What happend sheilaporti?

When we arrived at Gatwick we were met by an Excel rep who told us that our plane had been downsized and all the Olympic and Libra passengers were now flying with First Choice 6 hours later. She gave us each info on compensation and told us that we were all entitled to compensation. I now realise, as i was the only one that complained to the rep!, that this was a ploy to keep us all quiet. Since writing to Excel compensation has been denied but i shall pursue it - through the courts if necessary. I was hoping to get some feedback from other passengers but none seem to be forthcoming

Check this link Sheila :- http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=41438

Scheduled to fly Manchester to Sanford in Florida on 5A136 Sun 10th July 2005 at 14:00. Upon arrival, informed of delay until 02:00 11th July and asked to check-in anyway, returning to check-in desk afterwards at 16:00. Flight eventually departed at 04:25 on the 11th.
I've just written to Excel to seek compensation as they failed to provide all the necessary assistance during the 14.5 hour delay. Excel have initially responded by email stating they have a 15 day response deadline.
I understand Travel City Direct (who we booked with) regularly have delays out of Manchester. This last weekend (30/31 July) witnessed a 24 and a 27 hour delay on the Sanford flights.
There appears to be three companies involved. Travel City Direct seem to be the TO, Air Atlanta are the carrier and Excel Airways are responsible for the crew rostering.
This triumvirate makes it difficult to apportion guilt but I've been assured by Air Atlanta that Excel are responsible - in this instance.
I will make further postings on this site as my complaint, and how it is dealt with, progresses.

At last we have a result for our compensation claim from Excel Airways. (See thread Excel Airways Flight XLA5368 LGW-Thessaloniki 12/5/05 for information.) I was very lucky enough, through this site, to have been contacted by Mr Chris Haslam, Travel Writer for the Sunday Times, who was writing an article about the very problems that we were facing with this airline. I would just like to urge everyone with holiday complaints not to give up but keep on writing letters and take what ever legal advice you can get to back up your claim.

Did your success stem from the Times Travel writer's advice to you or his direct contact with Excel?
I understand you may be unable to disclose on an open site the nature of the settlement but I'd be curious to know Excel's original reasons for not paying compensation for a cancelled flight (even though you then were moved to al alternate flight) and their reasons for subsequently settling.

Hi Mike

I will PM you with some of the info you require but i think i need to point out that our flight wasnt cancelled. In fact it left on time but we were 'denied boarding' (bumped off in other words!) as due to mechanical problems the original aeroplane was not operational so Excel put on a smaller plane. We were put on a flight that left 6 hours later.

Hi Sheila ... I have merged both topics, so that members can follow your experiences here in one single topic.

David

Never was a service more misnamed.
Booked to fly to Malaga from Manchester 30 July 11.45. At booking in gates clearly problems due to slowness. No info from anyone, departure board still showing original time though clear many people not booked in at 40 minutes before alleged take off. Then told technical problem but that everyone would get on aircraft. 20 or so remaining passengers for flight then called to specific gate and told that would be flying from gatwick but unclear as to number of seats available and phone calls required. Only few seats so 12 passengers left (fate unknown!) 89 passengers left Manchester for Gatwick just after 14.00. On leaving aircraft given letter apologising and later new itinerary as Gatwick to Alicante to Malaga. Times meaningless as not complied with. 2 hours in Gatwick departures airside so no food/drink, also no rep. Boarded Astreus (Dutch?) aircraft along with other passengers from Gatwick. Checked luggage on tarmac when boarding, my suitacse missing. 1hour on plane awaiting takeoff. Flight to Alicante, passengers other than Excel fed, Excel complimentary drink of juice-no food. 2 hours on runway Alicante, arrive Malaga just before midnight. Wait for luggage approx 1 hour before told no luggage for any of 89 passengers. Another hour or so filling in missing luggage forms. My suitcase arrived Thursday, others Mon PM.
Flight home 17.00 from Malaga, when at desk informed of severe delays but not specified, further info at 17.00 ie scheduled time of departure. Getting a little edgy this time. Booked three seats on alternative flight and whilst waiting dep board indicated revised est time of 04.45 (actually landed Manchester 07.16 Sun). I am commencing no doubt lengthy correspondence with Excel. Good luck to anyone else booked with same operator.

i live in newcastle and xl have such a bad reports on the flights from newcastle as in...all the flights from ncl was late ov going out some 24hours late.. i guess once they have ya money r they botherd i dont think so just be carefull with xl let me know what u think

Flight XLA676 Gatwick/Cayo Coco, Cuba. on the 22nd May 2005.
On arrival at Gatwick we were informed by excel staff that the aircraft had been substituted and that they needed 35 volunteers to go on an alternative flight (Heathrow/madrid/havana/cayococo) and compensation of 600euros per person waiting for us on our return. Several phone calls and letters to both Excel and Thomas Cook and now to the Air Transport Users Council have not yet produced any compensation as promised. Was anyone else one of the 35 involved if so have you received the compensation promised?

Whenever I have volunteered to be offloaded due to overbooking I have always received the compensation within 30 minutes and in cash, however these were with BA and Air France and were prior to the new rules coming out.

Dave

Come on guys!
EC261/2004. Look at section 8 (1) (a) Flight Refund.
If you are bumped off a flight the refund due (flight cost plus upto 600 euro must, must, must be paid within seven days.
Phone Ros Fernihough for confirmation. The airline has failed to abide by this EEC mandate and can be fined upto 5000 euro for each failure.
Sue them for goodness sakes.

It would seem that Both Excel air and Thomas cook are both side stepping all the complaints regarding flights oporated by Excel air.

we travelled to Cuba on the 18th May returning on the 25th and on both legs teh plan was down sized which resulted in a 6 hour delay arriving in Cuba and a three our delay on return .

A large number of passengers were complaining and the Excel staff were infact clearly stating that they were getting fed up with having to tell passengers untruths ergarding delays and changes in aircrafts being used.

Complaints to both Thomas Cook and Excel have been ignored however they have both confirmed in writting that they accept our complaint and allow they accepted no liability but offered £100 travel discunt voucher.

I too will be taking this matter through the courts .

Mike
If either/both parties send you a cheque do not cash it/them. Advice from Mrs Ros Fernihough is clear on this matter, it will kill any court action dead if you accept their offer by encashing the cheque.

Our compensation was over £500 from Excel. I have to say i cashed it extremely quickly!