Ex-councillor takes international airline to court over ‘breach of contract’

Paul Heslop, who represented Kearsley from 2019 to 2023, made his case against Turkish Airlines after he discovered the value of air miles he had built up had suddenly been halved.

Manchester Civil Justice Centre heard that Mr Heslop was only become aware of the changes when trying to book a return flight from Katmandu to Manchester Airport on March 15 last year.

Representing himself, Mr Heslop said: “I don’t have any notifications or apps on my phone, my phone would be constantly bleeping.”

He added: “The first I heard of this was when I tried to book a return flight from Katmandu.”

Paul Heslop took his case to the Manchester Civil Justice Centre (Image: Newsquest) Mr Heslop said that he was surprised to have found that the value of the air miles he had built up through frequent travel with Turkish Airlines had seemingly dropped. 

He told the court he had been part of a frequent flier programme, “Miles and Smiles”, with the airline that meant if members bought miles then it would be topped up by a 75 per cent bonus.

Mr Heslop had also bought hotel accommodation through a “Rocket Miles” programme which awarded bonus air miles. 

Mr Heslop said he bought miles at a price of around 30 US dollars per mile but was surprised after Turkish Airlines made major changes to their policy on February 16 2024.

He said this resulted in a massive devaluation of the air miles he had built up by 50 per cent and that he ended up having pay 60,000 miles for his return flight to Katmandu.

Mr Heslop said: “My argument is that I’ve paid for something and then you’ve changed it.

“I paid either through Rocket Miles or through cash and it is not worth the same.”

Robyn Lalic, for Turkish Airlines, said that the company had the right to change its own programme with “reasonable notice.”

She said air miles would not always have had the same value and that Mr Heslop could have mitigated his loss by travelling with “alternative plane providers.”

Ms Lalic also argued that Mr Heslop did not know what his losses were, which would have to depend on future travel. 

But Judge William Hamilton said that he found that Turkish Airlines’ “unilateral” change to the value of air miles from February 2024 was a “breach of contract.”

He said that Mr Heslop had suffered a “diminution” in the value of his air miles from then on.

Judge Hamilton said: “In my judgement the claimant has proven that the defendant’s breach of contract has caused him to suffer the diminution of value and that loss.”

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He ordered that Turkish Airlines pay Mr Heslop £2363 along with costs of £300 by February 20 this year.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Heslop said: “It saddens me that an airline that has built its brand on quality and fairness could not come forward and address my concerns and engage with me to achieve a fair conclusion. 

“It is hugely regrettable that I had to resort to the courts and previous attempts at arbitration were rejected by the airline.

“I will be keeping the out-of-pocket expenses and costs, £300. I will be donating the court settlement of £2,363 to two charities in Farnworth.”

Source – INDIA TV