Emirates overbooking their planes | ExpatWoman.com
 

Emirates overbooking their planes

99
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 12:32

Why do they do this?! It's caused friends and family of mine to have to get a later flight, even though they had already pre-paid for the flight. They turn up to check in only to be told the flight is overbooked and they can't get on the plane!! It's outrageous! Can anyone enlighten me on this infuriating situation? Surely if a flight is paid for, nobody has the right to allocate it to someone else! And my friends confirmed their flight, as in they rang a few days before hand to confirm they would be getting on that plane. Even that is ridiculous - surely having paid for your seat is enough!

175
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 21:34
We have been placed on last flights out of airports in first because we are such loyal customers while other just as deserving people are left stranded. It is not fair in the slightest but I suppose it is market capitalism. Don't see why it's unfair- those who spend the most money with the company are reasonably 'rewarded' for their loyalty... It'd be like me turning up at say, a hilton hotel, never having stayed at one before, and only one room for me and another guest, who happens to stay with them once a week. I am certain they would send me to another hotel/compensate me rather than deny the more frequent guest the room. It's not only airlines who overbook, but hotels, cruises and so on. Overbooking also became a necessity once airfares got cheaper. It is still cheaper to fly now (relative to yearly salary) than it was in the 50's & 60's, even with high fuel prices, security etc etc etc.. Ok, am I pleased that because I fly first class and pay full fare for it and fly often that they will put me ahead of people when there is a problem? Yes, but I don't think I am entitled to it. I don't know, I just tend to believe that if you pay for a seat based on a schedule you have to keep to, no matter where that seat is, you have just as much right to get there at the allotted time as I do. Maybe I am being an idealist but while I appreciate the courtesy I don't think I am entitled to it.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 21:20
I am flabbergasted there are so many "no shows". So if those passengers who don't show up still get billed for their seats even if they are not in them, I don't see why the airlines have to compensate for this. ETA O ok, just read the link, good explanation right there ie Not all no shows are intentional, and not all seats payed for because of this eg people getting earlier flights or changing flights last minute. edited by Aryanwynn on 19/02/2012 Just the usual "VIP" attitude here........;)
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 21:10
We have been placed on last flights out of airports in first because we are such loyal customers while other just as deserving people are left stranded. It is not fair in the slightest but I suppose it is market capitalism. Don't see why it's unfair- those who spend the most money with the company are reasonably 'rewarded' for their loyalty... It'd be like me turning up at say, a hilton hotel, never having stayed at one before, and only one room for me and another guest, who happens to stay with them once a week. I am certain they would send me to another hotel/compensate me rather than deny the more frequent guest the room. It's not only airlines who overbook, but hotels, cruises and so on. Overbooking also became a necessity once airfares got cheaper. It is still cheaper to fly now (relative to yearly salary) than it was in the 50's & 60's, even with high fuel prices, security etc etc etc..
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 19:55
Yappened to me years ago. First time I had flown Emirates. Was already sobbing as i was leaving my new fiance behind (lol, no tears now) and they bumped me. More sobbing. Free ticket DXB-Melbourne-DXB
504
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EW GURU
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 19:43
Not a class thing or frequent flyer thing, we were economy never travelled with EK beforea and we got compensation with a free flight, i think it depends how firmly youstate its not acceptable? it is supposed to depend on how long after your original arrival time the replacement flight is due to get you in. Eg if you were flown to Heathrow instead of Gatwick and the bus to Gatwick was due to arrive within a couple of hours of the Gatwick flight, you wouldn't get the same compensation as if you were delayed for a long time (the flight could have been a couple of hours late anyway). All airlines have a policy in respect of compensation, don't think any of them say 'if they shout louder' :) Ok so we were due to go on the 0300 departure, they overbooked asked us to change to the 0755 departure same day, we got the compensation of a free return flight? Maybe we were lucky and we just had someone who couldnt be bothered with the lengthy discussion we were having :) :) although I would not swear to this I think the cut off is around two hours.
355
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 18:42
I am flabbergasted there are so many "no shows". So if those passengers who don't show up still get billed for their seats even if they are not in them, I don't see why the airlines have to compensate for this. ETA O ok, just read the link, good explanation right there ie Not all no shows are intentional, and not all seats payed for because of this eg people getting earlier flights or changing flights last minute. <em>edited by Aryanwynn on 19/02/2012</em>
141
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 18:04
When you check in early, usually very early, for a flight and they ask if you will take a later flight (ie. denied boarding) usually you will have a choice and can say no. They just start approaching people from the start of checkin and those people who arrive mid way through checkin usually never realise that people before them have been denied boarding because they agreed to it and to the compensation received. The later you check in, the less of a "choice" you will have. It depends on how well they have guestimated the expected load for the flight and whether their already denied boarding passengers are enough. When you are one of the early ones, you have more options also in terms of flexibility. They have predetermined things they can offer you and the policy is very clear on what types of things can be offered and for what flight and how much disruption etc. The last time this happened to me they offered me transport to wherever I needed to go, hotel for the night, meals, transport back to the airport next day and a free upgrade to business class....OR....transport to wherever I needed to go, hotel for the night, meals, transport back to the airport next day and a free return flight. I bargained with them about the things i didn't need and wasn't going to use and the end result was I got an upgrade the next day and a free return ticket so I was absolutely stoked. Think I was lucky though as usually it is either / or. Note this was also coming out of a US destination where there was only one flight per day so that makes a difference.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 17:39
The more miles you have (tier miles lol) the less they play with you...basic.
209
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 17:38
EK has very flexible rules, you can change the flights easily and for no-show they might charge for dhs100 or something. Once I was changing my flights like 10 times and the call center told me that it would be nice to inform them at least 3hrs before the flight if I want to change it. Some of the European airlines are not flexible at all, if you miss the flight, you are not getting any refund at all. I understand the business point of view of overbooking, once I was on the US and I got free domestic flight because I was willing to take a flight one hour later.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 17:37
Not a class thing or frequent flyer thing, we were economy never travelled with EK beforea and we got compensation with a free flight, i think it depends how firmly youstate its not acceptable? it is supposed to depend on how long after your original arrival time the replacement flight is due to get you in. Eg if you were flown to Heathrow instead of Gatwick and the bus to Gatwick was due to arrive within a couple of hours of the Gatwick flight, you wouldn't get the same compensation as if you were delayed for a long time (the flight could have been a couple of hours late anyway). All airlines have a policy in respect of compensation, don't think any of them say 'if they shout louder' :) Ok so we were due to go on the 0300 departure, they overbooked asked us to change to the 0755 departure same day, we got the compensation of a free return flight? Maybe we were lucky and we just had someone who couldnt be bothered with the lengthy discussion we were having :) :)
504
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EW GURU
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 16:31
Not a class thing or frequent flyer thing, we were economy never travelled with EK beforea and we got compensation with a free flight, i think it depends how firmly youstate its not acceptable? it is supposed to depend on how long after your original arrival time the replacement flight is due to get you in. Eg if you were flown to Heathrow instead of Gatwick and the bus to Gatwick was due to arrive within a couple of hours of the Gatwick flight, you wouldn't get the same compensation as if you were delayed for a long time (the flight could have been a couple of hours late anyway). All airlines have a policy in respect of compensation, don't think any of them say 'if they shout louder' :)
175
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 16:24
Not a class thing or frequent flyer thing, we were economy never travelled with EK beforea and we got compensation with a free flight, i think it depends how firmly youstate its not acceptable? It does very much depend on the class you are flying, but more importantly, how often you fly and in what class. We have been placed on last flights out of airports in first because we are such loyal customers while other just as deserving people are left stranded. It is not fair in the slightest but I suppose it is market capitalism.
175
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 16:21
Complain in writing to EK. Heard it also depends on type/cost of ticket bought. I would agree with this. It is standard for airlines to "protect" or alternatively "reward" not just frequent travelers but the frequent ones who only fly first and business.
1052
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 16:12
Not a class thing or frequent flyer thing, we were economy never travelled with EK beforea and we got compensation with a free flight, i think it depends how firmly youstate its not acceptable?
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 15:12
They don't just overbook from a business point of view, though. It's better for passengers too as they stand more of a chance of being able to fly on the date and flight they want. If the flight you want has 400 seats and they're all booked, even though chances are at least 30 or 40 passengers won't turn up and the flight'll depart with empty seats, you won't be able to book a ticket unless the airline overbooks. So the flight would go with a seat empty that you could have been in. I'm not defending the practice (I think I've moaned about airlines enough times on here!) but I do see why they do it and if they provide adequate compensation - and if it's voluntary - I think the benefits outweigh the downsides. But if it's not voluntary and the compensation's rubbish, then no, they can take a hike and provide the service you paid for! :D
460
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 14:33
Yep it is very annoying - my husband and I were very nearly bumped off an Etihad flights to Dublin last year and we were going for a wedding so if we had not been on the flight then we would have missed the wedding - we did arrive later than we usually would for check in but it was still in plenty of time so I would never have expected that - luckily we did end up getting onto the flight but only because we are Etihad silver members so when we complained after being pushed to the side and told we had no seats on the flight they managed to find us some. It was awful because there was a small group of people who had been told that they would not be getting onto the flight and it included a family with young children, I was also trying to argue on their behalf and if we hadn't needed to urgently get the flight I would have given them our seats. We were then told that we should always check in online and that will mean that your seat will not be given away. I understand why they overbook from a business point of view but it is very distressing to passengers and despite us being very loyal to Etihad I can honestly say that we would not have flown with them again if they had not found us a seat on the flight.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 14:00
Standard practice sadly. They did this to my parents last May- i paid approx 700 GBP to fly them here from gatwick. on the return they were bumped and flew into heathrow - then had to get a bus to gatwick. If I had booked them onto the original heathrow price it would have been much cheaper. The compensation they gave them? 200 dirhams each. 200 dh! Scandalous. I'd be getting onto Customer Affairs. Mum was booked LHR-DXB taking off at 5ish, and they switched her to the 10.30pm flight instead and for that she got a free return ticket. customer.affairs@emirates.com.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 13:57
Complain in writing to EK. Heard it also depends on type/cost of ticket bought.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 13:55
Overbooking happens because unfortunately some people book flights and quite simply don't turn up. If the airline had 400 seats and only sold 400 tickets, 50 no-shows would mean the plane taking off with 50 empty seats, even if there were another 50 people who'd wanted to book tickets for that flight. If they had 400 seats and knew 50 people probably wouldn't turn up, they could sell 450 tickets and then the 400 who did turn up would get to fly. It is so annoying if you're the unfortunate one who's bumped but they do try to find volunteers to be bumped before there's forced bumping. Mum got a call from Emirates a week before she was due to fly out here asking her if she'd take a later flight, and they gave her a free return flight from London to Dubai.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 13:41
I thought the EU brought in a rule that this wasn't allowed to be done anymore. Obviously this wouldn't effect the ME operators.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 13:36
But the people who had these problems were amongst the first to check in! They arrived at the airport 3 and a half hours before the flight time! It's not on at all. I intend to write a strongly worded letter to Emirates...who knows what will come of it.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 13:23
Im quite happy being bumped on emirates, I usually only have to wait for an extra few hours and then get a return flight to the destination as compensation. So I never complain if I'm bumped clearly my parents were not nearly forceful enough - a free return flight = good compensation. 200 dh = not good compensation!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 13:09
Im quite happy being bumped on emirates, I usually only have to wait for an extra few hours and then get a return flight to the destination as compensation. So I never complain if I'm bumped
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 12:48
Yep happened at Xmas to us DS was flying back to UK got there and they told him there was no seat, furious was not the word they said they had given priority to people who had checked in online, they sent him back home and then rebooked him on a flight the next day. Luckily we argued and argued with them and got a free return flight for the next trip, stand by your guns.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 12:46
Standard practice sadly. They did this to my parents last May- i paid approx 700 GBP to fly them here from gatwick. on the return they were bumped and flew into heathrow - then had to get a bus to gatwick. If I had booked them onto the original heathrow price it would have been much cheaper. The compensation they gave them? 200 dirhams each. 200 dh! Scandalous.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 12:44
All airlines overbook their flights. It's common practice as there are always some passangers that don't show up, reschedule, etc. http://thetravelinsider.info/airlinemismanagement/allaboutoverbookingflights.htm
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EW GURU
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 12:44
I second that it is standard for all airlines to overbook to cover no-shows. Dont be late to check-in.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 12:41
Its standard practice for ALL airlines. to ensure you have a seat you need to get to the airport on time or check in online.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 February 2012 - 12:40
Unfortunately other airlines do this too. Lufthansa is one of them. DH got kicked off flights because they overbooked. They are hoping for no shows and this way they can make more money... It's completely unfair. We try to do online checkin before we fly to avoid this problem.
 
 

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