Aer Lingus greed, even worse than Ryanair

Mumha

I know they're screwing us over and there's nothing we can do, but I want to highlight it for others.

We booked Cork - Bristol … Out April 3, RTN Sunday April 5. We did this on January 20th, at a cost of €185 each (not exactly cheap), probably in the first 20 to do so, on what i believe is an 88 seat ATR. We took a chance with the flights in the hope Exeter v Munster would be on either Friday evening or Saturday. As it happens, it is on the Saturday.

Fast forward to Saturday when we received an email from "Aer Lingus Customer Care" to say

"We apologize for the inconvenience, but due to operational reasons, we have updated your itinerary to below. You may check in as normal for your new flights. If this is not to your satisfaction, please contact us and we will discuss alternative options."

They bumped us from the 16.30 return on Sunday, to the 16.30 on Monday. We know the flight is still going as a friend who booked as well, has not been bumped and will travel on the Sunday flight.

The thing is, we have proof that the seats subsequently zoomed up in cost and we have a screenshot taken in the hours after the time of the game was fixed, and from the €185 we paid, it went up to at least €718.56 a seat for the Fri-Sun flight.

I think we can see what's going on here, Aer Lingus will make an extra €1,100 from bumping us to Monday, while forcing us to probably pay an extra €200 accommodation. Sharp practice, is one term one could use but they are hiding behind their "customer care" and infuriating call centre, to stick it to customers.

We've got absolutely nowhere with that joke of a call centre, "well, can I speak to a supervisor…no, there's no one who can help you with this". Where do you go with that ? One agent said that the flight is overbooked and due to the Advance notice they are giving, our only choice is to accept the Monday, or receive a fund. They didn't even offer to fly from another airport on the Sunday, or compensation for that matter. I believe this is not what the Advance Notice rules are meant for, where Aer Lingus are using it to bump passengers for extra profit, clearly nothing to do with "Operational Reasons".

I'm an Aerclub member for years, and have the Aer Credit Card, but this leaves a seriously sour taste.

I don't know if it's any use, but in a similar situation, perhaps they might do this someone with a legal background who'd be willing to take them on, make sure to screenshot later flight costs.

Tenger

Contact Conor Pope of the Irish Times.

sparrowcar

Based on the information you've provided and if true then it's a horrible practice for any company to be carrying out.

Seems worth pursuing even if just to bring awareness to the practice.

RunningFlyer

if the flight still exists I would ring them and insist to be reinstated on it (at no charge).

As the change is more than 2hrs, I believe you are entitled to a change of flight date or time free of charge (or a full refund but assume you don’t want this). So if the flight still exists, I can’t see how they can refuse to put you back on it.

If they refuse to change you back free of charge, and the flight still exists, I 100% agree to get in touch with Conor Pope and see if a bit of negative publicity can change their minds!

Locker10a

Open a ticket with the small claims court.

Ring Back the helpline and explain as much.
Give them the ref. No Of your case.
Request to be moved back to your original flight for no extra cost .

goingnowhere

CPCC or IAA time, thats blatant

Noxegon

Definitely one for Conor Pope. Let us know how you get on.

rayman10

That's absolutely ridiculous.

Document everything, record conversations, threaten and proceed with a complaint, small claims etc.

Uncle Pierre

@Mumha - just asking, and am not in any way disregarding or dismissing the shabby way in which you've been treated by Aer Lingus - would it be an option for you to accept the refund, and book new flights from Dublin instead? Obviously not as convenient for you and you wouldn't be home until much later on the Sunday night (unless you fancied a very early start that day!), but maybe worth considering anyway -

Or if Aer Lingus have really left a sour taste, maybe consider Ryanair? -

Van.Bosch

I suspect they got a group booking and bumped a few people to make way - completely unacceptable. Considering you booked so early and have proof they had more seats on sale afterwards, id defo go down the small claims route.