Air passengers might have to accept that many risks – such as adverse weather – are beyond

Air passengers might have to accept that many risks – such as adverse weather – are beyond the control of an airline. They lost, which shows consumers have few rights.Your second UK flight to Glasgow was delayed because of “air-traffic restrictions”. A House of Lords judgment last year involved British Airways passengers who felt the airline should have known better than to land in Kuwait at the time of the Iraqi invasion. “It’s a nonsense that people choose to pay a lot of money for the extra speed of air travel if they then suffer serious delays,” says Anne Harvey of The Consumers’ Association.But the nature of the contract between you and an airline is stacked heavily in favour of the airline. Can that be right?

JM, East Sussex
Unless you are prepared to take on Air UK through the courts to test the law (and risk losing), there’s nothing more you can do. All I’ve had as a result of complaining is an apology and three bottles of wine as a gesture of goodwill.

Please include details of your current financial situation, a daytime telephone number, and state why you think you need a makeover.. I read with interest what you recently said about compensation for train travellers who are delayed Life seems rather different in the air. I’ve travelled twice from Gatwick to Glasgow with Air UK in recent months Both flights were delayed. These can be held in a PEP if required, to provide tax-free dividends.q Valerie Cornish was talking to Graham Bacon of GB Financial Management, an Essex-based independent financial adviser and a member of the UK’s largest provider of independent financial advice, DBS Financial Management.If you would like to be considered for a financial makeover for publication, write to Steve Lodge, personal finance editor, Independent on Sunday, 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5DL. This should provide a reasonable long-term level of income after allowing for inflation.Valerie should at some stage consider buying a Long Term Care Bond, which is a lump sum investment to provide an income in the event of her needing long-term care.Valerie’s current will is no longer appropriate following her divorce and she should consult her solicitor to update it.She will qualify for shares in the Woolwich when it floats.

Remember that interest can be taken from a Tessa if required.Valerie’s pension funds total pounds 116,000 now and, assuming fairly modest growth, will be augmented by her state pension to provide an income of around pounds 14,000 per annum at the age of 60. Ideally they should be held over five years, and the amounts invested are limited to pounds 6,000 per annum.Valerie should invest the maximum amount allowable in her Woolwich Tessa account. To achieve a high rate of return with instant access she should consider an account with Sainsbury’s Bank, now offering 5.75 per cent gross.From the tax point of view, it will be worth considering an investment in corporate bond PEPs which pay tax-free dividends. Although low initially, this should provide a growing supplement to Valerie’s pensions in later years.I would also consider investing a significant sum in a with-profit investment bond which distributes a good after-tax income and is relatively low risk.Her remaining capital can be retained in high-yielding deposit accounts such as her Bristol & West account, which is currently offering 6.22 per cent gross interest with easy access This would provide a sizeable emergency fund.