Have you Ever Missed a Flight

The Airline staff checked the status and regretfully informed us that we are late and can’t travel in that flight. It was such a shock for us that I can’t express it in words now…………………

On May 2019 we went for a family trip to Italy. We booked through British Airlines. We visited Italy, Austria and Switzerland. Our return flight was on the 5th of June from Milan to London Heathrow and from London to Riyadh. The expected landing time of our flight at London Airport was at 12.45 p.m. and the connection flight to Riyadh as per schedule was exactly after an hour. But unfortunately, our flight was delayed because, it was on the very same day, the American President Donald Trump was going back to US, after his visit to the United Kingdom.

Boarding Pass from London to Riyadh has been already issued to three(myself, my wife and my son)  of us. So soon after landing in London Airport we rushed to the transit gate at 1.30 and tried to scan the Boarding Pass, but it hasn’t opened and soon we received a message to approach the British Airways counter. It was very close by and we hurried to the counter. The Airline staff checked the status and regretfully informed us that we are late and can’t travel in that flight. It was such a shock for us and that I can’t express it in words now.

I ask them what is an alternative? They said, “We’ll book you another flight”. After some search they informed me that there is a flight to Jeddah in the evening. I said that Jeddah is too far away from Riyadh and I don’t prefer that flight. So, they told me that they can book us through another airline or the best option is that they shall book in the same flight for the following day. I was so happy to hear that, but I didn’t express mu excitement. I agreed to their suggestion, if that’s the only option. What else to do? My wife noticed the glow in my eyes for getting a stopover at London which is indeed a bonus or blessing in disguise and she was very happy, that I doubted her gestures might be decisive,  so I told her to move away from the counter and have a seat! They booked for us the next day flight to Riyadh. The airline has arranged hotel accommodation for us  with a voucher for lunch that day, shuttlebus tickets to hotel and back to the airport and have informed us that the dinner and the breakfast will be available in the hotel.

It was Ramadan holidays in Saudi Arabia and we had almost like 3-4 holiday days more have left for the offices and schools to reopen. So, we were absolutely happy and tension free that we are given this advantage of a stopover at London without spending a penny from our pocket.

Keeping this excitement concealed behind a casual look we headed towards the immigration counter. The officer at the immigration informed us that we will not be getting a visa as we don’t have the UK visa. We were shattered to hear that. We neither go back to the departure level nor we can go out. I told the officer that three of us have US visa and if he could try that? The officer was a gentleman. He was very cordial and empathetic. I was lucky to get such an a well mannered officer at the Airport immigration centers. At certain previous incidents I have faced very uncomfortable and ridiculous situations from the irrelevant and illogical questions they have asked at immigration counters as if still they have the hangover of colonialism. But this officer said that he wasn’t sure about whether our US Visa is valid as we weren’t travelling from the US. But he assured that he would check with his supervisor. Then he took us to another office, made us sit there and told us to relax. He came back after 15 minutes and said that. You’re lucky that you have a US visa. You’ll be getting 24 hour transit visa, so you may go out and enjoy your time in the UK.

We quickly grabbed some lunch and took the airport shuttle to the hotel and checked in. After freshened up quickly we went out to London. We had been to London many years ago. So we went to see the London Eye, did some shopping and visited a few places of tourist attractions. By late evening around 9.00 p.m. we reached the hotel and had dinner.

The next day after breakfast from the hotel and we went to the airport, took the flight and came back to Riyadh.

A week later after reaching Riyadh. I saw a post in Facebook from one person in one of the tourist groups. It was about air help website that help travelers to claim for compensation if the flight is delayed or cancelled. I was in a dilemma, whether to claim or not ? Because I wasn’t not sure whether I’ll be getting the claim. And also we received a very gentle and pleasant treatment from the British Airlines staff at London Airport and provided   us accommodation, food and transportation. So, I was hesitated to for the repayment. But my friend encouraged me saying that it is it’s the law and so it’s your right to get if you are eligible for that. I was convinced about the same that, it’s my right to claim.

So, I applied in Airhelp. And they contacted me asking for so many documents, including the copies of the passport, the ticket, the boarding passes and all. I uploaded all in their website. A Few months passed and  in between they send e-mail saying that your claim is under process. And the good news, that I will get it, but I haven’t taken that assurance for granted as I am a little skeptical. I just tried it as an experiment and I was not sure whether it will work.

On a later date the air help personnel told me that I’m eligible for 1800 Euros but they will be taking a commission, if I get the money. And told me not to pay anything if I don’t get the compensation. I was happy because I don’t have to pay anything in the beginning for the claim.

I forgot about that. And a few months later. I got an e-mail saying that. I got compensation of 1800 euros and the Airhelp will be taking a commission of 900 euros. And that I  can claim the remaining 900 euros. My flight ticket to Milan, for three of us was $1535 and I  almost got. $1000 back. So, I can say that my vacation was almost free. Plus, I saw another country absolutely free of cost.

I shared this story with my friends. They said, next time they will book a flight  which has a very short layover. If they’re lucky…. They can get the same. I never have heard that anybody had succeeded in that. That day was the holiday for us, so we were able to manage the delay. But if there is something urgent like official meetings or conferences and if the flight is delayed it can have a negative effect. So, choose wisely.