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PLANE UNFAIR

Holiday firms cheat passengers out of millions in delay compensation while paying out to others who were on the same plane

Travel firms are using loopholes like bad weather to weasel out of paying compensation for airport delays

HOL firms cheat fliers out of millions in delay compo while paying others on the same plane, a Sun probe shows.

Passengers held up for more than three hours can get up to £520 under EU laws.

 Passengers hit with delays can claim compensation... but firms try to weasel out of it
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Passengers hit with delays can claim compensation... but firms try to weasel out of itCredit: EPA

But firms use loopholes to snub some claims — by blaming lateness on factors such as bad weather.

Andy Hughes, 38, got £1,068 after he, wife Karen, 33, and son Jack, five, had a 24-hour delay on a TUI Luton-Lanzarote trip.

Yet TUI snubbed his claim for in-laws Janet and Terrence Warburton — on the same flight — citing poor weather.

 TUI said they were looking into how they handle claims
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TUI said they were looking into how they handle claimsCredit: AFP

Armed forces worker Andy, of Maidenhead, Berks, said: “Did TUI think they could fob them off as they’re in their 60s?

"I went to a claims dispute service and won.”
Thomson Airways denied Margaret Gibb, 65, of Aberdeenshire, compo after her Mexico-Gatwick jet was seven hours late.

Yet law firm Bott & Co told her it got payouts for 11 fellow travellers.

TUI said: “We continually review how we handle claims.”

Thomas Cook said: “If fliers are entitled to payments, we ensure they can easily submit claims.”

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