Latest news with #airline
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Popular money-saving travel ‘hack' backfires on frazzled plane passengers: ‘We were lied to at the gate'
A common hack to save money on Ryanair backfired on a couple. Scott McCormick and his girlfriend, Helena Boshwick, both 33, were set to fly from Birmingham Airport in the UK to Palma de Mallorca, Spain. In an attempt to save money, the couple decided not to pay to reserve seats on the flight. 'Me and my partner thought it's not that much of a problem if we're not sitting together for a two-hour flight, we're adults here,' McCormick, a gym owner, told Kennedy News. They were first in line to board when a staff member asked them to step aside as the rest of the passengers boarded. 'That moment was a red flag, I thought, 'there's something happening here,'' McCormick shared. 'I asked her to tell us what is going to happen, and she said no.' After everyone else was on the plane, the Ryanair staff member allegedly told them that the flight was full and there was only one seat left. McCormick admitted that the two of them had a 'meltdown' since they wanted to travel together — but they were told they were in this position because they 'hadn't reserved a seat.' 'There was no compassion or care whatsoever. After going back and forth, we said we're not going to take separate flights and be in separate countries for hours,' he said. After arguing with staff, the couple were reportedly told they could both get on the next flight and get refunded for both tickets. But when they went to the check-in desk again, they were informed they would still have to pay for one of the tickets — and they claimed a refund was never issued. 'We went down to ticket sales and they said we still have to pay for one ticket, only one is reimbursed. One of the seats was put down as a cancelled booking and the other was a missed flight so we'd still have to pay for one seat and be reimbursed for the other,' McCormick said. 'That's the biggest part of the [issue], we were just lied to at the gate but then we still sold us a seat and we still have seen no sign of reimbursement.'The couple reportedly had to spend even more money on the new ticket and waited for four hours for the next flight, and McCormick claimed it felt like 'discrimination.' 'Ryanair should have asked all passengers if anyone would like to volunteer their seats,' he said. '…how do they pick out these people, is it because we're young and we have no kids, so there's just two of us, is it to do with something we don't see or understand?' He said he will avoid flying Ryanair in the future due to a lack of care and empathy. 'You can be bawling your eyes out and they just don't care, they're deadpan.' While some people on social media believed they were singled out for not reserving seats — debunking the so-called hack that doing so will result in lower airfare — Ryanair explained that it was because the plane itself was switched to one with fewer seats. 'This flight from Birmingham to Palma de Mallorca (1 May) was not 'overbooked' – it was scheduled to operate on a 737-8200 (197 seats) but for operational reasons had to be swapped to a 737-800 aircraft (189 seats),' the airline said. 'As a result, one passenger was unable to travel on this flight and was reaccommodated onto the next available flight to Palma de Mallorca,' said a Ryanair spokesperson. The airline's rep noted that McCormick is not eligible for a refund since he was reaccommodated onto the next available flight. 'Mr. McCormick's travel companion was not refused boarding but chose not to board and travel on this flight from Birmingham to Palma de Mallorca and was required to pay a missed departure fee to be booked onto the next available flight.'
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Why buying a plane ticket means you're NOT guaranteed a seat on your flight: Experts reveal the hidden catches that could curtail your best laid holiday plans
Flight passengers are not guaranteed a seat even when they book one - and can be legally 'bumped' onto another service, a travel expert confirmed today. Airlines will sometimes book more people onto a flight than there are seats on a plane because travellers do not always turn up even if they have booked a flight. Carriers are also sometimes unable to board all passengers if they switch to a smaller aircraft for operational reasons, meaning too many people will try to board. Some passengers are therefore asked to give up their place on the flight – known as being 'bumped' - although airlines can also do so without your permission. There was after one such case last month involving a Ryanair passenger who did not pay to reserve himself a seat before a flight from Birmingham to Mallorca. Gym coach Scott McCormick and his girlfriend Helena Boshwick, both 33, were set to fly together on May 1 for a week-long break and gym mentorship event. The couple did not reserve seats - which typically cost from £4.50 to £33 each – before checking in because they did not mind sitting apart on the two-hour flight. Because of this, Mr McCormick and Miss Boshwick were each assigned a random seat free of charge upon checking in, which they did online before departure. But when they got to the airport gate, staff said that only one of them could board the plane - which they initially believed was because it had been overbooked. Ryanair has since confirmed that the flight was scheduled to operate on a Boeing 737-8200 with 197 seats, but had to be swapped to a 737-800 with only 189 seats. One passenger was left unable to board - and because the couple were the last two to check in, they were told one of them would be put onto the next flight. But because they did not wish to travel separately, only one of them could be moved onto the next flight - with the other having to pay a £100 missed departure fee, which was not refunded. Ryanair claimed Mr McCormick was entitled to claim back 'reasonable receipted expenses' under EU Regulation 261/2004, but he had yet to submit any receipts to the airline. Rory Boland, travel editor at consumer group Which?, told MailOnline: 'Unfortunately for travellers, it's not uncommon for flights to be overbooked. 'Sometimes a last minute change of aircraft might mean less seats available than planned for, in other cases some airlines actively overbook, betting on 'no shows' to balance things out, while maxing their profits by charging for more seats than the plane can actually accommodate. 'If an airline ends up with too many people at the gate, it can't just bump someone from the flight because they didn't pay extra to reserve a specific seat. 'So long as the flight is either departing the UK, or flying into the UK on a UK or EU based airline, the airline is legally obliged to ask for volunteers before resorting to forcibly denying boarding. 'If you volunteer then you surrender your right to statutory compensation, so you should make sure you're happy with the amount you negotiate - at a minimum be sure to get at least get the amount you would be owed if the flight was cancelled - which would be up to £520 each for a long-haul flight, or less for a short-haul journey. 'If there are no volunteers, only then an airline can choose to deny a passenger boarding. Anyone who is bumped from a plane should have their flight rebooked as quickly as possible, and be paid cancellation compensation.' Those who volunteer to be bumped on a flight must agree compensation with the airline, which will often make an announcement at the gate offering cash or vouchers. Passengers in such cases are also entitled to an alternative flight or a refund. But if a passenger is bumped without their agreement, they can get compensation as long as they checked-in on time – with the level depending on the length of flight and disruption. This is set out in the following table from the Civil Aviation Authority: Length of flight Length of disruptions Compensation Short-haul flight of under 1,500km (e.g. Glasgow to Amsterdam) Arrive 2 hours or more later at final destination £220 Short-haul flight of under 1,500km (e.g. Glasgow to Amsterdam) Arrive less than 2 hours later at final destination £110 Medium-haul flight of 1,500km - 3,500km (e.g. East Midlands to Marrakesh) Arrive 3 hours or more later at final destination £350 Medium-haul flight of 1,500km - 3,500km (e.g. East Midlands to Marrakesh) Arrive less than 3 hours later at final destination £175 Long-haul flight of over 3,500km (e.g. London to New York) Arrive 4 hours or more later at final destination £520 Long-haul flight of over 3,500km (e.g. London to New York) Arrive less than 4 hours later at final destination £260 Regardless of whether a passenger volunteered or was forced to be bumped, the airline must also let them choose an alternative flight and provide 'care and assistance' while they wait. This means they must provide a reasonable amount of food and drink, which is often provided as vouchers; a means for them to communicate, often by refunding the cost of calls; and accommodation in a hotel, if they are move onto a flight the next day. Transport to and from the accommodation, or the passenger's home, if they are able to return there, must also be provided. For those who do not wish to fly, they can get a refund for all parts of the ticket which have not been used – which would include the full cost of the return ticket if they are bumped from the outbound leg. If a passenger is midway through a journey, the airline should also provide a flight back to the starting point. This all comes under UK law, which provides rights for passengers departing from an airport in the UK on any airline; arriving at an airport in the UK on an EU or UK airline; or arriving at an airport in the EU on a UK airline. Ryanair has a policy that it does not overbook flights, but it is understood that the airline does try to seek volunteers to be bumped if a seat is not available for a passenger with a confirmed reservation. If no one volunteers, the airline then chooses the passengers itself to bump, and is supposed to offer them compensation, reimbursement and 'care and assistance'. Mr McCormick, from Birmingham, explained what happened in his case in a TikTok video, saying: 'We checked in the night before and we didn't reserve a seat but you normally just get a random one. 'Me and my partner thought it's not that much of a problem if we're not sitting together for a two-hour flight, we're adults here. 'We were the first ones at the gate ready for boarding. The lady scanned our boarding passes and told us to step to the side for a second. That moment was a red flag, I thought: 'There's something happening here'. 'When everyone boarded, she said: 'the plane is full, there's only one seat remaining and we will have to reimburse you for the other seat or you'll have to get on the next flight'.' He claimed that the couple then had a 'meltdown' because they had wanted to catch the same flight and arrive to their destination together. Mr McCormick continued: 'There was no compassion or care whatsoever. After going back and forth we said we're not going to take separate flights and be in separate countries for hours.' He claimed that they protested and were eventually told that they could both get on the next flight and receive a refund for both tickets. Mr McCormick added: 'I asked if we can have that in writing or an email for them to confirm it in some way. They said it's on the system, and when we go to ticket sales, they will reimburse us and we can get on the next flight.' But when the couple got back to the check-in desk, they claim to have been told that they still had to pay for one of the tickets. According to the holidaymaker, one of the seats had been marked in the system as a cancelled booking, while the other was put down as a missed flight. They then spent a further £100 on the new ticket and claimed they were assured that a refund would be processed for this fee, but they have not received it. Ryanair has since claimed that the passenger was not entitled to a refund for the flight because they were reaccommodated onto the next available service. But Mr McCormick said the experience felt like 'discrimination,' and that the couple were singled out because they are 'young' and did not have children. He added that he would avoid flying with Ryanair in future due to the staff's 'lack of compassion'. Mr McCormick said: 'Ryanair should have asked all passengers if anyone would like to volunteer their seats. 'It felt like discrimination, how do they pick out these people, is it because we're young and we have no kids so there's just two of us, is it to do with something we don't see or understand? 'There was so much of it that was really frustrating, and it's the lack of care, no empathy. You can be bawling your eyes out and they just don't care, they're deadpan. We just had to get over what happened, it was a terrible way to start a holiday. 'They said at ticket sales they would be doing this themselves and get everything over and start the process, so I haven't formally complained. 'I don't think they did, I definitely haven't got the money back. We just got caught in a big company's terms and conditions. I would avoid it [Ryanair] if I could now. Why am I being singled out?' But a Ryanair spokesman told MailOnline: 'This flight from Birmingham to Palma de Mallorca (May 1) was not 'overbooked' - it was scheduled to operate on a 737-8200 (197 seats) but for operational reasons had to be swapped to a 737-800 aircraft (189 seats). 'As a result, 1 passenger was unable to travel on this flight, and was reaccommodated onto the next available flight to Palma de Mallorca. 'Mr McCormick's travel companion was not refused boarding but chose not to board and travel on this flight from Birmingham to Palma de Mallorca and was required to pay a Missed Departure fee (£100) to be booked onto the next available flight.
RNZ News
7 hours ago
- RNZ News
Fire and Emergency on standby for flight into Hawke's Bay Airport
Hawke's Bay Airport (File pic) Photo: Google Maps Fire and Emergency (FENZ) is on standby at Hawke's Bay Airport at the request of an inbound flight. Shift manager Chris Dalton said three crews were at the airport as a precaution after an aircraft indicated a possible "situation on board". He said larger airports had their own fire brigades, but in regional areas FENZ was called in to help. Dalton said there had been no suggestion of an emergency, and the plan was to attempt a landing before 8am. RNZ has contacted the airline. More to come. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
National Post
8 hours ago
- National Post
Why a Toronto-bound flight from Amsterdam turned back after five hours in the air
A flight this week from Amsterdam to Toronto spent more than five hours in the air before landing — in Amsterdam. The cause was a missed scheduled maintenance that was discovered while the plane was over the Atlantic Ocean, requiring it to do a U-turn and return home. Article content The aircraft, an Airbus A330-303, had already been delayed 90 minutes from its original departure time of 11:20 a.m. local time, for what should have been an eight-hour flight from Schiphol airport to Toronto. That was due to a last-minute change of plane because the air conditioning on the original one wasn't working. Article content Article content Article content But the new plane had its own issues. As reported on the website View from the Wing and elsewhere, the crew realized only en route that there was required maintenance for the aircraft that had not been performed. Article content Article content 'During flight KL691 from Amsterdam to Toronto, it was decided to return to Schiphol as a precaution after it became apparent during the flight that the replacement aircraft (PH-AKA) would reach its maintenance deadline,' the airline said in a statement. Article content 'The aircraft was fully airworthy at the time of departure,' it added. 'To prevent the license from expiring during the flight, it was decided to return to perform the maintenance in the Netherlands.' Article content The delay — more than three hours on a flight of more than 3,500 kms — means that, due to European laws, each passenger is entitled to 600 euros in compensation, as well as rebooking by the airline. Article content Article content 'Although all passengers were rebooked upon arrival, we naturally find it very unfortunate for the passengers who were affected by this,' KLM said in its statement. Article content Article content Flight data from shows that the aircraft was south of Iceland and nearly midway across the Atlantic when it turned around. Article content Last-minute aircraft swaps have caused issues in the past. View from the Wing details how, earlier this month, American Airlines swapped out a Boeing 787-8 for a similar 787-9, then sent the latter on a flight from Philadelphia to Naples, Italy. But the runway at Naples wasn't certified for the 787-9, so it had to be diverted to Rome, 200 kms to the north. Article content
CNN
11 hours ago
- Business
- CNN
Turkish Airlines Chairman Says Supply Chain Snags are Impacting the Entire Industry
"Everybody [is] facing similar issues, similar problems, so how to utilize the existing capacity is the art to make the airline more profitable." Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmet Bolat says supply chain snags are impacting the entire industry.
