I think the real point is NOT with CO but with KL!

CO does NOT have ANY flights out of MUC but depends on KL for a codeshare. That agreement seems to be that KL can "reject" lowfare CO bookings on KL because the $ KL would get for their part of the trip is not worth it to them....
I had a BRU-AMS-EWR CO ticket where KL "pulled" the BRU-AMS portion on CO because the where not going to fly me for what CO wanted to give them......CO URGED me to argree to take the BRU-EWR nonstop (which I liked better but priced out more $$$)
I was told KL is able to pull the CO codeshare seat within 24 hours after ticketing if they do not agree with the price (for their portion) CO sold them for...

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Viele Gr��e

Oliver

I believe Germanfflyer is correct. There is no CO at MUC nor in IST. If you deal with CO from there, it must be through the phone and it was discussed more than once that the phone agents are much less "empowered" than the airport agents.

I'm sure that if you go to the airport and ask to stand-by, they will let you on the plane even if it's not a T fare opening. Not sure if KLM would do that, but it might be a good idea to take the train to FRA or ZRH (about same distance) and deal with CO agents directly.

As far as CO and IST - they don't fly there, therefore they don't need any policy for the events that happened there.

(edited for syntax)

[This message has been edited by apirchik (edited Dec 03, 2003).]

I know - rules are always meant to be waived and broken in the name of "customer service", no matter if CO has ZERO RESPONSIBILITY in the situation. I've seen firsthand what that can do to an airline (e.g., United), and I'd MUCH rather see consistent customer service policies than take my chances with haphazard customer service.


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Has YOUR airline won an award lately?

I can swallow the fee. Just file it under "stuff happens". But to wait for a T fare is ridiculous; they should fly standby and if a seat opens up, take it. None of this "no T fare available" garbage.

- HF

You are missing that CO DOES NOT HAVE ANY SEAT from MUC not in T not in Y not in C !
ONLY KL has seats from MUC!

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Viele Gr��e

Oliver

I think that point has only come to light since the previously-quoted posts. The fact that CO relies on KL for seats here makes the rest of the story make a heck of a lot more sense.


[This message has been edited by xyzzy (edited Dec 03, 2003).]

Thanks all

Yes, Munich has no CO office. Not even a KLM office but a handling rep that also services EasyJet and Carpathian Airways. Such is my luck. They were clueless

CO told me that KLM would not let me standby for a KLM ticket. Since I had to wait so long I said I would fly to AMS on my own dime and standby for the CO flight there (would have been much cheaper than the many nights airport hotels)and CO still said NO I must start in Munich. I was always told we must abide by the original fare class rules.

Why didnt I leave earlier? The day of the bombing at 11:00 am I was supposed to leave 45 minutes later. After two Jewish synagogues being bombed 2 days before, then two major British institutions just then being bombed I had no desire to go to an International airport and travel. Color me frightned but these were not the "normal" bombs we have in Turkey that I have seen for ob=ver 20 years. They were MASSIVE. I knew this didnt come from inside Turkey and I didn't want to travel. Period.

I stayed in Turkey some days to save on the hotel expense in Munich as they said they would not let me fly standby. Finally I just said enough is enough and went to make my case at the Munich airport. No luck....

Anyway I am home now and much poorer.

Thanks all for your advice.

Sad to read about your experience and the poor service from CO and to some degree KLM, where I had bad experience with rebookings after Sep. 11 as well...

No question, that CO should have waived all fees and put you on the next available flight, based on the massive bombings in Istanbul.
Let someone wait until a T fare is available is simply ridiculous, pretty sure CO will loose more money because of this, I guess you will even fall from CO Silver to CO nada.

Some airlines know how to treat a customer ( without loosing money, Avek !! ), some are clueless.

Anyway to play games with a customer, who was in a city with 4 massive terrorist attacks is just ridiculous with or without a connecting ticket.

I would still try to go (by rental car or train) to either GVA, ZRH or FRA and present the case to a CO airport agent. On the phone, they will not change your ticket to another destination, but at the airport they can do whatever they want and if you present a solid case (which you certainly have) I would say you have better chances to get on a plane.

Ditto. The phone agents are taught to apply the rules mechanically no matter how cruel in the particular circumstances. I think you might have had luck showing up at an airport served by CO and pleading your case to the CO agent since they typically have quite a bit more discretion than the phone agents. I know that I have been able to get what I want at the airport whereas the phone agents will never budge. On the other hand, I understand your reluctence to try this strategy since it is possible that you would have ended up being told the same thing you were told on the phone and you would have been out of even more cash.

[This message has been edited by brooklynflyer (edited Dec 04, 2003).]