Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year to travel however, during the winter months, it’s not uncommon for flights to be delayed due to bad weather conditions.
For example, last winter, more than 3000 flights in different parts of the UK were delayed for three hours or more due to bad weather, causing travel chaos for thousands of passengers trying to make it home in time for the festive season.
In fact, more than one in 10 Brits travelling abroad for the festive period are often left to endure long waits in the departure lounge, with Manchester and Gatwick airport making the top of the list for the worst flight delays.
Last year, 20% of flights scheduled to leave from Manchester airport were delayed for more than half and hour and 17% of flights leaving from Gatwick airport were also delayed.
And this year, the Met Office has also warned travellers to brace themselves for more travel disruption as a cold snap is predicted to cause more travel problems.
Winter weather can cause a whole host of issues for airlines however, many passengers are not aware that they claim compensation if their flight is disrupted due to bad weather conditions.
This is because many airlines state that poor weather conditions are out of their control and therefore, they are not liable for any delays to their planned departures.
However, passengers are still able to claim compensation for bad weather that is not “freakish” or “wholly exceptional.” Passengers can also claim for lightening striking a plane, technical issues preventing an aircraft from departing and issues with de-icing equipment.
Recent statistics have revealed that as much as 95% of passengers are not claiming the money owed to them for adverse weather conditions affecting their flights. This is according to research conducted by FlightStats research.
So if you are planning on jetting off to sunnier shores this Christmas or you’re planning on visiting family abroad, make sure you check your flight times before heading off to the airport. If your flight is delayed due to bad weather conditions, you may be entitled to compensation.
And remember, it’s not just bad weather than can cause ongoing issues for the world’s busiest airports, air traffic congestion, technical issues and delayed arrivals are amongst some of the reasons why passengers experience delays during the festive period!
