Nightmare flight

[BobbyBobBob]

I went on holiday to zante, and on the flight home the right engine caught fire which resulted in us flying with one engine, eventually we had to emergency land in Milan and stay there for roughly 14 hours! This was back in august with alexandair. Is it to late to claim compensation?

[dzug]

Unfortunately I doubt if you are entitled to any, at least in the airline's view. They will invoke the getout clause of 'beyond our control, guv'

Could still be worth a try though. There's no mention of a time limit in this:

http://www.europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l24173.htm

[dazf]

u can try through ur own travel insurance (if u took out some). u will need a letter from the airline and u will also need to send in your tickets and boarding card stubs. if u have lost these it make's it difficult to claim as the airline and/or insurance company will need this to verify ur claim..

[evo_Rizla]

I take it your after compensation for the 14 hours, from the way i understand it all the airlines have to do is give you a free meal ticket or two. Its only when its a day late they have to put you into a hotel etc.

[ianess]

Compensation for what exactly? Did you suffer a quantifiable loss?
All the emergency systems appear to have worked as they should, you landed safely, and after a shortish delay you got home safely. All modern planes are well able to fly with one engine out. What is the problem?

[KARL]

There is now an EU law regarding your rights but, from my own experience, it seems it is being widely ignored by airlines. I was bumped off a KLM flight even though I had a boarding pass already: They said they couldn't guarantee my bag would go with me so security prevented me from boarding. Apparently KLM have a particularly poor record on bags not going on the same flight - in the event mine went on their flight and I caught up with it hours later. They normally go to great trouble to offload baggage if the passenger misses the flight. Their answer to my complaint was that I had missed the flight - what does that tell you ? There is a question within the European Parliament asking just what is going on - my example being among those cited.

[Cazzaroo]

I was in a minor air crash in 2002. We didn't receive compensation from the airline but we did receive a full refund of the full holiday money from our tour operator (even though it wasn't their fault). I sent in a complaint letter and it took over 2 years for the airline to investigate the accident, so I wouldn't wait for that.