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, 3:18 am
#19
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,499
I would assume date changes to any date could be made, as long as fare class availability is not an issue?
Jan 6, 2016, 3:19 am
#21
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,839
Code:
Rule Category Rule Text
FLIGHT APPLICATION UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED NOTE - GENERAL RULE DOES NOT
APPLY
THE FARE COMPONENT MUST BE ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
ANY ET FLIGHT OPERATED BY ET.
ADVANCE RES/TICKETING UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED
OPEN RETURNS NOT PERMITTED.
WAITLIST AND STANDBY NOT PERMITTED.
MAXIMUM STAY FOR ROUND TRIP FARES
TRAVEL FROM LAST STOPOVER MUST COMMENCE NO LATER THAN 12
MONTHS AFTER DEPARTURE FROM FARE ORIGIN.
STOPOVERS FOR BUSINESS UNRESTRICTED FARES
UNLIMITED FREE STOPOVERS PERMITTED ON THE PRICING UNIT IN
ADD.
PERMITTED COMBINATIONS UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED
APPLICABLE ADD-ON CONSTRUCTION IS ADDRESSED IN
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS - CATEGORY 23.
END-ON-END
END-ON-END COMBINATIONS PERMITTED. VALIDATE ALL FARE
COMPONENTS. FARES MUST BE SHOWN AS A THROUGH FARE ON THE
TICKET. TRAVEL MUST BE VIA THE POINT OF COMBINATION.
SIDE TRIPS PERMITTED.
OPEN JAWS
FARES MAY BE COMBINED ON A HALF ROUND TRIP BASIS WITH ET
FARES
-TO FORM SINGLE OR DOUBLE OPEN JAWS WHICH CONSISTS OF NO
MORE THAN 2 INTERNATIONAL FARE COMPONENTS AND THE OPEN
SEGMENT AT ORIGIN MUST BE IN ONE COUNTRY. THE OPEN
SEGMENT AT DESTINATION HAS NO RESTRICTIONS.
PROVIDED -
COMBINATIONS ARE WITH ANY FARE FOR CARRIER ET IN ANY
RULE AND TARIFF.
ROUND TRIPS/CIRCLE TRIPS
FARES MAY BE COMBINED ON A HALF ROUND TRIP BASIS
-TO FORM ROUND TRIPS/CIRCLE TRIPS.
PROVIDED -
COMBINATIONS ARE WITH ANY FARE FOR CARRIER ET IN ANY
RULE AND TARIFF.
SURCHARGES UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED NOTE - GENERAL RULE DOES NOT
APPLY
THE PROVISIONS BELOW APPLY ONLY AS FOLLOWS -
TICKETS MAY ONLY BE SOLD IN SUDAN.
A SURCHARGE OF 35 PERCENT OF THE FARE PER TICKET WILL BE
ADDED TO THE APPLICABLE FARE FOR TRAVEL.
THE PROVISIONS BELOW APPLY ONLY AS FOLLOWS -
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON ET OR ET AND MAY ONLY BE SOLD IN
NETHERLANDS
THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR TRAVEL.
THE PROVISIONS BELOW APPLY ONLY AS FOLLOWS -
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON ET OR ET.
SOTO TRANSACTIONS REQUIRED.
A SURCHARGE OF 7 PERCENT OF THE FARE PER TICKET WILL BE
ADDED TO THE APPLICABLE FARE FOR TRAVEL.
THE PROVISIONS BELOW APPLY ONLY AS FOLLOWS -
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON ET OR ET.
SOTO TRANSACTIONS REQUIRED.
A SURCHARGE OF 7 PERCENT OF THE FARE PER TICKET WILL BE
ADDED TO THE APPLICABLE FARE FOR TRAVEL.
THE PROVISIONS BELOW APPLY ONLY AS FOLLOWS -
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON ET OR HR.
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED BY ELECTRONIC TICKETING.
OR - TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON ET OR KP.
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED BY ELECTRONIC TICKETING.
THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR TRAVEL PER DIRECTION.
THE PROVISIONS BELOW APPLY ONLY AS FOLLOWS -
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON ET OR HR.
TICKETS MAY NOT BE ISSUED BY ELECTRONIC TICKETING.
OR - TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON ET OR KP.
TICKETS MAY NOT BE ISSUED BY ELECTRONIC TICKETING.
A SURCHARGE OF USD 10.00 PER TICKET WILL BE ADDED TO THE
APPLICABLE FARE FOR TRAVEL.
OTHERWISE
A SURCHARGE OF USD 210.00 PER DIRECTION WILL BE ADDED TO
THE APPLICABLE FARE FOR TRAVEL.
SALES RESTRICTIONS UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED
TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON/AFTER 01JAN 16.
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED
TICKETS MAY NOT BE SOLD IN ANGOLA.
NOTE -
FARES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE
AND ARE GURANTEED IF TICKETED AT TIME OF MAKING
BOOKINGS.
PENALTIES FROM/TO EUROPE FOR BUSINESS UNRESTRICTED FARES
NOTE -
CHANGES-------------------------------------------
ANY TIME
CHANGES PERMITTED FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION.
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER .
ANY TIME
CHANGES PERMITTED FOR NO-SHOW.
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER .
CANCELLATIONS-------------------------------------
BEFORE DEPARTURE
CANCELLATIONS PERMITTED FOR CANCEL/REFUND.
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER .
BEFORE DEPARTURE
CANCELLATIONS PERMITTED FOR NO-SHOW.
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER .
AFTER DEPARTURE
CANCELLATIONS PERMITTED FOR CANCEL/REFUND.
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER .
AFTER DEPARTURE
CANCELLATIONS PERMITTED FOR NO-SHOW.
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER .
--------------------------------------------------
WHEN DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL FARES ARE
COMBINED SEPARATE PENALTY APPLIES REGARDLESS OF
THE CHANGED FARE BASIS.
WHEN INTERNATIONAL FARES ARE COMBINED WITH
INTERNATIONAL FARES THE MOST RESTRICTIVE PENALTY
APPLES REGARDLESS OF THE CHANGED FARE BASIS.
REROUTING-----------------------------------------
REROUTING TO A SECTOR WITH EQUAL OR HIGHER RBD IS
PERMITTED BY COLLECTING FARE DIFFERENCE AND
APPLICABLE PENALTY.
REROUTING TO A SECTOR WITH LOWER RBD IS PERMITTED
BUT RESIDUAL FARE DIFFERENCE SHALL NOT BE
REFUNDED AND APPLICABLE PENALTY ALSO SHALL BE
COLLECTED.
--------------------------------------------------
NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
CHANGES ------------------------------------------
1. A CHANGE IS A DATE/FLIGHT/ROUTING/BOOKING
CODE CHANGE.
2. CHANGE FEE APPLIES PER PASSENGER PER
TRANSACTION.
3. CHANGE FEE DOES NOT APPLY TO INFANT NOT
OCCUPYING A SEAT.
4. CHANGE IS PERMITTED WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY OF
ORIGINAL TICKET.
WAIVERS-------------------------------------------
1. WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER . A COPY OF
VALID DEATH CERTIFICATE ISSUED
BY A COMPETENT MEDICAL AUTHORITY IS REQUIRED.
2. CHANGE FEE IS WAIVED ON SAME DAY SAME FLT
NUMBER.
3. UPGRADING TO A HIGHER CABIN
--------------------------------------------------
CHANGES AGAINST NO SHOW---------------------------
- A NO SHOW IS CONSIDERED WHEN PAX FAILED TO
CHANGE OR CANCEL HIS/HER RESERVATION 24HRS TO
DEPARTURE.
- A NO-SHOW FOR A FLIGHT IS CONSIDERED WHEN A
PASSENGER FAILS TO USE THE RESERVATION OF THE
SCHEDULED FLIGHT.
- FAILURE TO OCCUPY A RESERVED SEAT ON ANY
SEGMENT OF THE ITINERARY WILL RESULT IN ALL
SUBSEQUENT SEGMENTS OF THE ITINERARY BEING
CANCELLED. IN SUCH CASES NO-SHOW FEE WILL APPLY.
- IN CASE OF NO-SHOW ONLY ONE FEE IS TO BE
CHARGED I.E. EITHER THE NO-SHOW FEE OR THE
REISSUE/REVALIDATION FEE WHICHEVER IS HIGHER AND
NOT BOTH.
EXTENSION OF VALIDITY AND UPGRADING---------------
- EXTENSION OF VALIDITY AND UPGRADING TO A HIGHER
FARE IS PERMITTED BY CHARGING THE FARE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE FARE PAID AND THE NEW FARE PLUS
APPLIBALE REBOOKING PENALTY.
- VOLUNTARY DOWNGRADE- NO REFUNDS IN CASE OF
VOLUNTARY DOWNGRADE.
CHILD AND INFANT----------------------------------
CHILD AND INFANT DISCOUNT APPLIES ON THE
REBOOKING AND REFUND PENALTIES AND NO CHARGE
APPLIES FOR INFANT WITHOUT SEAT.
--------------------------------------------------
IF THE INBOUND DATE REQUIRED IS BEYOND
THE BOOKING RANGE I.E AFTER 11 MONTHS THE REQUIRED
FLIGHT/DATE SHOULD BE SPECIFIED IN THE PNR FOR A
FREE DATE CHANGE AND AMENDED 300-331 DAYS BEFORE
THE MENTIONED DATE ON THE PNR.IF NOT THE
APPLICABLE CHANGE FEE APPLIES.
REPRICING CONDITIONS------------------------------
A.BEFORE DEPARTURE / FULLY UNUTILISED TICKETS
1. REISSUE / REVALIDATION
IN THE EVENT OF VOLUNTARY CHANGES TO ANY
FLIGHT/DATE ON THE ITINERARY TICKET HAS TO BE
REISSUED AND COLLECT ANY FARE DIFFERENCE. THE
FARES FOR THE PASSENGER JOURNEY SHALL BE
RECALCULATED FROM THE POINT OF ORIGIN BASED ON
THE DATE OF REISSUE.CHANGE FEES IF ANY TO BE
COLLECTED AS PER THE ORIGINAL FARE PAID.
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.
------------------------------------------------
OUT OF SEQUENCE TICKETS - ANYTIME TICKETS IS
UTILIZED OUT OF SEQUENCE NO REFUND OF FARE
ANYTIME YQ IS NON REFUNDABLE.
A.WHEN OUTBOUND AND INBOUND FARES ARE REFUNDABLE--
WHEN COMBINING FARES THAT HAVE CANCELLATION FEES
THE HIGHEST CANCELLATION FEE APPLIES.
1. BEFORE DEPARTURE / FULLY UNUTILISED TICKETS
- DEDUCT THE APPLICABLE CANCELLATION CHARGE/FEE
FROM THE TOTAL OF THE BASE FARE.
- REFUND THE RESIDUAL AMOUNT ALONG WITH THE
GOVERNMENT TAXES.
YR TAX REFUND.
BEFORE DEPARTURE - YR FULL REFUND.
2. AFTER DEPARTURE / PARTIALLY UTILISED TICKETS
- AFTER COMMENCEMENT OF THE FIRST SECTOR OF THE
JOURNEY.
- DEDUCT THE ONE WAY FARE FOR THE PORTION OF THE
JOURNEY PERFORMED IN THE SAME OR NEXT HIGHER RBD.
- COLLECT APPLICABLE CANCELLATION CHARGE/FEE
- REFUND THE UNUTILISED GOVERNMENT TAXES FOR THE
PORTION OF THE JOURNEY NOT PERFORMED.
YR TAX- LESS THE USED PORTION OF YR.
YR IS NON REFUNDABLE AFTER DEPARTURE IF THE
APPLICABLE ONE WAY FARE WITH EQUAL / HIGHER RBD
IS HIGHER THAN THE FARE USED.
ANYTIME YQ IS NON REFUNDABLE.
B.WHEN OUTBOUND AND INBOUND FARES ARE NON
REFUNDABLE.
NO REFUND.
ANYTIME YQ IS NON REFUNDABLE.
C.COMBINATION OF REFUNDABLE AND NON-REFUNDABLE
FARES.
1. BEFORE DEPARTURE/FULLY UNUTILISED TICKETS.
- DEDUCT THE APPLICABLE AMOUNT OF THE NON-
REFUNDABLE FARE AND THE APPLICABLE REFUND PENALTY
OF THE REFUNDABLE FARE AND THE YQ-CARRIER IMPOSED
SURCHARGE.
YQ-ANY TIME NON REFUNDABLE.
2. AFTER DEPARTURE / PARTIALLY UTILISED TICKETS
- AFTER COMMENCEMENT OF THE FIRST SECTOR OF THE
JOURNEY.
2.1 IF OUTBOUND FARE COMPONENT IS NON- REFUNDABLE.
- DEDUCT THE ONE-WAY FARE IN THE SAME OR HIGHER
RBD AND COLLECT THE CANCELLATION FEE OF THE
REFUNDABLE FARE.
2.2 IF INBOUND FARE COMPONENT IS NON-REFUNDABLE.
- NO REFUND OF FARE AND YR TAX.
HIP/MILEAGE EXCEPTIONS UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED
THE HIGHER INTERMEDIATE POINT RULE DOES NOT APPLY FOR
STOPOVERS
OR - THE HIGHER INTERMEDIATE POINT RULE DOES NOT APPLY FOR
CONNECTIONS.
TICKET ENDORSEMENT UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED
THE ORIGINAL AND THE REISSUED TICKET MUST BE ANNOTATED -
NON-ENDO/PENALTIES APPLY - IN THE ENDORSEMENT BOX.
CHILDREN DISCOUNTS UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED
ACCOMPANIED CHILD UNDER 12 - CHARGE 75 PERCENT OF THE
FARE.
TICKETING CODE - BASE FARE CODE PLUS CH.
NOTE -
CHILDREN OVER 2 AND UNDER 5 SHOULD TRAVEL WITH AN
ADULT.
--
CHILDREN OVER 2 AND UNDER 5 WILL PAY 100 PERCENT
OF THE FARE IF COMPANY ESCORT IS REQUESTED.
THE ESCORT WILL PAY ONE WAY FARE FOR ROUND TRIP
TICKET.
OR - INFANT UNDER 2 WITH A SEAT - CHARGE 75 PERCENT OF THE
FARE.
TICKETING CODE - BASE FARE CODE PLUS CH
OR - 1ST INFANT UNDER 2 WITHOUT A SEAT - CHARGE 10 PERCENT
OF THE FARE.
TICKETING CODE - BASE FARE CODE PLUS IN.
AGENT DISCOUNTS UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED
AGENT - NO DISCOUNT
OR - AGENT DISCOUNT AD75N1 - NO DISCOUNT
OR - AGENT DISCOUNT AD50N1 - NO DISCOUNT
OR - AGENT DISCOUNT UD75N1 - NO DISCOUNT
OR - AGENT DISCOUNT UD50N1 - NO DISCOUNT.
ALL OTHER DISCOUNTS UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED
STUDENT STANDBY - NO DISCOUNT
OR - SEAMAN - NO DISCOUNT
OR - SENIOR CITIZEN 65 OR OLDER - NO DISCOUNT
OR - STUDENT - NO DISCOUNT
OR - YOUTH STANDBY - NO DISCOUNT
OR - YOUTH CONFIRMED - NO DISCOUNT.
Jan 6, 2016, 3:40 am
#24
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: BRU, AMS
Programs: Miles & More, FlyingBlue, Iberia Plus Gold
Posts: 485
Finally something from BRU! Yay! Thanks OP
Has anybody been successful at booking this and obtaining e-tickets?
Booking on ET website kept crashing at payment stage. Booked on Orbitz but still unticketed...
Has anybody been successful at booking this and obtaining e-tickets?
Booking on ET website kept crashing at payment stage. Booked on Orbitz but still unticketed...
Jan 6, 2016, 3:45 am
#28
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: WORLD
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, Flying Blue (KLM) Platinum, Oneworld (BA) Sapphire, *A (Aegean) Gold, IHG Spire RA,
Posts: 555
Just booked 4 tickets in summer holiday. Total 2000 euro and a bit
on ET website direct. all confirmed directly. seats selected.
now the waiting starts :-)
as bizz fare was cheaper as the cheapest eco faire ;-)
on ET website direct. all confirmed directly. seats selected.
now the waiting starts :-)
as bizz fare was cheaper as the cheapest eco faire ;-)
Jan 6, 2016, 3:46 am
#29
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,859