MrSoft
Apr 19, 09, 4:11 am
OK, so you want to fly with Etihad at short notice, in business class? Forget it.
Just tried to make a booking JNB-DXB in Pearl. The website refused to book it, as it was within 24hrs of actual departure time. Fair enough; instead it tells you to ring CS and make a booking over the phone.
I did this, all went as normal, they took my credit card details, and even issued a PNR number. But that's not enough - they also want you to fill in a CC authorisation form and "fax" (remember them?) it back to them.
I said, okay, and waited for the form. It came (eventually), I filled it in and sent it back. Nothing. Rang them, of course "offices are closed" now etc. This is Friday.
Next morning, Saturday, I rang them to confirm the ticket. This is the day of travel. "Ah, we are waiting for the ticket office to open sir". When is that? "Monday sir" :(
So how am I going to confirm this ticket then? Can I do it when I get to the airport? "No sir, we do not have a ticket desk at the airport".
What if I travel the following day (Sunday)? Does that buy some more time to confirm it? "Sir, ticket office is closed until Monday".
So what you are saying is, if I try to buy a ticket on a Friday for a Saturday or Sunday flight, this is literally impossible? "I suppose so, sir".
In the middle of all this, I asked CS what was the deadline for confirming the ticket, given that the flight left at 1335. "Cut off is this evening sir". But the flight leaves today, at lunchtime. "It would have to be confirmed by this evening sir, or you can not travel". :confused: I give up. Of course this is just BOM call centre, extremely low quality, no doubt 0.0000003% of the spend on the glorious planes.
What's irritating is having issued a PNR number on Friday I relaxed and assumed all would be well. Stuck my money with Emirates instead. Seatcounter for the Etihad flight was showing J=9 :mad: One wonders how these cash-rich Middle East airlines will ever survive if real market conditions ever come their way.
Just tried to make a booking JNB-DXB in Pearl. The website refused to book it, as it was within 24hrs of actual departure time. Fair enough; instead it tells you to ring CS and make a booking over the phone.
I did this, all went as normal, they took my credit card details, and even issued a PNR number. But that's not enough - they also want you to fill in a CC authorisation form and "fax" (remember them?) it back to them.
I said, okay, and waited for the form. It came (eventually), I filled it in and sent it back. Nothing. Rang them, of course "offices are closed" now etc. This is Friday.
Next morning, Saturday, I rang them to confirm the ticket. This is the day of travel. "Ah, we are waiting for the ticket office to open sir". When is that? "Monday sir" :(
So how am I going to confirm this ticket then? Can I do it when I get to the airport? "No sir, we do not have a ticket desk at the airport".
What if I travel the following day (Sunday)? Does that buy some more time to confirm it? "Sir, ticket office is closed until Monday".
So what you are saying is, if I try to buy a ticket on a Friday for a Saturday or Sunday flight, this is literally impossible? "I suppose so, sir".
In the middle of all this, I asked CS what was the deadline for confirming the ticket, given that the flight left at 1335. "Cut off is this evening sir". But the flight leaves today, at lunchtime. "It would have to be confirmed by this evening sir, or you can not travel". :confused: I give up. Of course this is just BOM call centre, extremely low quality, no doubt 0.0000003% of the spend on the glorious planes.
What's irritating is having issued a PNR number on Friday I relaxed and assumed all would be well. Stuck my money with Emirates instead. Seatcounter for the Etihad flight was showing J=9 :mad: One wonders how these cash-rich Middle East airlines will ever survive if real market conditions ever come their way.