Aer Lingus

Cluainfia

Wont be travelling with Aer Lingus for a while.
They screwed me when I had to change my flight back from Florida to a funeral.

Rastadoyle

Ryanair no better

naughtysmurf

I'd imagine all or most airlines would charge a lot for a ticket bought shortly before departure, any travel insurance?

Random

in what way did they screw you?

double GG

A few details would be nice.

Lapin

Cluainfia wrote: »

Wont be travelling with Aer Lingus for a while.
They screwed me when I had to change my flight back from Florida to a funeral.

So thats it. Just open a new thread criticising a company's reputation and leave it at that.

Rastadoyle wrote: »

Ryanair no better

How do you know? The OP didn't tell us whats up and given that Ryanair don't fly to Florida, the complaints you have can hardly be the same.

schemingbohemia

Pointless thread without details. Sorry for your loss OP but without any details this just seems like an angry rant and would probably be more appropriate to consumer issues unless you just want to blacken Aer Lingus.

keithclancy

Cluainfia wrote: »

Wont be travelling with Aer Lingus for a while.
They screwed me when I had to change my flight back from Florida to a funeral.

This is the case with any airline unless you purchase a flex fare, which is normally twice the cost of a standard fare.

Even then you need to check if the T&Cs allow you to change the route.

flikflak

They didnt screw you. Flight prices will increase the closer to departure date you get. This is why you should have a decent travel insurance policy. Did you see if you could claim on your insurance? Did you have insurance? If not then its just one of those costs you will have to suck up. Blaming an airline for following their business model is ridiculous.

Cluainfia

I was charged full price for the re scheduled flight plus tax.
The flight I had to give up was Xmas week which is a busy time so they had no problem filling it.
The re scheduled flight was mid week and half empty.
It would make more sense to drop prices and fill these planes in off peak times.
I paid tax twice for the one flight plus tax was paid again when they sold the cancelled seats.
Cant claim ins as funeral was a friends not a relation.

BuffyBot

It would make more sense to drop prices and fill these planes in off peak times.

That isn't quite how airline pricing works, unfortunately.

schemingbohemia

Cluainfia wrote: »

I was charged full price for the re scheduled flight plus tax.
The flight I had to give up was Xmas week which is a busy time so they had no problem filling it.
The re scheduled flight was mid week and half empty.
It would make more sense to drop prices and fill these planes in off peak times.
I paid tax twice for the one flight plus tax was paid again when they sold the cancelled seats.
Cant claim ins as funeral was a friends not a relation.

They didn't screw you, they followed procedure. You didn't buy a flexi ticket, you took a chance, sadly you had to change your plans. How many people do you think would be able to purchase a flight at a couple of days notice at Christmas time? I doubt the seat was re-sold and it doesn't matter anyway.

Have you tried to claim your tax back from Aer Lingus? Writing explaining the situation and asking for your tax back might get you something, I would certainly think you'd have better luck with them than with Ryanair (though I am a fan of Ryanair).

Miaireland

Nope they didn't screw you. Airlines just don't work the way they think you should. You can claim back the taxes on the flight that you did not take.

ProudDUB

OP - The issue you have is with the pricing structure of the airline industry as a whole, not Aer Lingus per se. It is not fair to target them specifically as there is not an airline on the planet that does not charge very high fees for last minute changes to flights, or last minute bookings. As a passenger it sucks, but from a logistical pov I can see why they do it.

For future reference, most airlines have a bereavement policy where they have a set bereavement fare for their routes. The fare is a set amount, and is not prone to massive seasonal or peak time fluctuations. Some times the bereavement fare is more than the normal quoted fair on a set day, sometimes it is less. But for a lot of people who have to travel at short notice, it can wind up not being a horrendously expensive experience. The airlines will refund any monies paid for the last minute walk up fare booked, down to the bereavement fares, if the traveler can produce a death certificate and proof of a familial connection to the deceased.

Bereavement fares ares normally restricted to the immediate family members of the deceased, as extending it to their friends or extended family members would be impossible to police. Am sure that is of little comfort to you as you mourn the loss of your friend, but bare it mind if you ever find yourself in a similar circumstance, and it is a member of your family that has passed away.

might as well be complaining about the price of a pint. just 'cos you had to pay doesn't warrant complaining about Aer Lingus when it's the way of the global aviation business pricing model....

roundymac

Cluainfia wrote: »

Wont be travelling with Aer Lingus for a while.
They screwed me when I had to change my flight back from Florida to a funeral.

So your going to fly with an airline that will treat you exactly the same way as EI? That's what your choice is.

roundymac

roundymac wrote: »

So your going to fly with an airline that will treat you exactly the same way as EI? That's what your choice is.

yeah - that'll show them. they'll be thinking about me every day and how I snubbed them. won't they?

kerry4sam

Okay Cluainfia, I just closed your thread here as I feel it has flown its course. If you have any issues with that, then please pm me.

Thanks,
kerry4sam