Monday 27 February 2017

Family Forced To Sleep On Airport Floor After Flight Delayed 26 Hours

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A granddad claims he was forced to sleep on an airport floor with his 20-strong group of family members and friends for almost 26 hours after their flight was delayed.

The pensioner described the experience as horrendous, as the floors were cold and hard - and they were given just €6 (£5.25) voucher to compensate.

Martin Lockett, 70, said when they did eventually manage to board a plane back to the UK, it was to Birmingham – 90 miles further south than Manchester, where they were headed.

He is now fighting Monarch for compensation after the airline refused to pay out, or even reimburse them for their expenses, the Manchester Evening News reports.

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The pensioner, along with a 20-strong group of his children, grandchildren and friends were returning home from a week-long holiday in Tenerife in October last year when their ordeal began.

“It went wrong as soon as we boarded the plane,” Martin said.

“We were sat at the gate for four hours, we didn’t even get a push-back.

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"The cabin crew told us that the plane had arrived with a fault, then the captain came on and said there was a problem with a generator and we would be taken off the plane and a coach would come and pick us up and take us to overnight accommodation. <*p>

“We went back into the airport and were left in the arrivals area, there were no coaches, no hotels, we were given a €6 voucher and left there overnight.

“I’m 70 and I was sleeping on the cold hard floors with my grandchildren, the youngest of which is two.

“We weren’t even allowed access to our luggage to get medication for the children and my heart tablets.”

The family says when they went to the Monarch desk the next day to find out what was happening, they were told they weren’t booked on a flight at all.

Martin, a retired businessman from Crewe, Cheshire, added: “The airport staff were.... telling us we weren’t booked on a flight back when Monarch were saying we were.

“Eventually we got on a plane and ended up in Birmingham. It was seemed like it took forever and was so frustrating.

“It was a shocking experience and we haven’t had an apology let alone a penny.”

Kevin Clarke, from Bott & Co Solicitors who are handling Martin’s case, said: “The law is very clear on this point.

"Airlines are obliged to provide food, refreshments and overnight accommodation where necessary and when you see the pictures of pensioners and children sleeping on airport floors it is clear why this law is in place – to protect passengers.

"When airlines don’t provide that basic care and courtesy passengers you can understand why passengers are aggrieved and are determined to pursue that compensation.”

A spokesman for Monarch said: “This claim is progressing with Mr Lockett’s legal representatives and our legal team.”


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