rome for a 2 hour delay from Alitalia. Absolutely ridiculous.

Been trying to claim from easyjet for over two months for my wife and I. The last contact (They have never returned a single call) They stated the flight was only 2 hours 20 mins late according to their records which is a total lie. It seems to be a case of making it as difficult as possible and hope we give up!

We had a delay of over 4 hours flying to Venice with Monarch last September, and we claimed. The airlines check in system had failed earlier in the day and so they had run the remaining flights late. Our claim was refused, but we pushed and got a barely understandable reply as to how to proceed (it went to great lengths describing an arbitration scheme only to add at the end that Monarch did not subscribe to the scheme). Eventually we were referred to the CAA who investigated. Monarch ignored them and gave no reply. On the basis our claim the CAA found in our favor, but it appears have no powers. Now it is small claims court or give up.

The delayed flight had arrived in the early hours of the morning after Venice airport closed, so no taxi’s, water taxi’s and no car hire. No one from Monarch to help, we ended up walking around until we found an hotel. So we are going to fight on!

I have a Claim with Easyjet who have confirmed that they will pay us, however they keep making excuses , asking for bank details which are submitted with the claim. Feel they are just trying to avoid paying the money in the hope that l will just go away . I am also concerned that they have lost private information. they say they have to wait 21 days for an answer from their Finance team . ?? Also concerned they have lost our bank details. so cross.