Thai Smile cancels international flight BKK-RGN-BKK
Dec 30, 2016, 3:55 am
#1
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Thai Smile cancels international flight BKK-RGN-BKK
A cautionary tale - slightly OT since Thai Smile (WE) is a effectively a LCC.
In Jul I booked 5 pax BKK-RGN-BKK 03 Dec-08 Dec, it was a return ticket (not 2 one-way tickets)). On 01 Dec, I was emailed saying my inbound flight sector on 08 Dec RGN-BKK had been cancelled.
I called the Thai Smile contact centre (I was already in Thailand by then) and asked if we could be transferred onto the TG flight (an A330) which was operating within a few hours of the WE flights. The response was no, but I was offered a date change, refund or 'credit' for future flights on WE. I noted we had specific arrangements, including hotels, so date changes were not possible. It was then suggested I should seek a refund and try and book flights with another carrier.
I asked about the outbound flight BKK-RGN on 03 Dec, as I was concerned that this too might be affected despite no email on this point. The agent checked and after a longish period advised me that this flight also had been cancelled. he could not explain why this had not also been advised.
I asked why the flights had been cancelled, and asked for an email to be sent from Thai Smile on the cancellation of the earlier flight. I had in mind that I might need to claim against my travel insurance since, with a few days to go, the costs for flights were likely higher than what I had initially paid.
The agent informed me the flights flights were cancelled for 'commercial reasons'. He undertook to ensure the refund was promptly actioned, but noted it could take 45 working days.
In terms of outcomes:
In Jul I booked 5 pax BKK-RGN-BKK 03 Dec-08 Dec, it was a return ticket (not 2 one-way tickets)). On 01 Dec, I was emailed saying my inbound flight sector on 08 Dec RGN-BKK had been cancelled.
I called the Thai Smile contact centre (I was already in Thailand by then) and asked if we could be transferred onto the TG flight (an A330) which was operating within a few hours of the WE flights. The response was no, but I was offered a date change, refund or 'credit' for future flights on WE. I noted we had specific arrangements, including hotels, so date changes were not possible. It was then suggested I should seek a refund and try and book flights with another carrier.
I asked about the outbound flight BKK-RGN on 03 Dec, as I was concerned that this too might be affected despite no email on this point. The agent checked and after a longish period advised me that this flight also had been cancelled. he could not explain why this had not also been advised.
I asked why the flights had been cancelled, and asked for an email to be sent from Thai Smile on the cancellation of the earlier flight. I had in mind that I might need to claim against my travel insurance since, with a few days to go, the costs for flights were likely higher than what I had initially paid.
The agent informed me the flights flights were cancelled for 'commercial reasons'. He undertook to ensure the refund was promptly actioned, but noted it could take 45 working days.
In terms of outcomes:
- I proceeded to book on Thai - there were reasonable TG return fares available at THB 5600 per pax. The initial fare on WE was THB 4360, the 'loss' is THB 1240 or around USD35 per person.
- The TG flight was quite full. I wonder how many pax were initially booked with WE...?
- Thai Smile refunded the initial fare cost within 10 working days, so I was pleased with that.
- No email ever received on the cancellation of the outbound flight. I haven't bothered following this up.
Dec 31, 2016, 3:23 am
#3
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Jan 1, 2017, 6:48 pm
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Jan 3, 2017, 2:02 am
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Jan 3, 2017, 7:33 am
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