Mistake fare LHR - TLV [Tickets now cancelled by BA]
#406
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Location: UK
Programs: Deliveroo Plus
Posts: 179
I only booked it for the TPs, even though it wasn't 100% clear at booking what fare class they were as the OTA didn't display so i just guessed and believed that 1 poster here that maybe I would be lucky and it does book in B.
I am glad it cancelled because looking back dont fancy economy on 789. I will use the £100 to get a discounted trip to GIB
I am glad it cancelled because looking back dont fancy economy on 789. I will use the £100 to get a discounted trip to GIB
I should reiterate as OP the title did have ??? in it however a mod has seemed to remove it allowing the floodgates to open for all the righteous to say 'oh but you knew it was a mistake' which is an incorrect statement for most, to be honest even if I was aware of the fare class this wouldn't have meant much to me at the time. Having said that I am of the opinion KARFA was aware this was a genuine mistake fare.
The conversation now seems to have moved onto BA's handling of this fiasco. As per the image I attached above and on this post again for reference, BA offloaded this to the OTA's to deal with, it still seems some of those affected have yet to be even contacted. Alex Cruz may be happy about all the free media attention though!
Last edited by yb90; Jun 21, 2018 at 6:12 am
#407
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 756
Sadly this thread has turned somewhat adversarial, especially in terms of trying to 'catch out' various posters' intentions.
#410
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,705
I should reiterate as OP the title did have ??? in it however a mod has seemed to remove it allowing the floodgates to open for all the righteous to say 'oh but you knew it was a mistake' which is an incorrect statement for most, to be honest even if I was aware of the fare class this wouldn't have meant much to me at the time. Having said that I am of the opinion KARFA was aware this was a genuine mistake fare.
Thanks for confirming the original title as well.
#411
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Quite so. A sad reflection unfortunately on what should be a good thread for debate, but it has turned into the typical thread as soon as a 'mistake fare' has been pulled. The individual analysis is not required.
#412
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
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Wizz Air have offered 'Rescue' flights to 'Stranded' BA passengers for £80 each way.
Using language normally reserved for airlines that have gone bust. BA Marketing Department must be hating on whoever made the decision to cancel these flights now.
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel...-a8409351.html
Using language normally reserved for airlines that have gone bust. BA Marketing Department must be hating on whoever made the decision to cancel these flights now.
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel...-a8409351.html
That said, more importantly, I still hope some people who like that sort of thing take the airline to court and that courts will get a chance to decide whether BA's understanding of a "manifest error" is correct or not. Should this be the case and be dealt with by a Court which can set precedent, this could suddenly become a far more costly decision for BA (notwithstanding the possible public humiliation should they be found to have labeled this unconvincingly)
#414
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAGGL, A3G, Accor Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, LHW Sterling
Posts: 1,305
Maybe I'm being overly fussy, but I've just spoken to the OTA (Omega) about the "voucher" claim process.
You basically go onto their website, pick a flight before the end of July for travel up to 30 June 2019. Then book it, using false credit card information. Apparently then the booking will be created, you phone in and discuss the discount and pay for the flight at the adjusted price.
Is it me, or is this not a great process for customers to have to go through to get their "goodwill" gesture. Interested in people's thoughts.
You basically go onto their website, pick a flight before the end of July for travel up to 30 June 2019. Then book it, using false credit card information. Apparently then the booking will be created, you phone in and discuss the discount and pay for the flight at the adjusted price.
Is it me, or is this not a great process for customers to have to go through to get their "goodwill" gesture. Interested in people's thoughts.
Last edited by Woodbinerich; Jun 21, 2018 at 7:55 am
#417
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: BA Blue, IHG Spire, Marriott Gold
Posts: 394
It was on the Money Saving Expert bit of a show on BBC 5Live earlier in the week, someone had bought the flights, paid for a non refundable hotel and non refundable car hire and didn't know what to do now his flight was cancelled. The question was about whether BA would compensate him for that.
I can see why BA did cancel it but there will be people (like the man on the radio show) who probably booked in good faith and it's not necessarily a good luck. Alex Cruz has made a big deal about people searching on price alone and thus BA has to compete on it. It's a bit difficult if you're not sure if the price being offered is actually correct though :-)
I can see why BA did cancel it but there will be people (like the man on the radio show) who probably booked in good faith and it's not necessarily a good luck. Alex Cruz has made a big deal about people searching on price alone and thus BA has to compete on it. It's a bit difficult if you're not sure if the price being offered is actually correct though :-)
#419
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,383
How interesting to have been a fly-on-the wall when all this first came to light in the BA bunker. But in the absence of such a privilege, one can only speculate on just how things actually panned out.
I have conjured up an image of a smart, quick-thinking young manager keen to address the situation swiftly & effectively, and who relays this for approval by an exec higher up the pecking order :
“I really think we should simply honour any bookings already made, and suck up the small loss of revenue. This way it won’t make the mainstream media and we avoid any damaging coverage. Plus ..... after our bad spell with IT troubles and weather disruption, it’s a relatively cheap way of rebuilding some goodwill”.
Exec : “Hmm. You’re right. It’s exactly what I’d like to do. Problem is ... it’s not how the Boss sees things ...... you know how he wants us to protect the bottom line in every which way. We’ll end up taking a lot of flak with cancellation, no doubt. But at least we won’t lose out in hard cash”.
Junior : “Shouldn’t we be worried about the bigger picture and our public image ? “
Exec : “Like I said, let’s just focus on profits”.
I have conjured up an image of a smart, quick-thinking young manager keen to address the situation swiftly & effectively, and who relays this for approval by an exec higher up the pecking order :
“I really think we should simply honour any bookings already made, and suck up the small loss of revenue. This way it won’t make the mainstream media and we avoid any damaging coverage. Plus ..... after our bad spell with IT troubles and weather disruption, it’s a relatively cheap way of rebuilding some goodwill”.
Exec : “Hmm. You’re right. It’s exactly what I’d like to do. Problem is ... it’s not how the Boss sees things ...... you know how he wants us to protect the bottom line in every which way. We’ll end up taking a lot of flak with cancellation, no doubt. But at least we won’t lose out in hard cash”.
Junior : “Shouldn’t we be worried about the bigger picture and our public image ? “
Exec : “Like I said, let’s just focus on profits”.