Flybe climbs down on baggage charge
Monday 2nd March 2009, 2:30PM GMT.
A FLYBE passenger has won his battle against ‘outrageous’ extra charges after the airline admitted it was wrong and reduced baggage costs for holders of its own credit card.
Marco Silvestri, 25, wrote to the airline after he was appalled that baggage charges for a ‘free flight’ had nearly doubled from the usual price.
The free flight is available for passengers who have taken out a Flybe credit card.
Mr Silvestri, a senior fund administrator, was incensed when he realised that the airline had increased charges for taking bags on the flight from the usual £7.99 each way to £13.
‘So the fare on the flight is “free” but among your many hidden charges you recoup that money by increasing the fees on baggage,’ he wrote in a letter to Flybe.
‘You probably call this good business, but I’m no genius and you didn’t fool me, so it’s not clever at all.’
Flybe acknowledged Mr Silvestri’s grievance and has changed its policy as a result of his complaint.
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That’s nothing. My company had a flight booked for travel this week. As a result of the death of the mother of one of our Directors, he had to fly home at short notice, meaning I had to change the name on the ticket to accompany a customer on the flight. Fee to change the name = £130. Only booked Flybe in the first place because it was £100 cheaper than Blue Islands, but now because of Flybe’s outrageous fees to change policy, it is going to work out at £182 return to Southampton each. Should have used Blue Islands in the first place?
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Flybe’s claim of transparency is perfectly true; their lack of concern and arrogance are quite plain for all to see.
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Blue Island are very good —just like Flybe used to be!!!!!
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I heartedly agree with the comments made.
I feel that Aurigny could help by reversing their February increase in baggage charges as this could put further pressure on Flybe to reduce their baggage charges.We really need Aurigny to take a lead and go in the Blue Island direction in respect of policy on baggage charges. Aurigny’s original baggage policy was the one they should never have changed and we as the owners through the States of Guernsey should be consulted on baggage charges before major changes are made.
A shareholder/customer service survey is overdue.
Tony Webber
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Roberto agree. Before I had my children I was a manager for an international airline based in the Middle East. I now travel back to Guernsey with 2 children and I know how airlines work and how much the costs per passenger etc. We were stung for over STG100 in baggage costs out of EDI to GCI (cots, strollers and we thought about bringing the golf clubs!) last summer. Our treatment at the check in in Guernsey was an utter disgrace, just total arrogance and ignorance handed down by management. At last, sense has prevailed – Flybe stop pretending you have ‘free’ flights to offer pax. I will always avoid traveling with Flybe but it seems we often have little alternative. It’s just a shame that travelers have the wool pulled over their eyes with these hidden costs all of the time by these tin pot little airlines because you have very few alternatives in/out of LGW.
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FlyBe are a disgrace.
For example they charge £22.50 per sector to carry skis and then still don’t guarantee they will travel.
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Jack Walker must be turning in his grave seeing what they are doing to his beloved airline.
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