The Aftermath

yes I know, I'm posting this last text many days weeks after my come back on the French soil...
But now, I can completely tell you what has been the aftermath of my journey (travel wise):
- After the flight delay LHR>HKG (see first failure) I wrote to the BA customer service to claim compensation according to EU laws, here is their answer

Your claim for compensation has been refused because flight BA0025 on 31 October 2013 had to return to stand due to a leaking pitot-static tube.  This caused a flight safety shortcoming that had to be assessed by our engineering team and the service was subsequently delayed overnight.

Based on paragraph 24 of the Preliminary list of extraordinary circumstances following the NEB meeting held on 12 April 2013, 'Unexpected flight safety shortcomings - Failure of on-condition/condition monitored parts i.e. parts which should not require unscheduled maintenance or replacement during normal operational service (for example propeller oil-temperature gauges.  The premature failure of these parts during normal operational service when maintained in accordance with the maintenance programme is unpredictable).'

Article 5.3 of the EU Regulation 261/2004 states that a carrier is not obliged to pay compensation if it can prove that the delay or cancellation is caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.  In Recital 14 and 15 of EU Regulation 261/2004, extraordinary circumstances include weather, unexpected flight safety shortcomings and the impact of an air traffic management decision which gives rise to a long delay.  I regret, therefore you are not entitled to compensation under the EU Regulation for your delayed flight.

I realise that this will be disappointing for you but I hope this information will enable you to understand our position.

Best regards

- Their US colleagues from AA were nicer, and awarded me a 300 USD paper voucher (valid one year) for the second failure.

I'm still struggling to create a nice video out of the 1500+ pictures/movies shot during the trip, but I promise you will get one. in the meantime, you can click on THE COMPLETE RTFW PICTURE ALBUM

If some of you wondered if I've finally found what I was not looking for, I can honestly answer yes...

Ho, last thing : I've got enough miles for another RTW on Oneworld... nce-lhr-bos-sea-hnl-nrt-lhr-nce