Dear Alex,
[Because of the volcanic ash situation in mid-April] my wife and I were delayed for five days in Brisbane, facing hotel and other associated costs. We held business class tickets [the journey originated in Spain] with Cathay Pacific from Brisbane to Frankfurt via Hong Kong. From Frankfurt we took Iberia on to Madrid and, finally, to Mahon in Menorca.
When flying to the EU, an EU airline has an obligation to compensate passengers under rule 261. But what is the situation when connecting from a non-EU carrier [Cathay Pacific] to an EU one [Iberia]? Do we qualify for any reimbursement? I would add that the local Cathay office in Brisbane was superb in trying to rearrange our flights.
Richard Martin, Menorca, Spain
Alex replies:
Unfortunately you do not qualify as you entered the EU gateway with a non-EU airline. But it is good that Cathay was so helpful. (See “What are my rights?”, businesstraveller.com/archive/2010/may-2010.)
