Bump...literally. We returned from New York recently but not after 24 hours of pure ****housery from British Airways. What a bunch of weasels, they (or their co-share American Airlines) overbooked our return seats and cancelled them without booking us on another flight. What a f*ck on we had to eventually get on a flight, it spoiled the last day of our trip, could have possibly left us stranded, and they hung up when we most needed their help. If seems overbooking and bumping is common practice but these idiots couldn't even do it properly. Has anyone had any experience of this? I believe they probably sold our seats for a higher price.
It is incredible that airlines do this considering the unbelievably important job that they have, getting people across the ****ing ocean to their homes safely and soundly stress free. How the **** an airline can mess around with that incredible vital task, is beyond me. They couldn't care ****ing less, when a plane disintergrates in the air and 200 lives are lost, the airline thinks "man the news tomorrow is gonna suck, hope we still sell tickets" they are vampires
Sounds very strange - never had anything like that happen in over 40years of travelling. Had flights cancelled, delayed, aborted due to problems, been offered payments to delay my flight due to overbooking etc. Did once get cancelled off an Aeroperu domestic flight with three colleagues, and put on a later flight, because it was requisitioned by Peruvian Government officials. Oh how we laughed, sitting in the airport bar, when the same plane returned to the airport about 15minutes after take-off with flames coming out of one of its engines for a full-on emergency landing. While overbooking is quite common particularly in the States, if too many people turn up at the airport with a valid reservation they will normally offer inducements (cash, vouchers, hotel stay, upgrades) to get people to fly later or following day etc. They cannot cancel you off a flight where you have a confirmed reservation, even if the flight is cancelled, without providing an alternative and covering the costs of any expenses caused by the delay (e.g. hotel etc). You definitely have a case for a claim against the airline and if you have travel insurance can probably claim on that. Check the conditions on your ticket. How did you eventually get back to UK - same airline or bought a new ticket on a different one? If latter, has BA/AA refunded your ticket?
I’m no expert like Chippy or Jakman on flying as I do it perhaps 2 or 3 times a year but I’ve, probably fortunately, never really experienced any real issues with flying and especially none like you’ve described. The only problem I can recall was a German gate attendant shouting at my wife and I when we were the last people to get to the gate when we had a transfer once at Munich and the first flight had been late landing and no buggy was available to help us get to her gate and we had to walk the 72 miles from the part of the airport where we landed to the departure gate. Boy did we chuckle !!! Seriously though ask the Manc if he has flown out of New York recently and you will probably have your answer.
Always fancied going there. The old ‘west’ meets ‘east’ thing but the missus doesn’t like the idea as concerned about safety etc. wouldn’t want to go to the touristy parts but more to see the real Turkey and, for the avoidance of doubt, no I don’t mean seeing Chippy there.
For some daft reason and I know it’s wrong but I always keep thinking it should be spelt ‘Instanbul’.
Wifey found out from her manage my booking that the flight had been "cancelled" or more likely we had been bumped off the plane (as that flight did go ahead). Fair enough if they'd texted us to let us know/put us on another flight but they made it worse when she contacted them on line when they said they couldn't understand why this had happened but best thing was to ring helpline that was only open 8am-8pm GMT and it was 4pm New York time 4 hrs behind so helpline wasn't manned. Wife got daughter in England to call another number, faceless bloke she talked to wanted £1800 for seats, he then hung up. She called same number again, same bloke spoke to her, denied hanging up, twat, still wouldn't help. Daughter eventually called when helpline opened and after an hour they booked us on another flight. That flight itself had been cancelled, and then uncancelled, landed three hours late at Heathrow, a plane full of unhappy passengers and staff. Our flights were co-shared between BA and American Airlines, BA do not handle this well.
We will think twice about using BA again, great pilots, naturally, and great cabin crew but as for some of the staff who man their helplines...
My daughter had a runaround in Spain when her passports were "mislaid" by the holiday Co she went with. A long story, in short instead of flying home she ended up coaching it from northern Spain to Newcastle, 28 hours with three young tots. The company, a coach firm who also provide lodges on holiday parks, admitted fault when they contacted her three days after she returned to say they'd found the passports. Long story with more to it but they paid her £3k compen.
Appalling treatment, we were pleased in the end to get back. It took the shine off a great time in New York.
Talk about bolting the horse and all that, I've just received email confirmation from BA that our flight has changed...60 hours late! Tossers.
