Air Berlin A330 subbed for A321
Jan 4, 2015, 10:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,579
Air Berlin A330 subbed for A321
The A330 scheduled to operate AB7494 (evening departure) TXL-AUH on 28DEC14 suffered technical difficulties and as a result a decision was made by AB to substitute the aircraft for an A321 instead.
Aircraft D-ABCL had to make a refuelling stop in Constantia, Romania enroute adding to the overall journey time.
Business Class passengers offered either a downgrade or a rebook to Business class on flights the following day including overnight hotel accommodation and food expenses as well as EU261 delay compensation.
Does Air Berlin often make aircraft changes like this?
- No in flight entertainment
- No Business Class
- Insufficient range to fly this route non-stop
Aircraft D-ABCL had to make a refuelling stop in Constantia, Romania enroute adding to the overall journey time.
Business Class passengers offered either a downgrade or a rebook to Business class on flights the following day including overnight hotel accommodation and food expenses as well as EU261 delay compensation.
Does Air Berlin often make aircraft changes like this?
Jan 4, 2015, 11:58 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ZRH / SIN
Programs: FB Ulti, QR-Gold (OWS), TK *Gold, Bonvoy Ambassadort Elite, GHA Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 531
this can happen, but to my knowledge not very often.
But still better to arrive with a short delay due to a fuel-stop than spending the night at the hotel and waiting for a replacement A330 arriving in the next day in the morning or wait for hours in the plane in AUH due to weather-related delays (like in the last days and needing to fight for compensation - if eligible).
But still better to arrive with a short delay due to a fuel-stop than spending the night at the hotel and waiting for a replacement A330 arriving in the next day in the morning or wait for hours in the plane in AUH due to weather-related delays (like in the last days and needing to fight for compensation - if eligible).
Jan 4, 2015, 4:30 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 53
I was also on this plane and as a third alternative AB had rebooked me on QR to DOH. Unfortunately I arrived too late at TXL to catch that flight so I opted for the downgrade.
Fog at AUH was an additional problem the next morning; total delay was a little less than three hours.
AB has promised to check for partial refund - which could be difficult to realize as the C fare had been lower than the Y fare...
Fog at AUH was an additional problem the next morning; total delay was a little less than three hours.
AB has promised to check for partial refund - which could be difficult to realize as the C fare had been lower than the Y fare...
Jan 5, 2015, 1:36 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,579
I was also on this plane and as a third alternative AB had rebooked me on QR to DOH. Unfortunately I arrived too late at TXL to catch that flight so I opted for the downgrade.
Fog at AUH was an additional problem the next morning; total delay was a little less than three hours.
AB has promised to check for partial refund - which could be difficult to realize as the C fare had been lower than the Y fare...
Fog at AUH was an additional problem the next morning; total delay was a little less than three hours.
AB has promised to check for partial refund - which could be difficult to realize as the C fare had been lower than the Y fare...
Jan 5, 2015, 1:44 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,579
For clarity they SHOULD make it the difference between full J and full Y, although I suspect they will not offer this. Under EU261 the official refund should be 75% of the ticket cost paid. As we were on reward tickets we didn't want to take this chance as the refund would be minimal so went for the overnight stop. EU261 compensation paid in cash at the ticket desk although they were quite insistent at first they would only give AB vouchers. A quick phone call to "someone" resulted in cash being agreed to.
Jan 5, 2015, 2:02 am
#7
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Location: PVG, FRA, SEA, HEL
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Posts: 4,783
AB has promised to check for partial refund - which could be difficult to realize as the C fare had been lower than the Y fare...
Jan 5, 2015, 7:59 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,095
I must've been on your flight then, I flew AB TXL-AUH on the morning of 29 December in J. No wonder it went from wide open to completely full right at the last moment!
Jan 5, 2015, 8:56 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 53
Jan 6, 2015, 4:43 am
#11
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Jan 6, 2015, 4:45 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,095
Did you notice the man with the incredibly hoarse voice?
And I hope the toddler running around introducing himself to everyone wasn't yours!?
BTW - trip report of 'our' flight here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq1bGaC9SHU
And I hope the toddler running around introducing himself to everyone wasn't yours!?
BTW - trip report of 'our' flight here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq1bGaC9SHU
Jan 6, 2015, 5:04 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,579
Did you notice the man with the incredibly hoarse voice?
And I hope the toddler running around introducing himself to everyone wasn't yours!?
BTW - trip report of 'our' flight here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq1bGaC9SHU
And I hope the toddler running around introducing himself to everyone wasn't yours!?
BTW - trip report of 'our' flight here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq1bGaC9SHU
No the infant wasn't mine - he was sat across the aisle from me in the "centre seats" but went a bit off the rails when she fell asleep. I think I've just worked out which passenger you were now!
Jan 6, 2015, 9:50 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK Gold
Posts: 70
Ha! I was on the exact same flight in J, behind the deep-voiced gentleman and his very tactile young (& highly annoying) girlfriend! Amazed that none of the staff objected to the one passenger going to the bathroom during taxi at AUH.
Small world!
Small world!
Jan 6, 2015, 10:32 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,095
Haha how funny. GIRLFRIEND!?!? I thought it was his daughter...yes very annoying, they pushed in front of me both at passport control and then at the chauffeur drive desk. Thank God I didn't bump into them in Abu Dhabi!