Phuket Thailand

sandymellis · #1 22-01-2006, 21:40

I've received an email from ebookers that my 19.50pm Etihad flight from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi (on route to Gatwick) on the 15th April has been cancelled. I've not been given an adequate reason for the cancellation other than "due to technical difficulties". I'm now having to fly back at 7.40am on the same day arriving in Heathrow instead of Gatwick. I'm also arriving home at 4.30pm on the 15th April instead of 06.55am on the 16th whcih also means that I have to stay overnight in London as I have a Connecting flight from Gatwick to Aberdeen which leaves at 4.25pm on the 16th. Is there anyone other BM's that are also flying with Etihad and have had simiar experiences? I guess that is the problem booking with a "cheaper airline"

dawsey · #2 22-01-2006, 21:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandymellis

I've received an email from ebookers that my 19.50pm Etihad flight from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi (on route to Gatwick) on the 15th April has been cancelled. I've not been given an adequate reason for the cancellation other than "due to technical difficulties". I'm now having to fly back at 7.40am on the same day arriving in Heathrow instead of Gatwick. I'm also arriving home at 4.30pm on the 15th April instead of 06.55am on the 16th whcih also means that I have to stay overnight in London as I have a Connecting flight from Gatwick to Aberdeen which leaves at 4.25pm on the 16th. Is there anyone other BM's that are also flying with Etihad and have had simiar experiences? I guess that is the problem booking with a "cheaper airline"

That is an amazing excuse to give you for cancelling a flight.

Its almost 3 months away,so unless they have severely overbooked I can't believe this one.
It has put you in a poor position and I would be looking to ebookers to come up with an alternative flight to compensate.
Have you got an annual travel insurance in force you can claim on?
I think I would be ringing ebookers first thing Mon morning for some solutions.

I have nothing but praise for my experiences with Etihad so I'm surprised to hear this. The only reason they are cheaper is because they are the national airline of the UAE and therefore have all the fuel bills paid for,hence they can offer cheaper flights and build a bigger customer base.

There should be other flights from BKK to Abu Dhabi that would enable you to make your connection to Gatwick. ebookers should find another flight for you.

stevem · #3 22-01-2006, 21:51

Etihad is not a cheap carrier, they are full service carrier. It is unusual for flights to cancelled so far in the future, but it could that the fllight has been chartered or something like that.

Its for April you have plenty of notice to rearrange your travel plans.

All Middle East carriers are experiencing tech crew shortages at the moment, and from what I understand there are lots of flight cancellations in the system.

odysseus · #4 23-01-2006, 01:26

flew with them last tour and found them excellent.
only one complaint - someone musta accidently slipped one of their splendid 'sleeping blankets' into my hand luggage when i wasn't looking

makes a lovely throw for the back of my sofa
Odysseus

Captain · #5 23-01-2006, 01:37

Is the problem Etihad or ebookers? Maybe check Etihad and see what they say.
ebookers sold you maybe a ticket they can't deliver.
So maybe the problem is not cheap airlines but cheap tickets. Whatever the airline, the cheaper the ticket the less flexibility.

sandymellis · #6 25-01-2006, 23:31

I have checked with Etihad and they have confirmed that they have indeed cancelled the evening flight from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi on the 15th April. Apparently they have had to make changes to their schedule, but were not willing to elaborate.

dawsey · #7 26-01-2006, 02:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandymellis

I have checked with Etihad and they have confirmed that they have indeed cancelled the evening flight from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi on the 15th April. Apparently they have had to make changes to their schedule, but were not willing to elaborate.

Well I hope they haven't cancelled the one the next day,16th Apr, at the same time (19 :50) because I'm supposed to be on it

erik1 · #8 26-01-2006, 08:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandymellis

I have checked with Etihad and they have confirmed that they have indeed cancelled the evening flight from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi on the 15th April. Apparently they have had to make changes to their schedule, but were not willing to elaborate.

As far as I know you can still take the flight back to gatwick, but you would have a very long stopover in AUH

but did they not have the arrangement if your stopover is more then 8 hours they put you in hotel?

sandymellis · #9 29-01-2006, 22:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsey

Well I hope they haven't cancelled the one the next day,16th Apr, at the same time (19 :50) because I'm supposed to be on it

I would check on that one Dawsey, 'cause they did'nt specify that it was only my particular flight that they had cancelled.

sandymellis · #10 29-01-2006, 22:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by erik1

As far as I know you can still take the flight back to gatwick, but you would have a very long stopover in AUH

but did they not have the arrangement if your stopover is more then 8 hours they put you in hotel?

I've decided to bite the bullet and just go with the earlier flight, I think I'd rather be in London early and travel from Heathrow to Gatwick than hang around in Abu Dhabi for 14 hours.