Missed flights

[marcaz2]

We visited Manchester Airport to fly off on our holiday. We arrived in plenty of time, approximately 2 and a half hours early.  So after a walk around duty free we went and had a couple of beers. We deliberately sat in front of a departure board to ensure we kept up to date with our flight. The board display read "Relax" a little later it changed to "Gates to be announced at 1.20 pm.

Eventually it read "gates open. That was the last announcement on that board, the next time we looked up it was blank. Fortunately for us o e of our party took a selfie and in the background the board was visible and it can be seen that there was no information in the right side of the board. We realised the time so rushed to the departures gate but were refused boarding as we were 2mins late. I even received a text from Ryanair to say "final call" while stood at the boarding desk. People were still stood in the tunnel and on the tarmac.

So as a result of the departures board failier we missed our flight. 

When we re visited the airport the next day, at a further cost of £400 we noticed that the board had a blue banner through it stating "can't download data" so clearly still faulty.

We logged a complaint with Manchester Airport and they have said that according to IT department there were no recorded issues.  As a result are refusing a compensation claim for the incured costs.

 

Where do we stand please ?

 

[BankFodder]

Did you take a photo of the board when it displayed the error message?

[marcaz2]

42 minutes ago, BankFodder said:

Did you take a photo of the board when it displayed the error message?

Yes we did.

One photo is the selfie showing no data.

The second is of the Blue banner saying "Can't download Data.

[BankFodder]

Ok. Reading around this forum about the steps involved taking a small claim in the county court.

Identify all of your losses including any extra expenses you incurred travelling etc.

Don't miss out a single penny.

Monitor this thread for a further reply later on today

[marcaz2]

Ithaks

 

I did, even milk for a brew when we got home.

[Kyosanto]

Missing your flight when you were there all along must be as frustrating as can be.

One thing that might work against you is that Boarding Passes will always state a strict time by which you must be at the gate or else. (And if you had your BPs on the Ryanair app, that should have told you the gate number when it became known). There are also audio announcements including "gate open" and "Final call" . I imagine that this will be invoked in MAN's defense.

Bankfodder will know better and can advise whether that's going to be a issue or not.

Edited July 17, 2023 by Kyosanto
audio announcements

[marcaz2]

Hi Kyosanyo

Yes the time is on the boarding pass  although we were ignorant of that fact at the time.

As.we were stood at the checking desk i actually received the "gates closing " message, I showed them as they hered  the message. I think we all know what a bunch of ignorant jobsworth arrogant people (taught by head office) the staff are. They still refused to even use common sense.

For future reference, there are NO tanoy announcements anymore. This was also our argument with Ryanair,  with no avail. Apparently they now use a "Silent call system" whatever that means. But, the fault stil lies with the airp6system.

Edited July 17, 2023 by marcaz2

[BankFodder]

The time on the boarding pass could be an issue but I doubt it and you will have to wait and see whether they raise it and then you have to produce an argument in rebuttal.

It seems to me that if the departure boards are there then one is entitled to rely on them for up-to-date information. A boarding pass is a printed ticket which is correct at the time that it was printed and of course the scenes can be subject to change and so one would look at the departure board.

Please can you itemise your losses in bullet pointed form

[dx100uk]

moved to the correct forum

 

dx

 

[marcaz2]

Up to this moment in time Manchester Airport are solely defending themselves by stating that they have no reports from IT regarding the faul, even though we've sent them the pictures.  The pictures even have the full digital data on such as time, date geographical data etc.

As for costs incurred.

Flights £400

Fuel £25

Food and beverages  £15

These costs do not include money waisted at the bar, 2 pints each.

[Kyosanto]

8 hours ago, marcaz2 said:

 

For future reference, there are NO tanoy announcements anymore. This was also our argument with Ryanair,  with no avail. Apparently they now use a "Silent call system" whatever that means. 

 

A "Silent call" wow...  isn't that a bit like an invisible billboard!

[BankFodder]

Okay, put together a letter of complaint – list out the expenses to which you have been put.
Tell them that you think it is reasonable that they compensate you. Include copies of the pictures again.

Don't give them a deadline but if they haven't responded within seven days – or if they knock you back (as they probably will) – then come back here having drafted a letter of claim.
I don't suppose we can identify a contract with the airport so it will have to be on the basis of negligence.
Your proposed action will be founded on the basis of a negligent misstatement which you relied upon to your detriment.