Code-share airlines reject canceled flight claim

DEAR TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER >> My companion and I had confirmed reservations from Florence, Italy, to London earlier this year on a British Airways flight operated by Vueling Airlines. When we arrived at the airport in Florence in plenty of time for the 2:05 p.m. flight, an airline representative told us the flight might be canceled because wind conditions restricted the number of passengers the plane could accommodate, and might prevent the plane from taking off.

After a wait of over five hours with no information given to us and other frustrated passengers by the extremely rude Vueling personnel, the flight was canceled. Vueling gave us a choice of flying to London the next day via Madrid or claiming compensation for denied boarding. We chose the latter option and were given a one-page form explaining “passengers’ rights.”

Because I purchased our tickets from British Airways, I submitted a claim to the airline for compensation of 250 euros for each of us. British Airways rejected the claim because it says it didn’t operate the flight. Vueling Airlines rejected the case because it was a British Airways flight.

I have had not heard from British Airways in response to subsequent messages demanding action and pointing out that payment for the tickets had been made to British Airways. Can you help? — John McDonnell, Lafayette, California

ANSWER >> Under EU 261, the European airline consumer protection regulation, you’re entitled to real money for your delayed flight. You can find out more about EU 261 and how it’s applied on my consumer-advocacy site: www.elliott.org/frequently-asked-questionsabout-eu261.

Your case became needlessly complicated because British Airways sold you the ticket, yet Vueling operated the flight. But both airlines are owned by the same company, International Airlines Group, so what does it matter? Normally, the airline that sells you the ticket and takes your money would also assume responsibility for any claims, including an EU 261-related grievance. But something wasn’t clicking here.

In airline parlance, this is called “code-sharing,” even though both airlines have the same parent company. I’ve seen other airlines do this, but rarely when they share an owner. Air carriers want all the benefits of codesharing — sharing resources, information and not having to compete — but none of the responsibility. British Airways and Vueling were bouncing your case between each other, apparently hoping you would give up and go home. I’m glad you didn’t.

You can always appeal your case to someone higher up at these airlines. I list the names, numbers and email addresses of customer-service representatives for both British Airways and Vueling on my consumer-advocacy site: www.elliott.org/company-contacts/british-airways and /vueling-airlines.

The short-term fix is to contact both airlines on your behalf, which I did. I’ll share the results in a minute. But the long-term solution is to abolish these anti-competitive and anti-consumer code-sharing exemptions. Make airlines take full responsibility for the flights they sell and operate — just like the rest of the world.

I contacted Vueling, and it processed your claim for the full amount.