A new low for charter planes...

[bluiev 0]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/17/travel/britain-passengers-cash/?hpt=wo_bn6

The charter plane actually forced the passengers to pay more money during a leg of the flight from India to London.

[david3 0]

Nice. Put out or get out.

[piisfish 140]

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http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/17/travel/britain-passengers-cash/?hpt=wo_bn6

The charter plane actually forced the passengers to pay more money during a leg of the flight from India to London.

The airline is actually experiencing financial problems. The passengers were asked to pay for the fuel for the Vienna-London leg of their flight (of what was on the news here). It is not the first time this happens, and not the last time either.

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[oldwomanc6 60]

Quote

Quote

http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/17/travel/britain-passengers-cash/?hpt=wo_bn6

The charter plane actually forced the passengers to pay more money during a leg of the flight from India to London.

The airline is actually experiencing financial problems. The passengers were asked to pay for the fuel for the Vienna-London leg of their flight (of what was on the news here). It is not the first time this happens, and not the last time either.

Still sounds like extortion to me

lisa
WSCR 594
FB 1023
CBDB 9

[Elite_Marksman 0]

Didn't they already pay for the fuel when they bought the ticket?

[muff528 3]

"Et tu, Charlie?"

[piisfish 140]

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Didn't they already pay for the fuel when they bought the ticket?

not saying if it is wrong or right. Just that is what happens when companies live on credit, and that the providers want to get paid. Not the first, not the last.

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[diablopilot 2]

The tickets were bought through a UK agent who hired a now out of business UK booking company to charter the planes which were operated by a third company and owned by a 4th in Spain. I believe the third and 4th companies failed to receive payment and the fuel was not going to be put on the aircraft in India by a 5th company till THEIR payment was guarenteed.

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[oldwomanc6 60]

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The tickets were bought through a UK agent who hired a now out of business UK booking company to charter the planes which were operated by a third company and owned by a 4th in Spain. I believe the third and 4th companies failed to receive payment and the fuel was not going to be put on the aircraft in India by a 5th company till THEIR payment was guarenteed.

That may be, but once the contracted passengers are on on board, they should not be asked to ante up.

If the tickets were worth the boarding, they are worth the trip. The companies involved should work that out amongst themselves.

If the airline is unable to safely convey the passengers to their destination, then they should deplane and be given a refund.

Unless there is gunfire on the airport, I would say "efffffffff you" on principal. I should be careful, though, I joke and it comes true--YIKES.

lisa
WSCR 594
FB 1023
CBDB 9

[davelepka 4]

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I believe the third and 4th companies failed to receive payment and the fuel was not going to be put on the aircraft in India by a 5th company till THEIR payment was guarenteed.

In the end, the Indian fuel farm was the only business that ran like a business. It's the airlines fault for reserving the seats for the booking company without collecting payment.

I can't call the airline a reserve seats without payment, so neither should they. Maybe the airline could extend them a 'grace period', where they reserve them seats without payment up until 30 days before the flight, and then require payment to hold the seats. This allows the booking company to collect payment, and not have to 'front' the cost of the seats. Any unsold seats at that time could go back on the regular market. Also, if the booking company defaults on payments, it allows passengers who booked with them to be notified and seek a resolution before they're sitting the plane reaching for their wallet.

I get running on credit, and booking services and travel agencies and the like, but there's no excuse for letting a problem go so long that they have to put the passengers in that position.