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Seems like I’m in the habit of getting airlines to pay me recently!  Just the other day, Southwest paid me to fly the exact same flights I was already scheduled on, and now it’s Aer Lingus’s turn.  If you’ve been following along, you may remember that back in September, I had booked 2 business class seats to fly from Boston to Dublin to start our trip to Europe.  While we were sitting in our business class seats on the tarmac when the pilot announced that our flight was canceled!

aer-lingus-business-class-seats

We eventually got ourselves to Europe on a flight the next day, in economy class, but not before making some pretty dumb mistakes trying to get ourselves rebooked

(SEE ALSO: 3 mistakes I made when my flight was canceled)

(SEE ALSO: 5 things I did right when my flight was canceled)

EU 261/2009 regulations state that passengers on a canceled flight of this length are due EUR 600 in compensation.  I have been trying to claim this compensation for quite some time now.  Here’s a breakdown of the timeline so far

Aer Lingus is paying me $1306 for a canceled flight. Thanks to the EU 261 / 2009 law, some canceled or delayed flights are due compensation of up to 600 Euros!

Finally a real response!

After I figured out that the Commission for Aviation Regulation was the correct place to submit an EU/261 for Aer Lingus, things have been proceeding according to plan.  It’s taken awhile to work through the system, but it does appear that at least the wheels are moving forward. Finally after several months, here is the response I got by email this morning

I am pleased to inform you this office received a response from Aer Lingus in relation to your case this week.

The air carrier stated in their correspondence to us that their contract with you was in respect of travel from Boston Logan to Dublin International Airport and accordingly the applicable distance for the purpose of Article 7 are flights of greater than  3500 kilometres on foot of which EUR600 would be payable to the passenger.

Following our investigation, Aer Lingus have arranged for a cheque for EUR 600 (paid in the amount of $653.00) per passenger to be issued in your name and also in the name of Mrs. Carolyn Miller and their cheque payment will follow shortly and on receipt, I will forward this cheque directly to you at your confirmed address.

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEET! (emphasis mine)thumbs-up

Never have I wished that the USD had not been performing so well against the Euro!!! 🙂

British Airways refund

Now if only I could get the same sort of service from British Airways!  I believe that I am also entitled to a refund of 25,000 Avios, because I paid 50,000 for 2 business class tickets from BOS-DUB, and only flew in economy class (which has a “value” of 25,000 Avios).  The drama has been just about as long trying to fight with British Airways

I did call back a few weeks ago and it was still processing, so I’m hopeful for a resolution and refund before too long

I hope that this saga gives anyone else who’s been on a canceled or delayed flight hope that sometimes the process DOES work.  Also I hope I can give you some confidence that you do NOT have to pay a 3rd party to litigate your claim (and take 25% or more of your compensation!).

Have you had success trying to fight for your EU 261 / 2009 compensation rights?


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