Stuck in Florida - Pros and Cons?

[tigger137]

Simon Calder was talking on This Morning and I'm positive he said that if you've booked an ABTA bonded package, or a flight with a European airline, they're bound to provide accommodation and 3 meals a day until they can get you home.

I heard someone on sky who said they only have to cover the first few days of hotel

Here is a link to the full text of the EU legislation:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2004:046:0001:0007:ENDF

This covers the rights of passengers booked on ANY airline when flying FROM the EU, and on EU airlines when flying TO the EU.

It is quite clear that under this legislation the airlines are responsible for providing accommodation and meals until such time as they can get you to your destination. There is no mention of any time limit on this.

I have seen many references to this legislation not being applicable in the current situation. However, the only exclusion due to "extraordinary circumstances" is Article 7 - Compensation. All other Articles apply.

Did anyone else see/hear the "this morning" i'm sure Simon Calder said the same thing but now im doubting i heard it right?

This is a complete nightmare. Does anyone know what happens if you book with a registered european airline (abta reg) and this sort of thing happens? Are the airline supposed to take care of you? We do take credit cards with us on holiday and always have a contingency fund but i'll be honest even that would be running on empty by now!

What happens to fly drive packages? are the airline only responsible for your flight ? What happens to your car hire agreement? I presume you would have to sort out your own accomodation.

Simon Calder has been on TV several times giving these details. The information is also on the BBC website.

The airline is only responsible for your flight - after all, that's all you've booked with them. If you've booked a flydrive then it was presumably booked with a tour operator, eg with Virgin Holidays rather than Virgin Atlantic. It is therefore a 'package' and covered by ABTA rules - I don't book packages so don't have any information on those rules.

 

[Rosie]

The thing is with Legal requirements, they are always tested at some point by Court cases. Ryanair are refusing to pay and I think that other Airlines and tour operators will probably do the same.
In my own case, Virgin Holidays have assured us over the past five days that they are paying for our accomodation but our Hotel have had NOTHING to confirm this, not even a phone message. When we check out we are sure we are going to get a bill which we will pay.
Nobody is really to blame for any of what has unfolded over the past week so my guess is that Lawyers are telling travel companies to go for court and see what transpires rather than just pay out huge sums.
I am trying to keep my expenses to a low level but I can understand how massive the overall cost will be to the holiday business. None of us wants to see companies go bust