Thread: Flight cancellation (terrorist Heathrow closure)

In August I bought some flights for my girlfriend to come out and stay with me in Berlin

It happened that the day before the she was due to fly the terrorist thing at Heathrow happened and the flights were cancelled.

I spoke to the company I booked it through - Dial-a-Flight - and they told me it was all very hectic and they'd get back to me ASAP when they had some news.

I called them a few more times over the months since it happened and they keep saying that the airline - Lufthansa - are being difficult and they have a huge backlog etc etc.

I think I've given them enough time for the dust to settle and I've emailed Lufthansa directly, I just got a reply saying:

"Usually, when a passenger would like to make a change to their ticket we must follow the fare rules of the ticket he/she purchased. However, in this case Lufthansa allowed all passengers to rebook their tickets up to and including the 17 August free of charge, as a gesture of goodwill and without obligation. If you wished not to change the date of your flight but to get your ticket refunded, you should refer to your Travel Agency who issued your ticket.

We can appreciate the distress that this irregularity must have caused you but airlines are not liable for delays caused by circumstances beyond their control. Therefore we are unable to meet your request for refund. We hope for your understanding of our position in this matter."

It's safe to say that Dial-a-flight didn't say anything about rebooking the flights.....


The Dial-a-Flight Website has this to say about the circumstances surrounding the flight cancellations:

11. Force Majeure
We regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where we are forced to cancel, curtail, delay or in any way change your holiday/flight or where the performance or prompt performance of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected in whole or part as a result of circumstances amounting to “force majeure”.



Such circumstances include war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, epidemics or health risks, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire or adverse weather conditions, technical problems with transport, closure or congestion of airports, cancellations or changes of schedules by scheduled airlines, government action or advice and all similar circumstances outside our control.

Cheap Flights, Hotels and Car Hire from Dial A Flight


So both the airline and booking company are regretting that they cannot be held liable.




I've contacted them both saying that I'm not going to write off the £280 I paid for the flights. It's an unfortunate situation for all and understandably a very good thing that the situation that lead to this didn't have a different outcome.



However - does that mean the customer has to stump up the loss?



Has anyone else had their flight cancelled for a similar reason and been told that they have to swallow the loss?

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did you pay by credit card? Its been left a little long but the card company may still issue a chargeback for you.