Jan 20, 2016, 9:14 am
Last edit by: Palal
Brief History
On 6 January, a fare appeared for a few hours on Ethiopian Airlines (ET) and online travel agencies (OTAs) offering BRU-ADD-(GBE)-CPT r/t in fully refundable business (C-Class) for 530€.
Several days later, many members got e-mails stating that they "actually booked economy tickets" and were downgraded from fare basis CRTBE (fully refundable business) to TLES6MBE (economy). Some who booked through OTAs have yet to receive this downgrade, and some have been downgraded with no notification from OTAs.
Several people have also successfully flown already.
Next Steps
1. It's (now) safe to call/email the airline.
2. It seems 2 options are given: travel in economy, or full refund.
--> those who have chosen a refund have mostly gotten it promptly.
--> those who have contested the e-mail have not received any type of response.
--> other options were presented here, although others have not seem to replicated the result.
3. Contacting any Ethiopian offices (London, Vienna, etc.) have resulted in being redirected to the Ethiopian Brussels office.
4. For those who plan to fight it, see below. Note that no one has had a successful outcome yet.
5. Update: Some users are reporting getting the offer of 75% refunds to travel in economy as per EC 261.
Avenues of contest:
1. Try Art. 10 (2) lit. c of the Flight Delay Compensation Regulation 261/2004. It may be possible to get up to 75% of the ticket price back, although this is unconfirmed and debatable.
2. Befriend a Belgian lawyer with a penchant for pro bono work
Kidding aside, it is not wise to go the legal route.
You should email the Belgian enforcement body at: [email protected]
In the email state your name, eticket, travel date, attach ticket receipt.
State that your ticket has been purchased and issued in business class and that the airline is offering to either cancel or downgrade without compensation. Politely ask for their help in enforcing EU Reg 261/2004 Art.10 2(c).
Planned Trips:
early February OwlMan
early April mattking2000
March-End Culture Guru
late April Palal
Further/concurrent reading (for the German-inclined):
http://www.vielfliegertreff.de/first-business-class-tarife/91159-et-bru-cpt-524-euro.html
On 6 January, a fare appeared for a few hours on Ethiopian Airlines (ET) and online travel agencies (OTAs) offering BRU-ADD-(GBE)-CPT r/t in fully refundable business (C-Class) for 530€.
Several days later, many members got e-mails stating that they "actually booked economy tickets" and were downgraded from fare basis CRTBE (fully refundable business) to TLES6MBE (economy). Some who booked through OTAs have yet to receive this downgrade, and some have been downgraded with no notification from OTAs.
Several people have also successfully flown already.
Next Steps
1. It's (now) safe to call/email the airline.
2. It seems 2 options are given: travel in economy, or full refund.
--> those who have chosen a refund have mostly gotten it promptly.
--> those who have contested the e-mail have not received any type of response.
--> other options were presented here, although others have not seem to replicated the result.
3. Contacting any Ethiopian offices (London, Vienna, etc.) have resulted in being redirected to the Ethiopian Brussels office.
4. For those who plan to fight it, see below. Note that no one has had a successful outcome yet.
5. Update: Some users are reporting getting the offer of 75% refunds to travel in economy as per EC 261.
Avenues of contest:
1. Try Art. 10 (2) lit. c of the Flight Delay Compensation Regulation 261/2004. It may be possible to get up to 75% of the ticket price back, although this is unconfirmed and debatable.
2. Befriend a Belgian lawyer with a penchant for pro bono work
Kidding aside, it is not wise to go the legal route. Code:
Article 10: Upgrading and downgrading 1. If an operating air carrier places a passenger in a class higher than that for which the ticket was purchased, it may not request any supplementary payment. 2. If an operating air carrier places a passenger in a class lower than that for which the ticket was purchased, it shall within seven days, by the means provided for in Article 7(3), reimburse (a) 30 % of the price of the ticket for all flights of 1500 kilometres or less, or (b) 50 % of the price of the ticket for all intra-Community flights of more than 1500 kilometres, except flights between the European territory of the Member States and the French overseas departments, and for all other flights between 1500 and 3500 kilometres, or (c) 75 % of the price of the ticket for all flights not falling under (a) or (b), including flights between the European territory of the Member States and the French overseas departments.
In the email state your name, eticket, travel date, attach ticket receipt.
State that your ticket has been purchased and issued in business class and that the airline is offering to either cancel or downgrade without compensation. Politely ask for their help in enforcing EU Reg 261/2004 Art.10 2(c).
Planned Trips:
early February OwlMan
early April mattking2000
March-End Culture Guru
late April Palal
Further/concurrent reading (for the German-inclined):
http://www.vielfliegertreff.de/first-business-class-tarife/91159-et-bru-cpt-524-euro.html
[PREMIUM FARE GONE] Ethiopian Airlines-Brussel to CPT (r/t) in J on 787 for €530 in J
Jan 6, 2016, 1:34 pm
#151
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Brussels BE
Programs: SEN, FB PLT, HH,
Posts: 105
Jan 6, 2016, 1:37 pm
#152
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Germany
Posts: 136
Jan 6, 2016, 3:01 pm
#153
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Brussels BE
Programs: SEN, FB PLT, HH,
Posts: 105
[PREMIUM FARE GONE] Ethiopian Airlines-Brussel to CPT (r/t) in J on 787 for €530 in J
recalculation are on every change before or after departure, when you have a full flexible and full fare paid then nothing will change in price, in our case the different between the full fare and the price paid will be charged.
Jan 6, 2016, 3:14 pm
#154
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: AT
Programs: *G at A3,TK;M&M,LM; IHG RA, AB Plat.
Posts: 105
Jan 6, 2016, 3:32 pm
#155
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Silver, Aegan Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 393
too many deals for me, I didn't even tried to get this one....
I have already 3 big trips this year
MXP-IST-GRU-IGU-RIO-SCL-IPC
Easter on Easter Island
LHR-TXL-AUH-DOH-MLE-DOH-BKK-SGN-HKG-LHR
June with QATAR Airways business class
WAW-VIE-PVG +add-on CAN-SIN-MEL-Gold-coast and back to London with stay at SIN, maybe I will burn some amex points to try suites Singapore airlines
2014-54legs
2015-72legs
2016-xxx
this is more than 2months travelling....crazy live for my family 2+2
because we are going together
I have already 3 big trips this year
MXP-IST-GRU-IGU-RIO-SCL-IPC
Easter on Easter Island
LHR-TXL-AUH-DOH-MLE-DOH-BKK-SGN-HKG-LHR
June with QATAR Airways business class
WAW-VIE-PVG +add-on CAN-SIN-MEL-Gold-coast and back to London with stay at SIN, maybe I will burn some amex points to try suites Singapore airlines
2014-54legs
2015-72legs
2016-xxx
this is more than 2months travelling....crazy live for my family 2+2
because we are going together
Jan 6, 2016, 3:48 pm
#156
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Germany
Posts: 136
Here is a quote from the farerules
B. AFTER DEPARTURE / PARTIALLY UTILISED TICKETS
AFTER COMMENCEMENT OF THE FIRST SECTOR OF THE
JOURNEY OR THE JOURNEY PERFORMED TILL THE
TURNAROUND / FARE BREAK POINT.
1. REVALIDATION
IN THE EVENT OF VOLUNTARY CHANGES AFTER
COMMENCEMENT OF TRAVEL CHARGE THE APPLICABLE
CHANGE FEES BASED ON THE FARE COMPONENT BEING
CHANGED.
2. REISSUE
IN THE EVENT OF VOLUNTARY CHANGES AFTER
COMMENCEMENT OF TRAVEL THE FARES FOR THE
PASSENGER JOURNEY SHALL BE RECALCULATED FROM THE
POINT OF ORIGIN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FARES IN
EFFECT ON THE DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUED TICKET.
APPLICABLE CHANGE FEES TO BE COLLECTED.
AFTER COMMENCEMENT OF THE FIRST SECTOR OF THE
JOURNEY OR THE JOURNEY PERFORMED TILL THE
TURNAROUND / FARE BREAK POINT.
1. REVALIDATION
IN THE EVENT OF VOLUNTARY CHANGES AFTER
COMMENCEMENT OF TRAVEL CHARGE THE APPLICABLE
CHANGE FEES BASED ON THE FARE COMPONENT BEING
CHANGED.
2. REISSUE
IN THE EVENT OF VOLUNTARY CHANGES AFTER
COMMENCEMENT OF TRAVEL THE FARES FOR THE
PASSENGER JOURNEY SHALL BE RECALCULATED FROM THE
POINT OF ORIGIN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FARES IN
EFFECT ON THE DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUED TICKET.
APPLICABLE CHANGE FEES TO BE COLLECTED.
Last edited by Kapi1904; Jan 6, 2016 at 4:02 pm
Jan 6, 2016, 4:00 pm
#157
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2
Now, that I am booked and flying next week, the questions:
1. Layover in Addis Adaba at 07:04 till 23:40...
Looks like the airline offers a free hotel if transiting 8-24 hours?
2. South Africa requires a yellow fever vaccine certificate if one has visited Ethiopia,
does that apply if one is just transiting (and goes out of the airport)?
1. Layover in Addis Adaba at 07:04 till 23:40...
Looks like the airline offers a free hotel if transiting 8-24 hours?
2. South Africa requires a yellow fever vaccine certificate if one has visited Ethiopia,
does that apply if one is just transiting (and goes out of the airport)?
Jan 6, 2016, 4:29 pm
#158
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 28
IIRC you need a vaccine certificate if you are in transit longer than 12 hours (ie. Yes, you need one, because you are in transit for a bit over 16 hours)
Jan 6, 2016, 7:37 pm
#159
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
Are you sure? I never had a recalculation after flying the outbound and changing the return. From my experience no fare difference is charged as long as the booking class is available. From my understanding "THE FARES IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUED TICKET" means that they will check the booking class availabilitiy and will charge the fare difference in case you have to change into a higher booking class. As long as you stay in the same fare class the historical fare is the same. But of course I might be wrong and considering it is an errror fare you never know what happens. I had this issue only once with an error fare on TK and they usually don't care anyway.
Here is a quote from the farerules
Here is a quote from the farerules
However, as you say, if it were the case that there was an error fare here, the airline might not want to play by the normal rules.
So if you are of the view that this might be a mistake fare, it might not be entirely wise to rely on that provision.
Jan 6, 2016, 7:42 pm
#160
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
Now, that I am booked and flying next week, the questions:
1. Layover in Addis Adaba at 07:04 till 23:40...
Looks like the airline offers a free hotel if transiting 8-24 hours?
2. South Africa requires a yellow fever vaccine certificate if one has visited Ethiopia,
does that apply if one is just transiting (and goes out of the airport)?
1. Layover in Addis Adaba at 07:04 till 23:40...
Looks like the airline offers a free hotel if transiting 8-24 hours?
2. South Africa requires a yellow fever vaccine certificate if one has visited Ethiopia,
does that apply if one is just transiting (and goes out of the airport)?
Code:
Information as of 07JAN16 / 0241 UTC South Africa (ZA) Vaccination against yellow fever required if arriving within 10 days from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission except if arriving from Rwanda. Passengers not holding a yellow fever vaccination certificate will be placed under quarantine for a max. stay of six days The certificate of yellow fever vaccination is valid for life. Exempt from Yellow Fever vaccination: - Children under 1 year of age, provided holding a medical certificate stating inoculation is undesirable. - Passengers transiting South Africa provided not leaving the transit area. - Passengers transiting countries with risk of yellow fever for max. 12 hours and not leaving the transit area. - Holders of a certificate of contraindication on medical grounds, who will be placed under quarantine. Recommended: - Malaria prophylaxis: malaria risk, mainly due to P. falciparum, exists throughout the year in the low altitude areas of Limpopo Province, Mpumalanga Province (including the Kruger National Park) and north-eastern Kwazulu Natal as far south as the Tugela river. Risk is highest from October to May. Recommended prevention in risk areas: C.
Jan 6, 2016, 11:53 pm
#162
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Are you sure? I never had a recalculation after flying the outbound and changing the return. From my experience no fare difference is charged as long as the booking class is available. From my understanding "THE FARES IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUED TICKET" means that they will check the booking class availabilitiy and will charge the fare difference in case you have to change into a higher booking class. As long as you stay in the same fare class the historical fare is the same. But of course I might be wrong and considering it is an errror fare you never know what happens. I had this issue only once with an error fare on TK and they usually don't care anyway.
Here is a quote from the farerules
Here is a quote from the farerules
Relying on rules when travelling on a mistake fare is probably not the smartest move. It might work, but your interpretation of "historical fare" might not be the same as the airline's.
Sleeping dogs and all that...
It might be better to accept that erosion in the flexibility of the fare as the price you've paid for a stonkingly good deal.
Jan 7, 2016, 12:56 am
#163
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: The Hague, NL
Programs: GMLFL, Life 2.0 - Mucci Premiere Classe & des Chevaliers Toulousiens
Posts: 22,911
To those flying: get your yellow fever shot if you decide to leave the airport in ADD. There are many stories about people not allowed to board the plane to SA without proof they are vaccinated. You don't want to take any risks with flash sales.
Jan 7, 2016, 1:10 am
#164
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Seat 1L these days :)
Programs: AF Platinum/AY LUMO/SK EBG/baEC S/HYATT Globalist/MR LTP/A3 *G/HH Dia/IHG plat
Posts: 7,967
Flash sales are good 😀
Jan 7, 2016, 1:41 am
#165
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Brussels BE
Programs: SEN, FB PLT, HH,
Posts: 105
- Passengers transiting countries with risk of yellow fever
for max. 12 hours and not leaving
the transit area.