Travel talk: Ups and downs of bumping

We received many letters from readers being bumped by airlines following our front page feature last week. Here is a selection.

I was late getting to Gatwick Airport for a Canadian Airline's flight to Toronto. I walked into the departure lounge as they called for one more person to delay until the next day's flight, in return for a free ticket with Canadian anywhere they flew.

I got a free return Auckland-London ticket to use within one year. Rather than a voucher for hotel accommodation that night in London, I opted for £50 ($150) from the airline.

About that time there seemed to be a lot of young folks hanging round the boarding counter actually asking/competing to be bumped, in return for free flights.

Geoff Jones

* * *

... mum, dad, two kids all recovering from the flu travelling from Athens via Amsterdam to Heathrow. The airline was unable to confirm a second flight and was delayed for an hour at Athens.

Arrived at Amsterdam and were bumped. Kids tired, grizzly and complaining for an hour.

Then the nice Dutchman: "We'll ring your London aunt, provide meals, accommodation and $US200 each."

Dad turns to the kids: "You each get your $200."

Instant silence and two minds work out the exchange rate.

Heather Pattison

* * *

On our return Aeroflot flight to London from Kenya we found ourselves - along with 20 other passengers - bumped off our connecting flight from Moscow to London.

We couldn't understand why as we had phoned the airline to confirm our flights 48 hours prior to our departure. After much protestation and hours later, we were able to board a flight going to Manchester.

On our arrival in Manchester we were met by a BA representative who told us we had been booked on a flight to take us to London (BA own a percentage of Aeroflot).

Aggie Brown

* * *

Two years ago my sister and her friend were flying home to London via three nights in Fiji with Air New Zealand from Auckland Airport.

The queues were long but they were by no means late or at the back of the queue, when they were told they were being off-loaded [and] forfeited one night in Fiji. My sister received a letter offering her a 10 per cent discount on a trip to New Zealand which had to be taken within a year - big deal!

Cheryl Cowan

* * *

In July I wasn't able to board my Air New Zealand flight from Singapore to Auckland. I was quite happy to stay another night as I got around $405, accommodation at the Mandarin Hotel and all meals paid for [along with] my taxi fares to and from the hotel.

I was quite happy with all of this, but I did see that other people weren't.

Pamela Blackett

* * *

Returning from Singapore on Air New Zealand we thought we had a confirmed booking.

We arrived to check in three hours early. The desk clerk told us there was a problem, removed our suitcases from the conveyor, gave us a meal voucher and asked us to come back in an hour.

We were told they had over-booked seven seats. I told the nice lady (not her fault) that we were not moving until we got our boarding tickets. We stood our ground and within 10 minutes two boarding tickets came to light.

It pays to persist and to check in early.

Lynda & Michael Birkdale.

* * *

... how companies can sell products they don't have, I have no idea. Why should full-fare paying passengers, who turn up as requested, be treated so poorly?

Margot


* To share your holiday experiences e-mail your letters to: travel@nzherald.co.nz or write to Steve Hart, Travel (letters), New Zealand Herald, PO Box 32, Auckland.