[big_man_ting]

Indeed, if you try to get them to refund you by yourself, they will keep saying that it was out of their control. But I've gotten several refunds over the past years by going through one of several companies who specialize in getting airlines to give refunds. Granted they take a % cut, but you still get most of it without lifting a finger.

[camillomiller]

Not as easy. Unless they can claim weather related issues or force majeur (bomb threat, security issues etc..) they can't do that. The reason for the plane delay has to be stated on IATA reports and systems. Technical issue is not an exception, for example, even if out of the airline's control. They used to do this more, but they probably realized that the legal cost to sustain systemic lying is not financially viable in the long term. Better to pay out and record a loss.