Please read the question carefully because I don't want a bunch of replies telling me how bad the weather is. I KNOW HOW BAD IT IS! my flight cancellation WAS NOT due to the weather!
I was travelling from Manchester airport home to Belfast for Christmas on Monday. I know how bad the weather is, but bear with me.
I had a flight with Bmibaby, and after long delays, they cancelled the flight at around 9pm, rushed us all from the departure lounge ("We're closing, you have to get out.") had an "apology" letter thrown at us with the number and told to pick up our luggage.
I couldn't get through to the number and the phone-line closed at 9pm anyway. When I got my luggage I rushed to the bmibaby ticket desk in time to see the staff look at us, then leave. (Flybe had also had a cancellation, but their staff had the kindness to stay to offer myself and their own customers advice)
I was told by the letter I could either get a refund or put on a different flight - I called my mum at home who was able to get on a computer for me and was able to see from their site bmibaby didn't have any flights until Wednesday (I didn't want to leave it until Wednesday 1.) because I live in Sheffield, 2.) I didn't want to risk spending Christmas away from my family. 3.) there were other people waiting to get on these flights and there was no way bmibaby would have been able to fit us all onto planes in time for christmas.)
So she booked a flight on a different airline from a different airport which cost me £140.
I understand the weather is terrible but it is important that we were told it was a TECHNICAL FAULT - NOT A WEATHER ISSUE! therefore, surely we should have been put in a hotel at least?
Other passengers with flights cancelled were put in hotels complete with coach transfer!
I was lucky to get back today but my heart went out to the people who took the risk of staying overnight in the airport in the belief that there would be flights for them in the morning, the people with children and elderly people I saw, huddled in blankets.
It caused me a lot of distress obviously - I was travelling on my own as Im a student and I felt both unsafe in the airport as there was no security and worried sick I wouldn't get home - I'm ashamed to say I cried on the phone to my mum!
I'm in the process of asking for my £140 to be reimbursed and I know there is a good chancthey'llll not do it, but either way I want to complain and I would like advice as to where I should go? Im already complaining to the airline and airport, but does ofcom cover this sort of thing?
Please offer advice, I don't need criticism as I have spent over 24 hours at an airport, have had to spend an extra £140 right before the christmas period, am in a lot of pain (my shoulders and lower back muscles are very sore - from carrying bags around and sleeping in strange positions!) and I am only just home!
I was travelling from Manchester airport home to Belfast for Christmas on Monday. I know how bad the weather is, but bear with me.
I had a flight with Bmibaby, and after long delays, they cancelled the flight at around 9pm, rushed us all from the departure lounge ("We're closing, you have to get out.") had an "apology" letter thrown at us with the number and told to pick up our luggage.
I couldn't get through to the number and the phone-line closed at 9pm anyway. When I got my luggage I rushed to the bmibaby ticket desk in time to see the staff look at us, then leave. (Flybe had also had a cancellation, but their staff had the kindness to stay to offer myself and their own customers advice)
I was told by the letter I could either get a refund or put on a different flight - I called my mum at home who was able to get on a computer for me and was able to see from their site bmibaby didn't have any flights until Wednesday (I didn't want to leave it until Wednesday 1.) because I live in Sheffield, 2.) I didn't want to risk spending Christmas away from my family. 3.) there were other people waiting to get on these flights and there was no way bmibaby would have been able to fit us all onto planes in time for christmas.)
So she booked a flight on a different airline from a different airport which cost me £140.
I understand the weather is terrible but it is important that we were told it was a TECHNICAL FAULT - NOT A WEATHER ISSUE! therefore, surely we should have been put in a hotel at least?
Other passengers with flights cancelled were put in hotels complete with coach transfer!
I was lucky to get back today but my heart went out to the people who took the risk of staying overnight in the airport in the belief that there would be flights for them in the morning, the people with children and elderly people I saw, huddled in blankets.
It caused me a lot of distress obviously - I was travelling on my own as Im a student and I felt both unsafe in the airport as there was no security and worried sick I wouldn't get home - I'm ashamed to say I cried on the phone to my mum!
I'm in the process of asking for my £140 to be reimbursed and I know there is a good chancthey'llll not do it, but either way I want to complain and I would like advice as to where I should go? Im already complaining to the airline and airport, but does ofcom cover this sort of thing?
Please offer advice, I don't need criticism as I have spent over 24 hours at an airport, have had to spend an extra £140 right before the christmas period, am in a lot of pain (my shoulders and lower back muscles are very sore - from carrying bags around and sleeping in strange positions!) and I am only just home!