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 12, 2016, 3:40 am
#376
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 4
Since they cannot claim it is a manifest pricing error anymore, I would insist on being flown in business and also not be surprised if they decide to honour the tickets anyway (as it is no longer that abnormally priced).
As long as you have your e-Ticket, you should be fine. You can call or not, I don't think it makes much difference, except to your state of mind maybe. Just don't ask if they still 'honour the ticket' as you should really feel this is self evident when you call. Otherwise... etc.
As long as you have your e-Ticket, you should be fine. You can call or not, I don't think it makes much difference, except to your state of mind maybe. Just don't ask if they still 'honour the ticket' as you should really feel this is self evident when you call. Otherwise... etc.
Last edited by leentje654; Jan 17, 2016 at 1:45 am
Jan 12, 2016, 3:48 am
#377
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: The Hague, NL
Programs: GMLFL, Life 2.0 - Mucci Premiere Classe & des Chevaliers Toulousiens
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Gefeliciteerd! Never be worried about your honeymoon. And also, if they don't 'honour the fare', better to find out now, when there are so many alternatives available.
Jan 12, 2016, 3:50 am
#378
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,859
Jan 12, 2016, 3:56 am
#379
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: The Hague, NL
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Those strict controls in CDG have more to do with the origin of the flight... If you have an EU passport and are traveling without baggage in the hold, I am sure you can find a good reason not to board again.... Not recommending anything.
Jan 12, 2016, 4:50 am
#380
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,838
Jan 12, 2016, 5:56 am
#381
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 4
I e-mailed the netherland's website instead regarding my seats and they replied within a few hours. All in business class at the front and all window seats which I checked by rebooking the flight and checking the seat reservations had been taken by me.
http://www.vliegtarieven.nl/klantens...tarieven.nl/60
However I did request window seats when I opened an account shortly after booking, as this option was never given in the booking.
I also called ethiopian airlines call centre (local number is transferred to Ethiopia). And it was by far the worst call centre I have ever used. Difficult to communicate with them, difficult to understand, slow to respond, no interest in the customer or their job. Perhaps it's normal behaviour over there but they represent the airline very poorly in their attitude. They need a european call centre.
The first caller recognised that my flight was an error fare so I hope they don't cancel. According to the agent only the booking agent can refund the ticket (fully refundable).
Jan 12, 2016, 8:21 am
#383
Join Date: Apr 2002
Programs: BA,Amex,Hilton,Hyatt,SPG
Posts: 586
Correct answer: difference one-way 30 miles for coach or 60 miles for business class
BRU-ADD = 3490 miles
CDG-ADD = 3460 miles
Since it´s the same flight number you´ll get the miles for that city (BRU or CDG) you start or end (from or to ADD).
Last edited by Dennis; Jan 12, 2016 at 8:29 am
Jan 12, 2016, 10:59 am
#386
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
Jan 12, 2016, 11:04 am
#387
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NAP
Programs: LH, BA, TK
Posts: 2,409
Sven is suffering Cape Town's Hout Bay.
Well done!
https://www.facebook.com/svenluckermanscom/?fref=nf
Well done!
https://www.facebook.com/svenluckermanscom/?fref=nf
Jan 12, 2016, 1:17 pm
#389
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: TK Elite, QR Gold
Posts: 1,272
Sven is suffering Cape Town's Hout Bay.
Well done!
https://www.facebook.com/svenluckermanscom/?fref=nf
Well done!
https://www.facebook.com/svenluckermanscom/?fref=nf
Jan 12, 2016, 5:15 pm
#390
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 42
From Sven's Facebook timeline:
"Emilis Michles I just checked in at BRU for this ticket... At check-in they told me to go to ticketing desk, and the guy there was not so happy about the error fare. I was able to check-in, but they informed me that they will further instruct me at the gate, and he is awaiting communications if they will let me fly. Also, informed that I will not get a transit hotel, and there might be complications with my return ticket."
https://www.facebook.com/svenluckerm...type=3&theater
"Emilis Michles I just checked in at BRU for this ticket... At check-in they told me to go to ticketing desk, and the guy there was not so happy about the error fare. I was able to check-in, but they informed me that they will further instruct me at the gate, and he is awaiting communications if they will let me fly. Also, informed that I will not get a transit hotel, and there might be complications with my return ticket."
https://www.facebook.com/svenluckerm...type=3&theater