James Smith

“Altogether the delays cost the Smiths an extra £4,000.”

“Mr Smith is hoping that his insurance policy will pay him about £700 for the delays he and his wife suffered.”

“But he is asking BA to reimburse him £1,600 for the cost of the extra hotel and food bills which he says it encouraged him to pay, with a promise of repaying him when he returned.”

“They quoted me on the phone, when I rang one of their helplines, a reimbursement rate of £100 per person per day for accommodation, and between £25 and £30 per person per day for food.”

“So far he has sent five letters, one a week, by recorded delivery and sent an e-mail every day.”

“He flew out to California with his wife Kerry for a holiday on 6 April, expecting to fly home on 17 April. In the end Kerry made her own way back on 21 April with American Airlines - at her own expen…”