Quote:
Originally Posted by blackmonsters
I think the only logic they used is that probably 99% of people who miss the
flight out don't need a flight back in.
So they resell 99 seats and only piss off one guy.  |
They resell the tickets in any case...
Iberia (Spanish national airline) is I'm told the absolute worst for that. And my one and only ever time I ever flew with them they overbooked the flight: I arrived 1h15' before departure - 15' within their 'recommended' 1 hr check in time for a flight from spain to france only to find there were no more seats - this is on my return leg. They had oversold the flight and all the others (bar me and 2 others) all had checked in. Physically no space left. The Spanish guy I was with (who lived in Madrid) told me everyone checks in 'on-line' so maybe there is a check in but a no show. The check in dolly told me the same - go to the gate, wait until everyone's boarded and maybe there'll be a seat left.
I did that, but found out I wasn't the only one. There were two others in the same boat as me - both coming back on their return journey. Anyway, got no flight, was offered the next one (the last of the evening), 2 hours later and offered a full reimbursement (after much howling by me and one of the other 2) of the maximum tariff for that flight (not what we paid), which amounted to ?550 in cash, dinner provided by them with Champagne and then a bottle of champagne on the flight after we bled it some more to the flight stewardesses.
In the end I met a great guy who lives only 30 mins from me, who we still see cos their kids are the same age as ours, who has a farm so great fun for the kids, a great dinner and arrived pissed as a fart on free champagne. And ?550 in cash better off, cos the ?250 ticket I had wasn't even paid by me, but a business-paid ticket.
So, although as disgusting as it is, that particular scenario played out really well for me. However, I'd *never* fly them again for that reason, cos next time, it could be the last flight of the evening, or I could have the kids, or it could be a connecting flight bleh - it's just disgusting that they are allowed to do that, within the rules of aviation. The world over.