Isle of Wight ferry firm Wightlink compensation for delays

Following Isle of Wight ferry firm Wightlink’s sailing woes last week, here’s a breakdown of what you can do if your ferry is delayed or cancelled – including claiming compensation.

For delayed arrivals, compensation claims must be made via a form on the cross-Solent operator’s website and certain criteria must be met.

If the arrival of your sailing is delayed by less than 60 minutes, no compensation is payable.

If it is delayed by between 60 and 120 minutes, you can claim 25 per cent of the price paid for the crossing.

Read more:

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For any delays over two hours, you can claim 50 per cent of the price paid.

To qualify for compensation, you must be booked on a particular sailing, or have a season ticket, and you must have checked in at least 30 minutes before your booked sailing, or 15 minutes for foot passengers.

Compensation is not payable when weather and/or sea conditions endanger the safe operation of the ferry, or when “other circumstances beyond Wightlink’s control cause delay or cancellation”.

As well as compensation, Wightlink customers are also entitled to certain refreshments when there are delays.

If your sailing is delayed by more than 90 minutes, the ferry operator will offer you a free drink.

For delays over four hours, you can claim a free light snack, and for delays over eight hours, a hot meal.

At times when refreshments cannot be offered, Wightlink says customers may be given a voucher instead.

Furthermore, if your sailing is cancelled or delayed by more than 90 minutes, the following options are available:

• Re-book for travel within the next seven days.
• Wait for the next available sailing.
• Decide not to travel and have a full refund.