Expert: Roberto Gomes - 9/17/2007

Question
Delta cancelled our flight for a vacation to Ecuador 30 minutes before departure from Kentucky.  We live 1 1/2 hours from the airport so they said no hotel, etc.  Coming back from Quito, the flight was scheduled to depart at 9:45p.m. and we were told at the airport that it was cancelled.  They told us we could not get another flight until two days later.  Ie asked for hotel accomodations and food vouchers and they said no.  I was stuck in a foreign country for two days and they refused to give me anything.  I even quoted rule 240 to them.  I have never seen anyhting like this.  Do you have any suggestions.

Answer
Dear Katie,

I never saw such a thing like this either. While Delta has a comprehensive detailed information regarding the rights of passengers leaving the European Union, the same does not apply for other company's destinations. You can see it at:

http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/ticket_changes_refunds/eu_delayed_cancele...


The regulations in Ecuador says that the airline must inform its passengers if they will cancel a flight 15 days in advance and in doing this, they will no have any responsibilities regarding meals, hotels etc...

But if they cancel the flight on the day of departure or the flight incurred in a delay of more than 6 hours, they must accommodate passengers in the next available flight and provide phone calls, meals and hotel accommodations, along with a compensation of 25% of the interrupted leg.

The link (in Spanish) is at http://www.dgac.gov.ec/pdf/Gace1221.pdf

Hire a lawyer and make a lawsuit.

Best regards,
R. Gomes