Travel always holds the potential for unexpected twists and turns and adventures. Sometimes it's the unforeseen challenges that make a trip an unforgettable experience.
The Fischer family * had been looking forward to cruising through the Caribbean on an ocean liner for a long time. The journey was to set off from La Romana in the Dominican Republic and include the islands of Aruba, Curacao, Barbados and the French Antilles.
Dream trip false start because flight delayed?
The departure from Düsseldorf to La Romana was scheduled for 12 noon. But when they arrived at the airport, the family was informed that the departure would be delayed by 4 hours. In the evening, the airline informed them that the plane had landed but could no longer take off for La Romana. The passengers could spend the night in hotels at the airline's expense and should be back at the airport at 5 a.m. the next morning, but without the certainty that the flight would take off straight away. Immediately after this information came the announcement that the passengers would now be taken by bus to Cologne to fly from there to La Romana.
First no plane? And then no crew?
So the passengers collected their suitcases from baggage reclaim at around 8 p.m., only to discover that the airline had not provided enough buses and not all travelers were able to board straight away. For some, this meant another wait, and when they arrived in Cologne, they waited again before they could finally board the plane. Why? Because the plane was there, but the crew was missing... It was not until shortly after midnight that the passengers were finally allowed to board, but they had to make do with a plane that was not intended for long-haul flights and therefore had very cramped seating and no entertainment program.at least the cruise ship was waiting for the passengers.
However, the long-awaited trip was a day shorter, as the departure was delayed by a whole 12 hours!
Is there any compensation if you arrive late at the cruise ship and your cruise is shortened as a result?
The Fischer family vented their anger to the airline and demanded compensation for the flight delay and the lost day at sea. According to the EU Passenger Rights Regulation, each passenger was entitled to a refund of 600 euros for three people. During the three months of email correspondence with the injured parties, the airline only issued a terse apology but showed no willingness to pay out the money.
How could Captain Frank help?
In the end, the Fischers turned to Captain Frank and we were able to help! However, the airline didn't make it easy for us either and we had to take legal action to get justice in the end.
So don't forget: If your flight is delayed, we will stand up for you.
Foto von Alonso Reyes auf Unsplash
