P&O Cruises in DISPUTE with Maleth Aero - 100s still OWED Money!

It’s nearly 6 months since 100s of passengers experienced severe delays on P&O’s contracted airline Maletb Aero with no sign of owed compensation. Like many others, I had grave concerns when P&O announced this partnership in September 2023. Our flights to and from the Caribbean were uncomfortable but worse, a 16 hour delay not to mention P&O dumping us at the airport for the whole night. Fast forward nearly 6 months. The reason none of us has received any compensation still owed, it has been revealed, is because the 2 companies are now in dispute and things are getting uglier. It is SO important that we do NOT allow these huge companies to fob us off and we keep making sure they resolve this - us paying customers are owed and we have all experienced the worst inconveniences. So in this video here’s a timeline and account from the moment P&O revealed this partnership, to our flights, the moment we found out about the delay, the horrendous 16 hour delay and subsequent catalogue of events onboard our return flight, to our failed attempts to communicate with Maleth and P&O, our involvement with the CAA and their failed attempts to hold Maleth to account AND recent media attention. Please do share this as much as you can - 100s are owed and these companies need to sort this out.
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#travelblogjamie #cruise #pandocruises #maleth #malethaero #aviation

[@janerees8990]

Absolutely outrageous Jamie. Well documented and informative vlog and timeline of events. I do hope all affected passengers eventually receive the resolution and appropriate compensation deserved.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Gosh I hope so too!

[@georgeswindel8367]

P & O should be ashamed of all their actions in this debacle. They chose Maleth ( and I actually was going to book a cruise on P & O last year but decided against it when i heard it was Maleth and no other options, same price for cruise only if I booked my own flight) and when I discussed this with P&O their view was take it or leave it. So I left it. Appalling customer service and whoever did the deal with Maleth should no longer be with P&O.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

There are huge questions here and it all came down to £££

[@suelelievre5513]

Oh my goodness! What a fiasco. Cannot believe what you guys went through. So upsetting to see what they put you through. We can see why you have been so upset by the whole ordeal.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Yeh, I think when everything is presented like this in one vlog it’s really shocking

[@SherylMottram]

Morning Jamie, enjoy the transatlantic and look after Cindy in New York ! x

[@TravelBlogJamie]

🙏🙏🙏

[@lynnmcgowan5227]

Good on you for keeping on fighting! Nothing near as bad as this but a few years ago P&O lost one of my suitcases. It had gone to Southampton via the Baggage Handling Company. P&O blamed them and vice versa. My case ended up in the north of England on a bus! It was on the ship the whole time but the luggage label must have been torn off. I got my case back 4 weeks after returning home to Glasgow. The only way they traced me was by a bar receipt in one of my evening bags! Some flowers from P&O to apologise but they were so adamant that they were not to blame while I was on my cruise! Keep going!

[@TravelBlogJamie]

At least they did something for you I guess lol 😂

[@lvthud]

A couple of things, as part of my job I deal with ACMI airlines (like Maleth) and negotiate contracts with scheduled airlines. Having management take flights with ACMI contractors is a waste of time, it's easy enough for them to roll out the red carpet for the flight they know you will be on. Over time you develop relationships with the airlines (as with any business) and you find there are airlines you can trust (for me Omni) not to leave you in this situation. I can 100% guarantee that during the contract negotiations a budget for food and drinks was proposed by Maleth, they will have a relationship with the various airline catering companies and will have a series of prices per service, along with their mark up. It's down to the company leasing the flight to decide what they will serve, how much of it they will serve and the total budget. For 345 pax on this type of flight, I would guess (it's a guess as I have not seen their price sheet) of $10-$15 per passenger, that's at the high end with their mark up included. In some way ACMI's are easier to deal with than scheduled airlines, you are leasing the flight, what you say goes. With scheduled you are buying seats on the flight, often a prearranged set number at a set price, however you have very little say over the food etc that is being served, but you have the "security" that they handle issues in their operation better than most AMCI's.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I agree, food and drink would have been negotiated. If Maleth provided more, that’s on them. They are doing their best to stalk and / or not pay

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Things are getting ugly… 😢

[@trishcoppock9177]

Oh my goodness! Absolutely horrendous.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Agreed

[@stevebetts1275]

This is shocking and this is one of the reason why I have not done a fly cruise......yet. They are both responsible and my view is that P&O should pay half the compensation, even whilst they are still in dispute with the airline. That would be a gesture of goodwill towards their customers, most of whom are probably past passengers. This would probably go some way towards having them book again. As for the airline, may they never burden any cruise passengers again! Thanks for your videos.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I’ve done fly cruises and all have been wonderful. But if you pay cheap for a sub standard product… There are ways P&O could make this better but as of yet, 6 months later, none of us 1400 has received any communication from them

[@FraserAtSea]

Oh, I've heard such terrible things about this Maleth partnership. It's great that P&O have now partnered with other cruise lines - hopefully these problems will now disappear...!!

[@TravelBlogJamie]

But what about the 1400 of us still waiting for answers?

[@dedewill5258]

Jamie it’s just a pity we didn’t see this earlier we’ve booked a P.O. holiday for next year. I must say we would not of booked with P.O I’m actually worried a bit now.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I’m sure you’ll be fine - this is obviously linked to the airline P&O chose and neither are budging with regards to our compensation at the moment

[@dedewill5258]

@@TravelBlogJamie cheers mate. Very frustrating having to wait on compilation. We were delayed for 2 days in las vegas a few years ago with Virgin Atlantic. They put us in 5 star hotels We also got something like $650 each ..plus claimed on our insurance we ended up with over £2000 so went back again a few months later. Thankfully they paid out quickly.

[@cruisefraterpoultons]

Great video Jamie, documenting this whole sorry situation and helping to shine a light on all the issues. At some point this will be turned into a PR case study for how not to communicate with customers. Our Maleth experience was uncomfortable and one we wouldn’t repeat but thankfully not as intolerable as your particular flight. When we got back we looked up the history of flight delays and there was a quite similar pattern of delays, leading us to believe that the published schedules were not the ones that could ever be achieved. I’m no legal expert but in my mind my contractual agreement was with P&O to provide the fly cruise product and they should be liable for any compensation which they then claim back from Maleth but unfortunately it all seems to fall into a grey area of all bodies concerned saying it’s not their responsibility. Hope your persistence helps get a successful outcome for you and all those affected. 👏❤

[@TravelBlogJamie]

It’s definitely all fallen into every legal loop while these companies can find with zero care for all those of us affected! So sad.

[@suzannecollins3537]

Great video Jamie 👍 my delay was not as bad as you but still 7 hours on runaway no food & just one bottle of water . We WILL NOT GIVE UP 😊

[@TravelBlogJamie]

That s just awful too 😩 We must keep reminding them and expecting communication at the least!!

[@markkirkpatrick6997]

That’s why I hate flying and I was in the parachute regiment 😅

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I love flying and have had amazing flights. But then I wouldn’t have chosen Maleth ever.

[@michaelsword9213]

Wow! So sorry you went through this. Unbelievable!

[@TravelBlogJamie]

🙏🙏🙏

[@timothysaul4478]

Sometimes life can be a bit of a swine. This vlog just reminds me that sailing from, and back to, the UK is best for me.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Yet I’ve done countless flights with no issues. The problem here lies with Maleth and their unsuitability as an airliner carrying 1000s of passengers each week

[@traceybartlam7737]

Every cruise bar one we’ve taken has been flying but always with reputable companies like Virgin or BA! The issue here is with Maleth, not a reputable airline. We’ve always cruised with companies other than P&O too and they’ve used bigger, well known airlines

[@Ray-ki6fs]

Guess this is why P&O have dropped Maleth Aero for TUI, Norse and Virgin going forward.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

@@traceybartlam7737 exactly this

[@ownedbyaspaniel]

This is horrendous. I'm 61 with some mobility restrictions after an accident 4 years ago. I need straightforward travel and would only use a ship now, no flights involved. I just couldn't cope with the situation you were in relying on a poor flight operator chosen by the cruise operator. It is indefensible that P&O are divesting themselves of responsibility of issues caused by their own travel partner....which wrecked the cruise experience of their own brand. P&O's lack of ownership of the customer experience they sold you and provided to you means they aren't an operator I'd risk using.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

👍👍👍

[@puggam3erp]

first video with our names on the patreon list!! 😊

[@TravelBlogJamie]

🙌🙌🙌

[@RodMcAllister-u6s]

Apart from your blog, where else can I find out what is going on ? I was on flight MAN-BGI on 1st December. CAA have now said they can't help because Maleth will not talk to them. Dead end.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

That’s the point, apart from keeping abreast of situation on social media, nothing is going on, there’s no progress unless taking legal action.

[@aitdirect9527]

P&O rolled the dice to save some money and it's backfired.....

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Big time

[@awaywithpaul3423]

This really concerns me as we are looking to book a P&O fly cruise next Feb.. would you still recommend them bearing all this in mind Jamie?

[@TravelBlogJamie]

They aren’t using Maleth any more - I’m personally not booking until they resolve our issue - they still haven’t responded

[@suecameron3124]

My vote is Southampton to Southampton for my cruises, love that half an hour from arriving your on holiday....If i'm flying somewhere i'm going with a Reputable company..

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Yes, we were supposed to have a reputable company until P&O made this change

[@jennymarsden4294]

Wow Jamie! I genuinely felt stressed watching your flight home, what an absolute nightmare. Bad enough on a short haul, but on a long haul, I can’t imagine the stress and discomfort. An absolute PR disaster for both companies. Hadn’t even heard of Maleth, before this happened. We try to cruise out of Southampton now, flying is just too hard work these days. Hope you get the compensation you deserve …. eventually 🤞

[@TravelBlogJamie]

It was very upsetting at the time

[@craign1668]

Great Video Jamie, fortunately when we were on Arvia in Nov/Dec we flew to Barbados from Glasgow so went with Tui and managed to avoid Maleth.Both Maleth & P&O have been an utter disgrace over this contract and hope you get the money and apology you deserve.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Pleased you had Tui!!

[@TheSpanishChannel]

😢😢😢

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Indeed

[@Dan-78]

My god what an absolute piss take mate, I have recently subbed to you and am enjoying the content.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

It’s a total piss take isn’t it

[@nannakimstravels276]

We had heard about problems and such with p& o using Maleth, I like you did my research and thank goodness we decided not to fly long haul with p&o...what a nightmare for all involved I do Hope p&o have learnt their lesson let's hope the next Caribbean season flights will be better or p&o will be losing customers in their thousands.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

👍👍👍

[@angelaellis964]

Absolutely disgusting! It's definitely put me off booking anymore P&O cruises! They shouldn't have treated their guests so badly when they realised what was going on with Maleth flights. I think they have lost a lot of custom over this!!!

[@TravelBlogJamie]

It’s bad isn’t it 😩

[@akajasonbourne]

I suspect Mr Ludlow sleeps very well.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

We are just 1400 people so I don’t think we feature on the radar - but I’m trying

[@akajasonbourne]

@TravelBlogJamie dam right money and the principle involved to fight for.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

@@akajasonbourne absolutely this

[@wendyjones2351]

Hi Jamie I hope you get the compensation that you are rightly owed I absolutely hate being delayed best of luck with it all 😊

[@TravelBlogJamie]

@@wendyjones2351 thank you 🙏

[@user-nr4df1eo4u]

I will never travel on P&O neither will the rest of our family. We support you Jamie

[@TravelBlogJamie]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@cvc24]

Great video Jamie. P&O have an easy fix for this but are hiding away without realising the damage they are doing to their brand (and therefore their bottom line) by being slopey-shoulderded. The fact that Maleth are in a dispute with P&O does not give them the right to refuse compensation owed either. If an airline doesn't pay compensation owed within 6 months say I think it's operator's certificate from the relevant state should be revoked and it barred from flying. Even with P&O partnering with other airlines in place of Maleth again now I'd not book a Fly-Cruise with them as this demonstrates P&O's distain for their customers when things go wrong.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I absolutely agree that there’s an easy fix too! The mind boggles 😩

[@GemWoody]

Terrible. We went on arvia a month before you and were some of the lucky ones to have tui flights instead (first ever cruise and we loved it). However this whole thing has really put me off p&o, despite them dropping maleth for next season. This whole thing has been handled terribly. We've booked a cruise with RC in europe next year

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Hope you enjoy your RCI cruise! ❤️

[@TheStormArrow]

I feel like at this point all of us that have been affected by this need to band together and take Maleth to court. It’s just ridiculous.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

👍👍👍

[@dizzielizzie9989]

Personally I think one of the worse parts of this fiasco was that P&O ejected you off the ship, knowing as it must, the incoming flight had been majorly delayed, & for ‘their valued customers’ to sit at an empty airport with no services . It’s appalling. They should be ashamed of themselves.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

It’s so sad they did this 😩

[@mauk2861]

They should pay back the money owed first, then sort it with Maleth! Surely the CAA can stop Maleth from flying anywhere?

[@TravelBlogJamie]

apparently they have the power but don’t have the power. The CAA and their responses have confused the hell out of me.

[@cherylemmanuel744]

@@TravelBlogJamie Apologies if you saw my comment on the live chat but just wanted to say that a regulator that doesn’t regulate seems to me to be fairly pointless! I hope you have a good transatlantic trip!

[@TravelBlogJamie]

@@cherylemmanuel744 it’s totally pointless - I don’t understand what the CAA does

[@Blank8uin7h7hjh]

P&O employed this tinpot airline to save some money; they knew the product was subpar but didn’t care; they could and should have provided hotel accommodation in ANU for everyone affected, but chose not to; they could have stepped in and paid compensation to those owed, when they realized Maleth were digging their heels in, but they chose not to; maybe it’s time to vote with your feet and stop booking with a company happy to treat its customers with such contempt

[@TravelBlogJamie]

They could have done so much and could have communicated with us these last 6 months but have chosen not to

[@suelelievre5513]

Seems like P & O should pay you and then resolve the issue between the airline and them.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I did wonder this too

[@petshopgirl39]

I will not book any fly cruises to anywhere with P&O. This is on P&O and no ways am I entrusting my hard earned money and annual holiday to them. They clearly give diddly squat about their customers. Were looking forward to our HAL cruise to Alaska in September

[@TravelBlogJamie]

That sounds a wonderful cruise!

[@petshopgirl39]

@@TravelBlogJamie we think and hope so too! We’re going to Vancouver to visit our daughter and thought as we’re in the neighbourhood we’d tack on a 🚢 to Alaska. But it’s almost double the cost of our Iona cruise to the Fjords last September eeek.

[@haroldbetterson1877]

Not good guys 😢

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Correct ✅

[@akay724]

Absolutely agree with everything you have reported in this vlog Jamie . P and O surely has overall responsibility. I’ve travelled with them and noticed the corners they’re cutting . However am confused why you have cruised with them again recently this year ! If I had been affected like this I would definitely not be using the company that had reacted so unprofessionally to a valid complaint .😢

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I’ve talked about this at length on my lives. We had legacy, paid for cruises booked with them beyond point of refunds and one is a group cruise organised by myself. If you’ve seen my schedule you’ll notice I haven’t booked any since.

[@akay724]

Oh apologies, didn’t know that . Like watching your vlogs but don’t watch your lives so thanks for explaining. Glad you are standing by your principles 👍👍

[@carmelshepherd6739]

Definitely put me off fly cruises specially P and O would rather go from Southampton even though a 5 hour drive the coach service is great,you all need compensation !

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I’ve done lots of fly cruises, all great, exceeeeeeot for Maleth

[@traceybartlam7737]

Don’t let it put you off fly cruises. We always fly (except one to Norway) as it’s the only reasonable way to go further afield. The problem here is Maleth and P&O’s use of them not other companies and airlines.

[@carmelshepherd6739]

Hi I've flown hundreds of times and done fly cruises too I just think since covid its not as reliable 🙃 had an awful experience at Barcelona Airport Airport Airport

[@carmelshepherd6739]

Phone on the blink lol .

[@Turkeyinthehay]

That would be the last trip I ever went on. Absolutely insanity and thoroughly disgraceful! They owe everyone waaaay more than 500 pounds.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Nearly 7 months later I agree

[@nealeTH]

Ultimately your contract was with P&O and they should be rectifying the problem on your behalf. Surely the damage to reputation for P&O is considerably higher than the modest (for a global corporation) compensation. The reputations only damage will not be immediately visible to P&O as cruises are bought 6 months, year of 2 years ahead but you only need to have a couple of passengers per future cruise swiich to a competitor for it quickly to add up. When I search for a cruise, I immediately filter out P&O and Carnival brands. How many others are also starting to do this?

[@TravelBlogJamie]

You’d think so, wouldn’t you. But they’ve done nothing to rectify this at all!

[@martindooley4439]

If it was booked as a package would ATOL protection not kick in . As a layperson looking in this feels like P&O Carnival should sort it and then follow up with their airline partner on their own time.... Good luck

[@TravelBlogJamie]

👍👍

[@glavegas0010]

Just watched this video. INHO this falls back on P&O as they were the ones to charter this company on their behalf. I personally could or would not board another Carnival Corporation owned vessel until they do the right thing. Good luck Jamie.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

👍

[@paulknox999]

If you paid your money to P&O and it was P&O that paid money to Maleth surely your contract is with P&O so your claim for compensation should be paid by P&O. P&O should then be the ones who have to chase Maleth to get their money back not you.

[@pmduk69]

This, your contract is solely with P&O cruises. I'd be issuing a 'letter before action' and seeing them in court.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Maleth have openly said they intend to pay compensation. P&O are expecting this as per their contract. You think we and all the others affected haven’t already gone to P&O? Guess what they said?

[@paulknox999]

@@TravelBlogJamie after 6 months waiting I would have taken P&O to small claims court. Maleth and what they decide to do with P&O should not be your problem. Anyway hope you get your compensation eventually from someone.

[@Gus0898uk]

P&O should pay up, and sort their compensation with Maleth later.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

That would be a good solution!

[@lindashaw5416]

Whoever contracted Maleth needs to be fired.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I did wonder about this

[@lucysmum1895]

Jamie, sorry to hear that you’re still disputing with Maleth. I sincerely hope it’ll work out with P&O. BTW its Chair, Paul L has blocked my Lucy on Twitter. We’ve never harassed him or P&O crew. Maybe he thought my canine daughter was just a crazy bitch literally. June

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Oh how odd?!!

[@Dawnuser-eu3ye9uv2c]

Always thought PO was a good quality cruise line, but to dump you at the airport without facilities open unbelievable, you booked your holiday with PO so the buck should stop with them. X

[@TravelBlogJamie]

They don’t seem to think this for some reason

[@john07973]

Carnival Inc need to get their CEO over to Southampton, recompense the customers and issue P45s to those responsible starting at the very top of Carnival UK

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Gosh I don’t even think this is on their radar

[@lhvent]

This sounds like an awful experience.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Pretty accurate!

[@dak_alwaystravels9213]

P&O is showing its Carnival DNA on how it’s handling this situation. Hey basically downgraded to the cheapest air carrier they could find. This is exactly why I will never buy a kitchen stove/oven/microwave combo: when one component goes bad, the whole unit is ruined. Likewise, I will never let a cruise line book my airfare.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

👍

[@ddsubvato]

glad p and o got rid of this trash alirline, should never have gone cheap

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Agreed

[@melaniebrown1019]

P and O are responsible as they clearly booked the wrong airline.

[@TravelBlogJamie]

Airline also has a responsibility

[@amandabarwell]

We went in November and whole holiday was awful they left my specialist wheelchair and several other scooters etc in Barbados we got no compensation nothing worst com0any ever to.deal.with

[@TravelBlogJamie]

😩

[@jackieaudus9829]

So P&O were trying to save Money I guess by using Maleth. Blimey… each blame each other -and the customer is still in the middle nearly 7 months later.. Appalling Behaviour from P&O and Maleth!!! Hope you get compensation eventually Jamie!!!

[@TravelBlogJamie]

I’d like clarity and transparency at this stage - clearly one of these companies is currently lying