Weather at MAN yesterday? 05 July 2006 / bmi issues.

Was anyone around MAN yesterday at around 15:30? Was the weather bad enough to prevent flights taking off?

The reason I ask is that I was due to fly from ABZ to MAN with bmi at 17:15 in C Class. The flight was cancelled, according to bmi this was either due to mechanical failure or weather, depending on who you spoke to.

I was only offered the option of flying ABZ-LHR then LHR-MAN, arriving about 3 hrs 30 mins later than scheduled.

I asked bmi what compensation was being offered, ABZ staff assured passengers that we would receive meal vouchers. I landed at LHR and went to the bmi connections desk, only to be told that no meal vouchers would be issued. I also asked if I would be compensated for the downgrade in service, as I was booked into C and expected free inflight catering, only to be switched to Y, with pay on board. After much debate with bmi’s rather rude staff, I was given a five pound food voucher, which doesn’t go very far at Heathrow.

Sorry for the long post, but my query is whether it is worth purusing things with bmi?

1) Was the delay genuinally down to weather, or was this merely to avoid paying compensation under the new EU rules?
2) Should I ask for a part refund on the C class fare, as I did not receive C class service?
3) Would a complaint get anywhere with bmi?

Thankyou for any advice!