British Airways refusal to honour its tickets.
Nick Kew
This is a little warning about BA's so-called service, and a question:
would any other airline treat its paying customers like this?
I was returning yesterday from Gatwick (LGW) to Rome (FCO).
My flight, scheduled for 11.00, was cancelled, allegedly due to the strikes
in France.
After queueing in several places (they refused to serve me at the BA desk
the BA checkin staff had referred me to) I was eventually re-routed on a
flight from Heathrow. As most readers are no doubt aware, the two airports
are some distance apart, and the connection is by coach costing UKP15.00
(about US$23).
BA not only disclaimed responsibility for the extra travel, but downright
refused to pay the cost of it. I submit that in doing so, they refused
to honour my valid ticket from Gatwick to Rome.
This is a sharp contrast to another airline I regularly use for LGW-Rome
travel. On one occasion when my flight was seriously (4 hours) delayed,
they were honest and decent enough to issue passengers with vouchers
valid at any of Gatwick's restaurants and other refreshment providers.
With BA, I was instead required to pay extra for - in terms of time -
a similar delay! The other airline also serves a genuine hot meal,
in contrast with the tiny and lame piece of quiche I got from BA.
I know it's not BA's fault that french air traffic people are on strike,
but I would nevertheless submit that their behaviour is inexcusable:
(1) Directing customers to a queue at which we were not served,
thus forcing us to queue *again* (both queues were long, as a
lot of people were affected, and the second queue was also infested
with smokers).
(2) Refusing to provide for customers travel from Gatwick to Heathrow,
when in posession of a valid paid-up ticket from Gatwick.
Excuse me ranting on, but these crooks need public exposure, and I don't
have the resources or the inclination to mount a legal fight as another
airline falling victim to their dirty tricks might do.
Nick Kew.
Wim M. Meijer
Nick Kew <Nick...@pobox.com> writes: > This is a little warning about BA's so-called service, and a question:
Larry Stone
>This is a little warning about BA's so-called service, and a question:
>would any other airline treat its paying customers like this?
>
>I was returning yesterday from Gatwick (LGW) to Rome (FCO).
>My flight, scheduled for 11.00, was cancelled, allegedly due to the strikes
>in France.
>
>After queueing in several places (they refused to serve me at the BA desk
>the BA checkin staff had referred me to) I was eventually re-routed on a
>flight from Heathrow. As most readers are no doubt aware, the two airports
>are some distance apart, and the connection is by coach costing UKP15.00
>(about US$23).
>
>BA not only disclaimed responsibility for the extra travel, but downright
>refused to pay the cost of it. I submit that in doing so, they refused
>to honour my valid ticket from Gatwick to Rome.
Oh, grow up. It was probably more due to the Italian ground handlers
strike. In any event, they did not refuse to honor your valid ticket. You
could only make that claim if the flight actually operated and you were
involuntarily denied boarding. But this flight did not operate and anyway,
the time transportation is provided is not part of the contract. I'm sure
BA would have been quite happy to honor your Gatwick-Rome ticket *WHEN*
they actually operated such a flight (and usbject to space being available
on the flight). However, in the interest of customer satisfaction, they
offerred to provide transportation from Heathrow instead. This was
contractually strictly a courtesy with no obligation on BA's part to do
so.
The being shuffled between multiple lines is unfortunate but sometimes
happens when there are large scale irregular operations. The staff can get
just as confused as the passengers.
>This is a sharp contrast to another airline I regularly use for LGW-Rome
>travel. On one occasion when my flight was seriously (4 hours) delayed,
>they were honest and decent enough to issue passengers with vouchers
>valid at any of Gatwick's restaurants and other refreshment providers.
>With BA, I was instead required to pay extra for - in terms of time -
>a similar delay! The other airline also serves a genuine hot meal,
>in contrast with the tiny and lame piece of quiche I got from BA.
Generally, airlines provide amenities when the cause is under their
control (such as due to maintenance). Delays and cancellation due to
external factors are rarely compensated.
--
-- Larry Stone --- lst...@interserve.com
http://www.interserve.com/~lstone/
Belmont, CA, USA
My opinions, not United's.
Philip Goldsmith
Correct me if I'm wrong, but most airlines Conditions of Carriage (or whatever
they choose to call them) specifically include weather, strikes, and other
things beyond their control from requiring compensation for cancelled flights.
Phil Goldsmith
pgol...@bu.edu
Larry Stone (lst...@interserve.com) wrote:
(Lots cut!)
: >BA not only disclaimed responsibility for the extra travel, but downright