Whose Responsibility?
Nov 10, 2009, 4:38 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SEA
Programs: A3*G, AC, IHG Plat AMB
Posts: 1,604
Airport vs Airline: Whose Responsibility?
So a friend of mine recently was subject to an aircraft going tech at the gate and was bumped off his most recent WS flight. Now to their credit, the sabre problems (based on the limited discussion I've had with him) have subsided and he wasn't complaining about an hour plus on hold, so that's a good sign.
What struck me as odd, however, was his claim that while he was bumped onto the next flight of the day, it was the airport that didn't approve the bump which apparently screwed up his itinerary. Now this sounds unbelieveable to me: I can't understand how the airport authority would have any sort of say as to who can fly on what flight, but I wanted to bring it up with the WS experts.
In the case of mechanical irrops, does the airport have anything at all to do with rescheduling pax onto a different flight, or was someone making up the rules as they go? Anyone have any insights?
What struck me as odd, however, was his claim that while he was bumped onto the next flight of the day, it was the airport that didn't approve the bump which apparently screwed up his itinerary. Now this sounds unbelieveable to me: I can't understand how the airport authority would have any sort of say as to who can fly on what flight, but I wanted to bring it up with the WS experts.
In the case of mechanical irrops, does the airport have anything at all to do with rescheduling pax onto a different flight, or was someone making up the rules as they go? Anyone have any insights?
Last edited by DJ Bitterbarn; Nov 10, 2009 at 4:44 am
Nov 10, 2009, 7:01 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 5,210
I think your friend was confused about who "the airport" is. I don't think it was the airport management but rather the WS staff at the airport. Non-airport based staff often refer to airport based staff as "airport" or similar. "I can't assign the seats here, the airport is dealing with it now" etc.
Nov 10, 2009, 7:12 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SEA
Programs: A3*G, AC, IHG Plat AMB
Posts: 1,604
I think your friend was confused about who "the airport" is. I don't think it was the airport management but rather the WS staff at the airport. Non-airport based staff often refer to airport based staff as "airport" or similar. "I can't assign the seats here, the airport is dealing with it now" etc.
Last edited by DJ Bitterbarn; Nov 10, 2009 at 9:42 am Reason: repeating myself here..