BMIBaby Rant

[SeamanStaines]

I need to rant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


This may not be the right forum but....... it might at least stop someone else from falling foul of this.

We had two teenagers (15 and 17) flying today from Faro to Cardiff. Their father got them checked in and saw them through security earlier today. Next we knew was a pair of sobbing kids on the telephone from the terminal.

The kids went through security, boarding and eventually sat down on the aircraft waiting for departure. The younger had a bit of a tummy ache (nerves) so the older asked for a paracetamol for her sister. The cabin crew then call a nurse who arrives but does not even get to talk to them as by that time the cabin crew decide they cannot wait and escort the two kids off the aircraft and tell them they cant fly. Father is no longer at the airport so has to come back, aircraft leaves so game over.

I then try and untangle it, no numbers for BMI apart from a 58p a minute one to an Indian call centre. I speak with the handling agents at Faro and they just give me that indian call centre number. Eventually I speak with the Cardiff handling agents who at least can tell me what happens next (I had assumed at worst they would put them on the next flight)

Wrong! they are now classified as 'no show' for the flight so the only option is to book them on tomorrows flight at an impressive £390!!! Oh, and they charged for the medical assistance that their father paid (I think around £70)

I am now trying to organise alternative flights with a more reasonable airline. I am not using this mob again. They always seem at war with their customers and appear to extract great pleasure in every additional pound they can bully out of them.

The advice then is dont even think of speaking to the cabin crew about anything until you are airborne, I worry that a request for a glass of water or a visit to the toilet may deemed a medical emergency!

I bet if she had asked ten minutes after take off rather than ten minutes before they would have just patted her on the head and told her she was alright!

Rant over

 

[Blue5]

I need to rant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am now trying to organise alternative flights with a more reasonable airline. I am not using this mob again. They always seem at war with their customers and appear to extract great pleasure in every additional pound they can bully out of them.

Sadly I think the ethos of every budget airline is to extract as much money for each punter as possible.

They seem to relish in peoples misfortune.

 

[rivonia]

Realy very sorry to hear that sad news. What a load of mony grabbers all the CHEAP airlines are they try to suck every penny out of every customer.

GOOD LUCK in the future

Peter

 

[SeamanStaines]

Problem eventually solved last night by a flight to Exeter with flybe, did not actually get back home till 2:30am though. Additional cost of £140 and the BMI stance is 'claim' on your insurance (who dont want to know because they say it was not a genuine emergency)

Tad tired this morning though!

 

[Talbot]

Is it worth a small claims court?

 

[Monique]

Dont expect any better from SleazyJet or their stable mate, the "ringpieces" from Ireland.

As a frequent user of SLZJet, I was denied boarding from a flight from my home to LON to work. I am a pilot and fly in uniform when going to work ...

 

[Andy and Lyn]

British Airways may have their industrial problems but in my opinion have by far the most reasonable and personable people working for them and you will nearly always get a sympathetic ear - pay a little extra (not a lot and not always) and get treated with dignity.

 

[rivonia]

Could not agree more with Andy and Lynn- We just got back to Spain on a two leg journey, the Spain section was with easy-jet, the uk to Cyprus was BA.
The difference was chalk and cheese. The BA flight was cheaper the Easy-Jet.
We shall not fly sleazy -jet again. They want extra CASH for everything where as BA all inclusive.

Peter

 

[Andy and Lyn]

when you look at ba.com and are flexible on dates - for instance using the Gatwick to Marseille route as we do often BA are cheaper than the rest, and far better.

Don't forget its quite useful to be able to check baggage into the hold at no extra cost.

Lets all get back to flying BA when we can!!

Also, I note that BA are increasing the frequency of their flights to Marseille from 2 to 3 a day this coming summer - very useful to us!!

 

[JonJon]

I'm with you on this - have used BA for much of my career and in general been very satisfied. Contrast this with my experience with Easyjet last week what a one horse show they are. Turn up wot - no plane! Now forgive me but I though thats what airlines did see my post in the lounge. You buy a ticket they provide the plane - apparently no - only when it suits them.

 

[Adaero]

All of the low cost airlines are as bad as each other and I can regail you with numerous stories with all of them which over the last 6 months alone has cost us around £600.

Our trouble is that we live in Devon and we basically have no option but use low cost airlines from regional airports or drive to LHR or LGW and then pay for very expensive car parking. Transport links to the main London airports are normally pretty poor so we are stuck with SLZjet or Ryanair.

 

[Happydaze]

I have a lot of sympathy with the op but i will play devils advocate. If you were about to set off on a 3 hour sailing trip and a teenager in the crew complained of stomach pains, you would have to make the decision to go or stay or leave them behind. If you go and take them, the responsibility is yours, leave them behind and your problem is solved. So aircrew probably made the safe decision but a good airline would have put them on the next flight. I wonder what would have happened if you had driven back to the boat and set sail for the Canaries and out of phone range.
I am a fan of low cost air travel because without the competition, i could not afford to fly around Europe at will and leave my boat in all the lovely places that i do. The down side is getting shafted like you have.