Dublin Airport Authority - Fast Track

podgeandrodge

As some of you may know, the DAA offers a Fast Track facility to go through security and skip the regular queue for a price of €6.99 or €7.99 depending on the time of entry.

This includes fast track entry and a Butlers Coffee or Hot Chocolate.
I received this email this evening:

Dear Customer,

Thank you for purchasing Fast Track at Dublin Airport for your next trip.

We are writing to inform you that we have made a change to the Fast Track free beverage offer.

Unfortunately, at this busy time of the year, we experienced higher than anticipated demand for redemptions at Butlers Chocolate Cafnd this offer has now concluded.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and we hope you will enjoy your new Fast Track complimentary coffee/tea which will now be provided by The Chocolate Lounge.

Please find your updated voucher attached, this voucher can be printed and used for each passenger on the fast track booking.

If you have any queries in relation to this please do not hesitate to email us travelservices@dublinairport.com


Now I know that this is not the most important contractual query ever, but it seems to me that, in the absence of Butlers closing down, the demand exceeding expectations (they probably have to pay Butlers a percentage) should not be sufficient reason to break the contract and offer an alternative drink elsewhere. Some people purchased these in good faith on the basis that they liked Butlers Coffee.

Maybe it isn't big enough to fight, but I am curious as to whether they were legally entitled to do this after the purchase concluded. Fair enough if they only did so for future purchases.

Stanford

By changing a term of the Contract unilaterally they have voided the Contract.

podgeandrodge

Stanford wrote: »

By changing a term of the Contract unilaterally they have voided the Contract.

If it is voided should they not be returning the money rather than offering another product?

Stanford

For those who are unhappy with the new alternative product the cost should be refunded

LorelaiG

You can email back saying you're not happy and would like a full refund. They should furnish it, but you'll lose the fast track too then. Is it really worth it over a difference in where the coffee/hot chocolate is served?

.G.

Likely the result of the many thousands of boardsies who availed of free fast track

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=107386046

podgeandrodge

LorelaiG wrote: »

You can email back saying you're not happy and would like a full refund. They should furnish it, but you'll lose the fast track too then. Is it really worth it over a difference in where the coffee/hot chocolate is served?

As I said at the outset, I was just curious as to whether they were legally entitled to do this after the purchase concluded. I couldn't be arsed looking for a refund but curious as to the legal position hence my question here.

I do think it's flippant for the Dublin Airport Authority to think that they can simply say an "offer has concluded" for purchases already made!

Stanford

Under Contract Law the position is Offer and Acceptance, DAA offers people fast track and a Butlers Coffee or Hot Chocolate for a named price, if one or other party unilaterally changes any term of this offer and acceptance AFTER the Contract is put in place then the other can consider the Contract voided and seek recompense.

Its a small issue but a great example of Contract Law!!

veetwin

FWIW Chocolate Lounge coffee is just as good as Butlers and usually much smaller queue in T2. Only downside is no free chocolate though. I worked in T2 since it opened so have experience of all coffee suppliers.

GM228

Correct me if I'm wrong OP, but isn't the offer simply for a complimentary hot beverage at the time you purchase as opposed to naming a specific brand?

That is certainly how it used to be, if still the case changing to a different brand after the contract is concluded does not invalidate the contract once that offer of a complimentary beverage is fulfilled.

If that is no longer the case, however does not automatically imply a voided contract, people simply stating the contract is voided is premature when we don't know the T&Cs of the contract which may very well have a subject to etc type clause or a we may substitute for a like for like clause etc.

Eric Cartman

tell them you'll accept a pint in leu . Let me know if it works, the fast track might just become a lot more worth it if so.

antodeco

Was fast track purchased for the fast track of the hot drink? I'm trying to figure out the benefit it would be for this to be voided, unless you are no longer travelling?

(I know that's not the legal discussion part, just interested in knowing the rational behind the query)

Stanford

In stating that the Contract was voided (in my opinion) I relied on OP's statement that "This includes fast track entry and a Butlers Coffee or Hot Chocolate." was a statement before the purchase of the pass was made. No other Ts&Cs were mentioned.

Caranica

It's worse for T1, hot drink is from Marquette, ie from a machine!

Victor

LorelaiG wrote: »

You can email back saying you're not happy and would like a full refund. They should furnish it, but you'll lose the fast track too then. Is it really worth it over a difference in where the coffee/hot chocolate is served?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bait-and-switch

Bait-and-switch is a form of fraud

Stanford wrote: »

if one or other party unilaterally changes any term of this offer and acceptance AFTER the Contract is put in place then the other can consider the Contract voided and seek recompense.

I would contend it is breach of contract, not a void contract. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Void_contract

cbreeze

Victor wrote: »

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bait-and-switch


I would contend it is breach of contract, not a void contract. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Void_contract

Agreed. I never buy fast track but nobody stops me when I waltz through:D

Marcusm

Stanford wrote: »

By changing a term of the Contract unilaterally they have voided the Contract.

Rendered it void or rendered it voidable at the option of the customer. I would have thought the latter at most.

Under His Eye

Caranica wrote: »

It's worse for T1, hot drink is from Marquette, ie from a machine!

That is not a place I would darken with my presence ever.

I use Fast Track just for the quick security, the free drink I never bother with. You used to get a free IT, now that I would use.

revoke12

Just wondering does anyone know does it matter if your delayed for the fast track as in the time you put on the booking? i put in an incorrect time and going to be late tried changing online doesnt work wondering has anyone experienced it? thanks