Continental Airline Tickets

EU Regulation 264/2004 (Compensation for Passengers)...Denied boarding - my travel agent's fault?

Hi, I have the following situation: I bought airline tickets (paper tickets) off a travel agent. Since I'm a frequent traveller, I'm used to presenting myself at the airport at the check-in counter 60 mins. before the departure (at least with BA). This time I tried a different airline, and I was not allowed to check-in. The airline told me you had to be at the airport earlier, as we close our check-in counters one hour before the departure. I, obviousy, didn't know that, because nobody informed me beforehand, and I had to miss a long haul flight. I called my travel agent and they said that the ticket conditions allow to reimburse only half of the fare that I paid, so I'll lose over £300. Now, when I read the EU Regulation 264/2004 it says that: <...>passengers present themselves for check-in as stipulated and at the time indicated in advance and in writing (including my electronic means) by an authorised travel agent. (Article 3, paragraph 2a). So does it make my tr. agent responsible?

Public Comments

1. With all the current delay and problems attached to aircraft flights and checking in I am surprised that anyone (even a frequent flyer) is unaware of these difficult times and doesn't take care to arrive earlier for a flight. You can try quoting the regulations to the travel agent but prepared for floods of laughter not tears. Do it right next time.
2. hi there i work for BA and each airline has different times for closing flights we close our long hauls 45 mins before and short hauls 30 mins. Other airlines such as American and United close an hour before because of the security checks these times are stipulated on the airlines web sites and should be issued from the travel agency along with the ticket. Normally on paper tickets at the front of the ticket wallet it states the times you have to be present for checkin, also for electronic tickets when your full itinerary is issued it does tell you when you should be present for checkin. Most people who are frequent travellers check them selves in online and again it will tell you the last time that a boarding card or bag tag can be issued. If you have not issued your own b/pass on our services by the 45/30 mins before travel then we can refuse you. But if the airline had never checked you in and it was just a case of being late you are really not entitled to any compensation as the airline is not help responsible for late check ins. The travel agency wont give you anything either as really there only there to sell you a ticket at the best price for you, its basically the onus on the traveller to make sure they arrive in plenty of time to check in it would be the same if you did not have the correct travel documents the airline or travel agent would not be held accountable it would be you. The only way you can claim back half of the unused ticket is if the airline had accepted you for travel and you were offloaded and there was no other flight avail. But i think its a case of yourself being late. Sorry if this sounds negative and hope this helps.