LOT Polish Denied Boarding in PEK
Jun 22, 2023, 2:03 pm
#92
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I'm curious about one thing, do they target Chinese-sounding names? If you're booked using Aeroplan and your name is John Smith, are you good to fly?
I don't know why they just don't block non-M&M redemptions. I suppose to do that, they would need to know how...
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I don't know why they just don't block non-M&M redemptions. I suppose to do that, they would need to know how...
.
Jun 22, 2023, 2:20 pm
#93
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-If you did scam your ticket, it's on them to prove it (i.e. demonstrate that the Chinese student is not your friend)
Jun 22, 2023, 5:27 pm
#95
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Jun 22, 2023, 5:43 pm
#96
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Jun 22, 2023, 8:11 pm
#97
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They can't target who they want in the EU. That's probably illegal, unless under Chinese law its possible? Is discrimination by race/nationality/creed/gender/sexual preference illegal there? I'm not an expert on that!
Jun 22, 2023, 10:14 pm
#98
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What I mean is they can claim that they think you bought miles, but there is a big gulf between thinking and proviing.
Jun 23, 2023, 3:08 am
#99
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Jun 23, 2023, 6:06 am
#100
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Jul 16, 2023, 9:31 am
#102
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 31
Thanks ny110010001 for starting this discussion. I was recently in the same situation with LOT Polish Airline, and this post has been very helpful to me. Want to share my experience here, in case it can be helpful to others.
Result first, the ticket was honored. However it took tremendous amount of effort, which I believe is pretty unfair for someone who holds a confirmed ticket and expect a hassle free flight.
Here is the story. I booked a reward business class ticket through Aeroplan for a family member, route PEK - WAW - JFK. Three weeks ahead of departure, I received an email from LOT Polish Airline Beijing Office, claiming the booking was invalid and the passenger would be denied boarding. I contact LOT Customer service to explain this situation and to confirm the status, and as expected they replied booking was confirmed. It does seem that the Main Office has no idea of Beijing Office's action.
Then I emailed Beijing Office for a reason, instead of giving an answer, they started to question how I get my ticket and where my reward mileage is from. So I explained (my own credit card points transfer, Aero plan reward booking, etc), and insisted on them to provide a reason. Guess what, no response. Luckily, the family member that I booked ticket for lives in Beijing, so she personally went to the airport polish airline counter and get a contact number. On the phone, they claimed the way of booking this ticket is "illegal", even though the main office confirms status if valid, they don't take the channel as legit, which makes absolutely no sense to me.
It did not seem going anywhere with the bilateral communication with LOT PA Main office and Beijing office separately. So I pulled together a long email in both languages( English and Chinese ), recap the whole situation and attached all the points transfer and reward booking confirmations, send to both main office and Beijing office to ask them to resolve the inconsistency internally, and let them know that I will file complaint and take legal action if boarding was denied with a confirmed booking. Later on followed up with Beijing office with a phone call, finally they agreed they will sort it out. Next day, no question asked for boarding. It was a pretty exhausting process.
Result first, the ticket was honored. However it took tremendous amount of effort, which I believe is pretty unfair for someone who holds a confirmed ticket and expect a hassle free flight.
Here is the story. I booked a reward business class ticket through Aeroplan for a family member, route PEK - WAW - JFK. Three weeks ahead of departure, I received an email from LOT Polish Airline Beijing Office, claiming the booking was invalid and the passenger would be denied boarding. I contact LOT Customer service to explain this situation and to confirm the status, and as expected they replied booking was confirmed. It does seem that the Main Office has no idea of Beijing Office's action.
Then I emailed Beijing Office for a reason, instead of giving an answer, they started to question how I get my ticket and where my reward mileage is from. So I explained (my own credit card points transfer, Aero plan reward booking, etc), and insisted on them to provide a reason. Guess what, no response. Luckily, the family member that I booked ticket for lives in Beijing, so she personally went to the airport polish airline counter and get a contact number. On the phone, they claimed the way of booking this ticket is "illegal", even though the main office confirms status if valid, they don't take the channel as legit, which makes absolutely no sense to me.
It did not seem going anywhere with the bilateral communication with LOT PA Main office and Beijing office separately. So I pulled together a long email in both languages( English and Chinese ), recap the whole situation and attached all the points transfer and reward booking confirmations, send to both main office and Beijing office to ask them to resolve the inconsistency internally, and let them know that I will file complaint and take legal action if boarding was denied with a confirmed booking. Later on followed up with Beijing office with a phone call, finally they agreed they will sort it out. Next day, no question asked for boarding. It was a pretty exhausting process.
LOT Polish still have not responded to my complaint. While I continue to have great respect for the airline, they should understand that this is not going away without a proper response from them.
Luckily a high profile travel blog picked up the story and let's see where this goes. For those that has a vested interest from reading this thread, here's the link to the blog: https://onemileatatime.com/news/lot-...-fraud-fiasco/
Jul 16, 2023, 9:33 am
#103
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 31
FYI, my first name is not Chinese but I'm just one data point.
Jul 16, 2023, 9:50 am
#104
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
So firstly, not sure why someone said otherwise, there is racism in China. Obviously. Don't know what onr defined as "overt" but it is blatantly obvious to me. Black and white people get treated very differently.
China doesn't really have a legal system for consumers so I am not sure why posters who presumably know something about China or say they live there suggest that (or more to the point the legal system is for the government to impose its control over the people).
In China there is not much recourse when companies or people don't listen to you. Police don't care. But making a fuss and having it go viral definitely works (similar to the US, or presumably most places in the world).
There seems to be no consequences and only upside for the Beijing office unilaterally voiding tickets. So why would they do any differently?
China doesn't really have a legal system for consumers so I am not sure why posters who presumably know something about China or say they live there suggest that (or more to the point the legal system is for the government to impose its control over the people).
In China there is not much recourse when companies or people don't listen to you. Police don't care. But making a fuss and having it go viral definitely works (similar to the US, or presumably most places in the world).
There seems to be no consequences and only upside for the Beijing office unilaterally voiding tickets. So why would they do any differently?
Jul 16, 2023, 10:19 am
#105
Join Date: Jan 2011
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Who knows the answer may say so please !
but OP has already brought in the cavalry with OMAAT
https://onemileatatime.com/news/lot-...-fraud-fiasco/
and a background as why scams and unsavoury practices are getting flagged as fraud
https://onemileatatime.com/insights/...-miles-points/
but OP has already brought in the cavalry with OMAAT
https://onemileatatime.com/news/lot-...-fraud-fiasco/
and a background as why scams and unsavoury practices are getting flagged as fraud
https://onemileatatime.com/insights/...-miles-points/