Airline passenger news and views
19 May 2012 | Sign In
Virgin Atlantic stands alone against BAA
|
Jasper Kelly Saturday 29 January 2011 |
Virgin Atlantic have been threatening to take a tough line with Heathrow operator BAA over its failure to keep the airport open during the Christmas snows.
Why should Virgin pay for airport services that it did not get? Why should the airline carry the costs for faults that lie firmly at the airport operator's door?
Virgin Atlantic boss, Steve Ridgway, suggested that airlines should withhold all or part of their fees until the report of the independent enquiry into the systemic failures is published.
Bizarrely, the other major airline users of Heathrow have failed to follow Virgin Atlantic's lead. British Airways, despite its claim that the disruption cost it £50million, seems unwilling to join the battle.
Sadly, Virgin probably cannot stand alone in this instance. It needs Heathrow more than Heathrow needs it.
Once again, Virgin Atlantic has shown itself to be a willing champion for passengers and their rights. Perhaps the other airlines care less and simply expect to recoup their losses through higher fares.
| Comments | Post a comment |
|
Rebecca, Hayes 8 February 2011, 08:28PM | |
It is very sad to hear, especially as so many customers had to be compensated with date changes or refunds. I would be fighting for every penny despite the deserting teams, it is not like they are quibbling over a small sum. | |
| Rating (0) | |
|
Edith Scott 18 May 2011, 01:33PM | |
I reckon the other airlines have put up a pretty poor showing. BAA got it wrong, they should be paying compensation. Leaving it all to Virgin to take them on whilst the other airlines cosy up with the airport operator is not on. | |
| Rating (0) | |
|
ROBERT CLARK, FIFE, SCOTLAND 21 December 2011, 12:35PM | |
Virgin is the worst airline I have ever traveled with I flew once with this so called airline to Las Vegas and there was no other way to describe their so called 747 jumbo jet other than a cattle truck that flies. I have never seen a jumbo jet with seating you would only expect on a short haul budget airline doing trips between the UK and Spain perhaps not sitting in the same type of seat on a ten hour trans Atlantic flight to Las Vegas from the UK. I travel all over the world with different airlines but Virgin is the worst airline and the greediest when it comes to seating especially on long haul flights and their flight attendants are also the worst I have ever met but do not try to complane to Virgin because all I got was what do you expect for the price you paid for your ticket. All I asked for was a seat that was at least comfortable to sit in for ten hours not the cramped one I was given. | |
| Rating (0) | |
