Readers, I am livid. I am sure that if I looked closely into my computer screen this morning, I would see green smoke coming out of my ears, and this already a few days after the incident I am about to tell you about occurred. I want to jump up and down in frustration like I imagine Rumplestilskin did, and am wishing that I had bucketloads of money so that I would never have to travel with a budget airline again. Maybe not bucketloads, at least enough for me to be able to never think of flying with the company that usually gets me from Luton to Malta - the cause of this week's ire.
I am not a demanding traveller. Of course, when I travel first or business, it's a treat (especially since I'm not paying for it), but I'm just as happy to fly on any airline, as long as it's a) safe, b) cheap and c) gets me from one place to another in the shortest possible time with as little hassle as possible. So, when the low budgets started flying to Malta, it came as a something of a relief, since it meant I could fly home more often to spend time with friends and family. As a result, since this particular airline started flying there last year, I've flown with them about six or eight times - which means that I've spent quite a bit of money with them. I'm now hoping that I won't be tempted by their low-cost offers again and to find another airline to get me there. The state I'm in at this point, I'd even swim there if I could.
It all started a fortnight ago when Significant Other and myself flew down for a friend's wedding. Actually, it started a couple of months ago when we booked a cheap flight. At that point we were planning to go for a quick weekend, which wouldn't require much luggage, so in order to save the luggage surcharge, we decided to travel with hand luggage only.
It was only going to be a three-day trip, so one of us would carry the suits while the other would carry the other bits and pieces which would fit in a bag that was small enough to carry on to the plane with us. So far, so good.
The complications started when SO decided to go on from Malta to Barcelona instead of flying back here. I called the airline to check if anything could be done about the return ticket and was told there was nothing to do but give it up (although I've read somewhere that the policy has changed and you can change names up to 24 hours before), which is understandable.
On the day we travelled out, we were told at the airport that we had to pay £18 for checking in a suitcase - which we did. I paid at the desk, as I was told to, and returned to check in, where I handed the person there my receipt and was given our boarding passes. At no point was I handed back my receipt. I am sure of that because every single receipt that is ever given to me goes straight into my wallet where it stays until a clean-up is necessary - which usually happens about once a month - so if it had been returned to me, I would have found it there.
On my way back to London on the Sunday evening, having spent a weekend in the most miserable May weather in history, I was surprised to be told that I had to pay another €18 because I hadn't paid to check in my luggage.
I tried to argue with the lady at check-in, but neither she nor her manager was having any of it. As far as they were concerned, they had no record that I had paid in the UK, and it was either do it their way, or the highway, which left me with very little choice but to comply.
I would have rather torn up those €18 into shreds, but that wouldn't have done much to bring me back to the city.
Back home, it was straight to my computer to write and complain (a long and tiring procedure in itself) to the airline, as I was told to do in Malta.
And what did that get me? A few days later an e-mail informing me that "in accordance with the airline's general conditions of carriage all monies paid are non- refundable, therefore we are not in a position to process a refund of the fee paid" on my booking. How's that for company policy, huh!
And that is why, you will now understand, I am furious.
I am hoping that from today on, I will resist the temptation of the low price, and the convenient times - and think instead of all the added charges, of the seats that don't recline, the bumpy landings, or the fact that there is even no pocket in front of the seat in which to place all the little bits that make flying that much more enjoyable.
I am not a demanding traveller. Of course, when I travel first or business, it's a treat (especially since I'm not paying for it), but I'm just as happy to fly on any airline, as long as it's a) safe, b) cheap and c) gets me from one place to another in the shortest possible time with as little hassle as possible. So, when the low budgets started flying to Malta, it came as a something of a relief, since it meant I could fly home more often to spend time with friends and family. As a result, since this particular airline started flying there last year, I've flown with them about six or eight times - which means that I've spent quite a bit of money with them. I'm now hoping that I won't be tempted by their low-cost offers again and to find another airline to get me there. The state I'm in at this point, I'd even swim there if I could.
It all started a fortnight ago when Significant Other and myself flew down for a friend's wedding. Actually, it started a couple of months ago when we booked a cheap flight. At that point we were planning to go for a quick weekend, which wouldn't require much luggage, so in order to save the luggage surcharge, we decided to travel with hand luggage only.
It was only going to be a three-day trip, so one of us would carry the suits while the other would carry the other bits and pieces which would fit in a bag that was small enough to carry on to the plane with us. So far, so good.
The complications started when SO decided to go on from Malta to Barcelona instead of flying back here. I called the airline to check if anything could be done about the return ticket and was told there was nothing to do but give it up (although I've read somewhere that the policy has changed and you can change names up to 24 hours before), which is understandable.
On the day we travelled out, we were told at the airport that we had to pay £18 for checking in a suitcase - which we did. I paid at the desk, as I was told to, and returned to check in, where I handed the person there my receipt and was given our boarding passes. At no point was I handed back my receipt. I am sure of that because every single receipt that is ever given to me goes straight into my wallet where it stays until a clean-up is necessary - which usually happens about once a month - so if it had been returned to me, I would have found it there.
On my way back to London on the Sunday evening, having spent a weekend in the most miserable May weather in history, I was surprised to be told that I had to pay another €18 because I hadn't paid to check in my luggage.
I tried to argue with the lady at check-in, but neither she nor her manager was having any of it. As far as they were concerned, they had no record that I had paid in the UK, and it was either do it their way, or the highway, which left me with very little choice but to comply.
I would have rather torn up those €18 into shreds, but that wouldn't have done much to bring me back to the city.
Back home, it was straight to my computer to write and complain (a long and tiring procedure in itself) to the airline, as I was told to do in Malta.
And what did that get me? A few days later an e-mail informing me that "in accordance with the airline's general conditions of carriage all monies paid are non- refundable, therefore we are not in a position to process a refund of the fee paid" on my booking. How's that for company policy, huh!
And that is why, you will now understand, I am furious.
I am hoping that from today on, I will resist the temptation of the low price, and the convenient times - and think instead of all the added charges, of the seats that don't recline, the bumpy landings, or the fact that there is even no pocket in front of the seat in which to place all the little bits that make flying that much more enjoyable.