Airline lies about reasons for technical problems to avoid compensation
Our flight from Europe to South America with a European Airline was cancelled on the 4-5 hours prior to departure due to "technical problems" and we had to take the next flight 24 hours later.
Corresponding to European law, the airline would thus have to compensate us with 600 Euros each plus expenses for hotels and food.
Conveniently for the airline, they argue that those technical problems were caused by bird strike and therefore are uncontrollable (a reason that is explicitly excluded for compensation).
However, we know other passengers traveling with the same plane and the reason they got was that the plane was struck by lighting - which again is a reason that wouldn't require them to pay.
--> After all it seems the airline is making up various reasons so they don't have to pay.
What would be your next steps?
Would the airline give us more technical details on the problem and what they did to fix it? Basically, I want them to prove that the reason they gave me is legit.
Should we take a lawyer and sue the airline?
Could the airline also be sued for fraud if it turned out they are intentionally lying to their customers about the reasons for delayed flights?
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What happens if an airline refuses to pay compensation?
In the event an airline refuses to acknowledge your claim, you need to seek legal advice or file a complaint with the airport's authority. However, you need to understand the reasons for the denial of the claim. Sometimes the extraordinary circumstances are legitimate.What does a technical issue on a plane mean?
All the problems are considered an extraordinary circumstance. It means that the airline had no power over them and they couldn't have been avoided even if all appropriate measures were taken.What counts as extraordinary circumstances?
Extraordinary circumstances defined- Bad weather conditions.
- Natural disasters.
- Strikes by a third party, e.g. airport personnel.
- Political instability.
- Security risks.
- Restrictions from air traffic control, e.g. closing of runway.
- Bird strike (a collision between an airplane and a bird)
- Hidden manufacturing defects.
Do airlines have to compensate you for delays?
In the United States, airlines are not required to compensate passengers when flights are delayed or cancelled. Compensation is required by U.S. law only when certain passengers are \u201cbumped\u201d from a flight that is oversold.Airlines could find loopholes to avoid passenger compensation
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Ketut Subiyanto, Mikhail Nilov, Mikhail Nilov, Mikhail Nilov