http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009...e-compensation
The judgment was given in December last year, when it probably became known to the industry, but was only formally published earlier this month. This has a personal resonance, as I suffered a Swiss International Air (SIA) cancellation on Boxing Day due, apparently, to a failed autopilot.
My compensation claim – I only sought out-of-pocket losses, not the full EU set sum – was initially met with the same response as the Wallentin-Hermanns'. A couple of stroppy emails did persuade SIA to pay up, but it was disappointing that the airline continued to argue this issue even after the European Court decision.
Airlines have no excuse now for not paying up; some will doubtless continue to try it on. Anyone encountering this who refers specifically to the "European Court case of Wallentin-Hermann v Alitalia" may impress the airline sufficiently so that it does not waste time trying to bluster its way out of paying up.
The judgment was given in December last year, when it probably became known to the industry, but was only formally published earlier this month. This has a personal resonance, as I suffered a Swiss International Air (SIA) cancellation on Boxing Day due, apparently, to a failed autopilot.
My compensation claim – I only sought out-of-pocket losses, not the full EU set sum – was initially met with the same response as the Wallentin-Hermanns'. A couple of stroppy emails did persuade SIA to pay up, but it was disappointing that the airline continued to argue this issue even after the European Court decision.
Airlines have no excuse now for not paying up; some will doubtless continue to try it on. Anyone encountering this who refers specifically to the "European Court case of Wallentin-Hermann v Alitalia" may impress the airline sufficiently so that it does not waste time trying to bluster its way out of paying up.
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