A LoyaltyLobby reader sent us a question about a significant flight delay on Thai Airways on an award ticket ex-Frankfurt and if they are eligible for the EC 261/2004 compensation.
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Reader’s Question:
My flight tonight from Frankfurt to Bangkok on TG588 has been canceled by Thai « due to the late arrival of the incoming aircraft and the airport’s night restriction ».
This concerns myself and my wife, we are both traveling in business class on award tickets FRA-BKK-KTM return. The tickets were paid with my TG miles.
Are we entitled to 600 euros compensation each as per EC261, even though these are reward tickets ?
Also I have booked us into Frankfurt airport Hilton tonight as I have no intention of joining the queue at the airport so that they can « arrange accommodation ».
Could you kindly advise on this ?
Good news!
The award tickets are also covered by EC 261/2004, and each one on this flight is entitled to 600 euros, hotel accommodation, and meals paid for by Thai Airways.
Cash compensation doesn’t apply if there is an extraordinary circumstance beyond the airline’s control (very unlikely).
The TG922 was scheduled to depart from Bangkok at 12:40 in the afternoon, but the flight didn’t leave until 4:09 PM.
The flight is scheduled to arrive at 9:35 PM tonight, which is too late to turn the plane around before the nightly curfew at Frankfurt Airport (11 PM until 5 AM daily).
The flight was not canceled (the reader used the wrong flight number) but is rescheduled to leave with a 14-hour delay at 11 AM Friday local time.
Conclusion
Airlines should ensure that these early evening arrivals arrive on time so that returning sectors can depart before 11 PM or they get stuck in Frankfurt overnight due to the night curfew.
Thai Airways failed here. It is unclear why the departure from Bangkok was delayed by more than three hours.
You can only imagine the expenses that Thai Airways is legally obliged to cover for all these passengers. If only everyone would also collect the 600 euro cash compensation!
The reader should also send Thai Airways a receipt for the hotel expenses (accommodation and meals), as this EU law covers those.
