Astounding BA generosity to Zoom passengers!
Aug 29, 2008, 4:26 am
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
Astounding BA generosity to Zoom passengers!
From ba.com:
"Following Zoom’s announcement that they have suspended operations, British Airways is offering a special one-way fare of half the usual return price for customers who have been stranded."
Way to go guys!
"Following Zoom’s announcement that they have suspended operations, British Airways is offering a special one-way fare of half the usual return price for customers who have been stranded."
Way to go guys!
Aug 29, 2008, 4:51 am
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,207
Aug 29, 2008, 4:59 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Gold, TG Gold, HHonors Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 8,665
A one way ticket is normally full fare and can be more expensive than a restricted Economy return ticket
Suspect it is a restricted Economy return fare code although usual the BA communications/press department have not expressed this in the clearest manner.
Suspect it is a restricted Economy return fare code although usual the BA communications/press department have not expressed this in the clearest manner.
Aug 29, 2008, 5:08 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
Assuming Zoom has a similar number of people stranded on either side of the pond, BA is not giving up any revenue with this offer. 10,000 one-way seats sold at half-the-discounted-return makes them exactly the same amount of revenue as 5,000 standard return flights.
If they offered to match the fare pax had paid Zoom (which they will get back from their credit card issuer) then it would be a generous gesture.
Aug 29, 2008, 5:13 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold(OWE), QF LTG, MR Plat, IHG Spire, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,156
I know that ... but only because BA chooses to set its prices in that rip-off way. Although, to be fair, BA is pretty unique amongst European flag-carriers in offering one-way tickets on intra-Europe routes so we should be grateful for some things (albeit forced on them by EasyJet et al).
For example, last week I had to book a family member on a one way far from LHR to CPH. Interestingly BD were happy to sell a cheap LHR-CPH one way fare on SK metal, yet this was not possible by booking directly with SK.
Aug 29, 2008, 5:21 am
#6
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: BA GGL, VS Gold, BD Gold, Flying Blue Platinum, IC RA, Hilton Diamond, Eurostar Carte Blanche
Posts: 2,629
VS offering "special" fares too but are better at PR than BA - note the cheeky line about "we are currently very busy" 
Virgin Atlantic is offering special one way fares between London Heathrow and all of our USA destinations for passengers who were booked on Zoom Airlines, which has now ceased trading.
Stranded Zoom passengers, with proof of future travel on Zoom, should contact Virgin Atlantic on 0870 380 2007 or visit any Virgin Atlantic airport ticket desk in the UK or USA.
Please be advised Virgin Atlantic flights are currently very busy, however Virgin Atlantic representatives will do their all to assist in accommodating Zoom customers travel plans.
Further information will become available on Friday 29th August.
BA have aslo added:
BA will also give a discount from its current World Offer fares to those passengers booked on Zoom but yet to travel.
Virgin Atlantic is offering special one way fares between London Heathrow and all of our USA destinations for passengers who were booked on Zoom Airlines, which has now ceased trading.
Stranded Zoom passengers, with proof of future travel on Zoom, should contact Virgin Atlantic on 0870 380 2007 or visit any Virgin Atlantic airport ticket desk in the UK or USA.
Please be advised Virgin Atlantic flights are currently very busy, however Virgin Atlantic representatives will do their all to assist in accommodating Zoom customers travel plans.
Further information will become available on Friday 29th August.
BA have aslo added:
BA will also give a discount from its current World Offer fares to those passengers booked on Zoom but yet to travel.
Aug 29, 2008, 5:25 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA silver, VS, Jet, Carlson gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 614
Aug 29, 2008, 6:18 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
Aug 29, 2008, 6:42 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: somewhere north of London, UK
Programs: HH Gold, BA Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 15,245
Also I think they went to San Diego, which isn't that far from LAX.
Aug 29, 2008, 6:44 am
#11
Join Date: May 2005
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Programs: Marriott (Lifetime Titantium), whatever other programs as benefits make sense.
Posts: 1,920
Virgin Atlantic doesn't fly to Canada, but I guess passengers would at least be able to get from the UK to North America, and then... I dunno, take a Greyhound bus from there?
Aug 29, 2008, 7:21 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Scottsdale
Posts: 2,949
From an article in The Times:
But Helen Steel, who spent all day yesterday at Glasgow airport waiting for a flight to Canada which never took off, said that BA staff appeared to be unaware of any "special fares" and were demanding £2,500 per passenger.
But Helen Steel, who spent all day yesterday at Glasgow airport waiting for a flight to Canada which never took off, said that BA staff appeared to be unaware of any "special fares" and were demanding £2,500 per passenger.
Sep 1, 2008, 10:43 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: FL350, seat 0k
Programs: SK*G, BA Silver, Flying Blue, VLM, VT Traveller, PC Platinum, BW Diamond
Posts: 3,545
From an article in The Times:
But Helen Steel, who spent all day yesterday at Glasgow airport waiting for a flight to Canada which never took off, said that BA staff appeared to be unaware of any "special fares" and were demanding Ł2,500 per passenger.
But Helen Steel, who spent all day yesterday at Glasgow airport waiting for a flight to Canada which never took off, said that BA staff appeared to be unaware of any "special fares" and were demanding Ł2,500 per passenger.
Sep 1, 2008, 10:55 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
Note the "yesterday" in the article. It is quite possible that the commercial policy had not yet been decided upon, let alone communicated to agents in the field at the time.
Sep 1, 2008, 10:59 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: AA Lifetime PLT , BA Silver , BD RIP , HH Gold, SPG / Marriott PLT , EF Subscriber
Posts: 6,702
From an article in The Times:
But Helen Steel, who spent all day yesterday at Glasgow airport waiting for a flight to Canada which never took off, said that BA staff appeared to be unaware of any "special fares" and were demanding £2,500 per passenger.
But Helen Steel, who spent all day yesterday at Glasgow airport waiting for a flight to Canada which never took off, said that BA staff appeared to be unaware of any "special fares" and were demanding £2,500 per passenger.
Of course what we dont know was, if the connecting flights from London to Canada were heavily book perhaps only High priced Business Class seats were available.
As with all media there are always 2 sides to the story.
Last edited by UncleDude; Sep 1, 2008 at 12:16 pm