Fogbound passenger’s action grounded
Friday 22nd July 2011, 1:00PM BST.
A PASSENGER has tried to sue Aurigny for not flying when it was foggy.
But Marc Littlewood’s claim for more than £500 after his flight was cancelled was thrown out of the Petty Debts Court yesterday.
He said the 18 February service to East Midlands was grounded for operational reasons, but Aurigny said fog prevented flying for five hours.
Mr Littlewood, 58 (pictured), who works for Roadside Technologies, actioned the airline for costs he incurred, plus loss of earnings.
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He should have tried his luck in a UK claims court
Those very strange people who populate those ‘leave all common sense at the door’panels would have awarded him thousands
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There would be more lawsuits if they flew then crashed. Mr Littlewood get a life better still get a boat they do go in the fog.
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Im glad it was thrown out of the Petty Debts Court. If the plane in question was able to fly Im sure it would of. I understand it is a pain when you have to hang around waiting for your flight but sometimes with Fog or Operational brake downs it does happen. Im sure they have to put safety first…. get over it.
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I don’t agree with his reasoning, but I agree that £25 to change a flight is ridiculous, as it wasn’t his fault it was cancelled.
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thank you for my afternoon chuckle. welcome to the Channel Islands Mr Littlewood. you should have come to Alderney and got stuck then see how fog lasts! flippin hilerious!!!!
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If every fogbound passenger sued their airline, I think they would all be bankrupt by now!
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Under EU rules airlines now have to pay passengers’ direct out-of-pocket expenses regardless of the reason for a flight delay/cancellation. Direct out-of-pocket expenses are defined refreshments, a hotel room (if applicable) and the cost of one phone call – but not consequential loss such as loss of earnings.
For airlines based outside the EU (such as Aurigny!) these rules apply only for departures from EU airports – so if a flight TO the Channel Islands is delayed Aurigny has to pay for meals and hotel rooms, if a flight FROM the Channel Islands is delayed they don’t.
So – in this particular situation Mr Littlewood wouldn’t even have been entitled to a hotel room, and I’m surprised he tried to claim! Does perhaps not know that the Channel Islands are outside the EU?
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Since the courts have decided that Aurigny were not to blame for the foggy weather rumour has it his next attempt is to sue God.
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Makes me wonder if this was Mr Littlewood’s first ever attempt at air transport, although since he got here in the first place, maybe his second experience.
Fog happens,especially here; technical happens. I also wonder if there is a criteria within the petty debts procedure to prevent this type of nonsensical waste of court space, seems not.
With a claim based on ‘more than £500′, covering expenses and loss of earnings, it would appear that he isn’t key in the functioning of RT operations anyway.
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There is an ‘act of god clause’; airlines only pay if the delays/cancellations are directly their fault-i.e.not for weather situations.
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….fogbound brain methinks.
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As an ex member of Long Haul Cabin Crew, it would be nice to sue or claim for loss of wages etc., due to fog bound or technical difficulties, Staff no longer get paid their dues, yes a wage but only as stand bye or minimum, plus the fact Staff with families (yes some of us do have kids), want to get home like everyone else, so if there is a genuine situation, passengers should spare a thought for the Crew. The Ground Crew take most of the flack but a lot of the time it spills out once on board. This is always a situation beyond our control, remember the saying a “trolley dolly”. Hopefully, we are appreciated as a lot more than that due to the laws of health & safety etc., but passengers grounded also affects the Flight Crew. You can be assured it is not due to someone has forgotten to do enough shopping etc., these problems occur at the airport and are done for your safety, as well as the Crew. So the next time your flight does not go, you are not the only one affected. Ex Crew, who now shares the delay problems.
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Tongue in cheek ~~~
The fog migrated to his little(wooden)brain!
Just wonder how many times he’s tried elsewhere
Motorways due to snow?
Trains due to leaves on track?
Boats due to gale force winds?
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…Paul, I tried that once, but the letter came back marked “Not Known”….
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mr littlewood you should be on stage your a real comedy act .
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Reads the article again, it wasn’t the cancelled flight he tried to change.
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I’m sorry, but am I alone in thinking that he should have a Brum accent and might even be a member of a more militant trade union?
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Time to step out of the box my freind.
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Angie
I dont think your comment is correct.
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People like Littlewood make the world a worse place with their lack of understanding and close-minded ignorance. I bet he was the kind of impatient, thinks-too-highly-of-himself, ignorant British man you see pacing up and down and shouting at the check-in staff about how it’s not acceptable, and dismissing their comments when they explain to him that the weather is out of their control, and it would be unsafe to fly. And that even if they took his rude comments seriously, they are merely check-in staff, and have no bearing on that decision.
I know the type well. Get back to your little bubble where you are the most important person in the world.
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PB Falla – do you know this chap? He did exactly what you keep on telling us to do and stepped out of the box….literally!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14275271
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This is probably where he got the idea from…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/19/michel-and-lynda-thibodea_n_902388.html
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The sad people of guernsey always looking to blame someone else.
Big lesson is look closer to home
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What!!
If I claimed for every flight delayed due to fog I could afford my own plane.
Guernsey is an island. Fog is common. get over it.
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