Flight change - not happy

[Diane Rigby]

Off to Icmeler 24 October staying at Mete aparts and I have today had a call from A1flights to say that our outbound flight on 24 Oct from BHX is cancelled. They can change me to the same date flight but at 2130 instead of a mid-morning fligth but I have to pay the diference of £45 each (£90). The best of it is that they already changed the times from an early morning flight to a mid-morning flight.

They told me that they have more passengers to move than they have seats for so I was I was stuck between a rock and hard place. I quickly surffed the net whilst on the phone and even with the extra payment they were still a lot cheaper than anyone else could offer. It seems to me that they get you to book at a reasonable price and then change it when they know people have already booked accomodation, transfers, airport parking etc and you have no choice but to pay up the extra. What seemed like a bargain at the time ends up not being a bargain.

I am going to write and complain; but who do I write to? A1flgiths, Onur air or Abta. Any one any idea and do you thnk i will get there.

Admin I will update my flight times when I get my tickets - at least then they should stay the same.

Rant over.

[Fanny]

Aw how disappointing for you Diane! They really do have you by the proverbials, don't they?!

There's a really good advice section on Holidaytruths - think you'd need to post on the Complaints thread and there's a link to Holidaytruths on the index of this forum.

Hope you have a great time and of course that you get your complaint sorted

[Chocoholic]

Hi and am sorry about your situation, they really know how to upset and con their customers eh? I am sure you will get there but not unless you pay the extra fee they are asking which in my opinion is unfair and a flipping cheek! I would if I were you complain to all three you have mentioned, one of them should respond and you could threaten them with legal action and say it is the principle as well as the cost and change of flight time. Maybe citizens advice or some such advisers can put you in the right direction of action to take. I thought that If they change the flight and they had overbooked then you should receive some sort of compensation and not the other way round! Hope you get it sorted and I sincerely hope they do not get away with it.
It seems to me with a lot of the airlines going bust then some of the remaining ones feel it gives them an open invitation to take advantage of the fact that we do not have the wide choce we once had. Is really annoying.

[Diane Rigby]

I felt that I had no choice and have paid the extra to make sure that I got a seat. They said that the outbound flight is acutally cancelled (and I will definately be checking to make sure that the flight does not fly) and that is why I have had to pay the difference to move to another flight and not just a time change (which I wouldn't have to have paid anything). I have posted on HT so will see if anyone has any adivce on there also.

[JT]

It doesn't matter what flight company you use, if they have to change then they have to change.

You either take it or leave it and happens to all of us.

One thing I bet a lot of people don't know and what I have only just found out myself is...........

Anyone who has booked cheap flights from Aegean will not be able to cancel and get their money back or a part refund any more.

if they change the flight and you don't want it then you cancel without a refund.

Anyone booking a Thomson flight only is no longer covered by Atol the same as the other lo costs like Easy Jet, Ryanair, BMI, Jet2 etc.

So read the small print before you book.

Also make sure what flight company you are actually booking with when you book a "cheap" flight through an on line agency.

99.9% of our customers who booked their own flight rather than ours were ok as I have always advised against goldtrail and kiss flights and as I am always looking at flights reading between the lines is very easy

[Diane Rigby]

"if they change the flight and you don't want it then you cancel without a refund."

They did at least offer me a full refund if I didn't accept/pay up to change. But its half term and a lot of flights are either full or really expenisve now. It was either pay up or not go at all. It seems so unfair that they can change the time of a flight and you don't pay but if they cancel a flight they can charge you the difference. If you wanted to change a flight they would charge you a fortune for "admin costs". Its a win win situation for them and a lose lose situation for the consumer. I have a feeling I am not going to get anywhere with this but it about time something was done to make the rules a bit more fairer and not all wieghted in the their favour.

JT I did know about the no booking change rule and the fact that Thomson flight only is not covered by ATOL. I am one of those sad people who read the small print.

[JT]

Sorry Di and I should mention I think it comes into force for 2011

[Fanny]

good advice there JT, thanks

[Katiehutchinson_1991]

yeah thanks for the advice John it makes you really consider who you book with and makes you read the small print
xxxxx

[Vikki]

Yes i agree its good advice thanks John

[Diane Rigby]

Just out of curiosity JT I have booked my accomodation and transfer with you - if I have booked my flights also and the same circumstances applied would you have charged me the difference. Di

[JT]

Charged you what difference Di

[Diane Rigby]

They charged me £45 each which was the difference between the flight I had and the flight they moved me to.

[JT]

If the flight company we use has to change a flight for one of our customers there has never ever been a charge for this.

They take any cost in doing this.