Compensation denied because airlines are blaming each other
I booked a ticket on international route with multiple stops (Stockholm-Brussels-Abu Dhabi-Mumbai). Stockholm to Brussels was with Brussels Airlines and the rest of the trip was with Etihad, but on a single ticket.
The flight to Brussels was cancelled by Brussels Airlines due to bad weather conditions at Brussels airport. The BA ticket counter at Stockholm airport rebooked me on a later flight. The ticket that was given to me said that my reservation is confirmed all the way. But when I reached AUH airport, Etihad people told me that flight to Mumbai is not confirmed (even though the ticket given to me by Brussels Airlines said it was confirmed). They denied me boarding and gave me a boarding pass for a flight that was taking off 9 hours after my original flight. They also refused to give me any kind of accommodation or meal vouchers because they said that it was the fault of Brussels Airlines for giving me an unconfirmed ticket.
I contacted BA customer support but they said that the ticket was confirmed and it is Etihad's fault for denying me boarding. Both companies have denied my compensation claim for denied boarding. What are my options now?
Edit: After two months, I got an email from Brussels Airlines and this is what they said: when they gave me the ticket, as per their system, the booking was perfectly fine and confirmed. But something went wrong while the ticket was transferred from BA system to Etihad system, and in Etihad's system, the ticket was not confirmed. And since this situation is "beyond their control", they cannot provide me compensation. But just as a gesture of goodwill, they will pay me 200 euros for the inconvenience caused. Should I accept their offer or press for full compensation (550 euros)?
Best Answer
You biggest hurdle to compensation will be the weather, for which you are likely not entitled to any compensation. :(
As for 'confirmed', it's not really a thing. What they were probably trying to express is that your booking/ticket on Etihad was still valid, even though your flight to Brussels was cancelled.
Meaning, when you got to AUH, EY did see your valid ticket and maybe even listed on the flight, but without a boarding pass or seat assignment, you were not really on the flight. Always know exactly what your status is on following flights and get a seat as soon as possible. EY in BRU probably could have done this.
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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.Does the airline owe you compensation?
The airline is required to compensate you for a canceled flight if you were notified less than 14 days before your original scheduled departure date. However, compensation is not required if the airline proves that extraordinary circumstances (e.g., weather) caused the cancellation.How do you get compensation from airlines?
Because the U.S. doesn't require airlines to compensate passengers for delays or cancellations, your best option is to contact the credit card company that you booked your flight with. Contact your credit card company and notify them of your intent to file a claim within the required time frame.How do I claim denied boarding compensation?
Accepting the airline's offer will mean that you voluntarily agree not to fly on that flight. According to denied boarding rules, you can only claim compensation in cases in which you were involuntarily refused access to the flight. This is why, in most cases, we would recommend that you refuse the airline's offer.HOW TO CLAIM COMPENSATION FOR FLIGHT DELAYS| AIRHELP
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Answer 2
Your claim of denied boarding does not seem to be valid under EC 261 Regulation because here is the issue is the unconfirmed ticket, there is no such rule governing unconfirmed ticket. In my opinion, you should take the goodwill amount of 200€ from Brussels Airlines, this is the best available option for you.
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