Air passengers hit unfairly with £60 levy by budget airline whose hand luggage bins were too small

[Joe Curry]

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Sean Poulter

A leading budget airline may have unfairly charged thousands of
passengers because its measuring devices for hand luggage were too
small.
Customers of bmibaby were routinely asked at departure gates to put
their hand luggage in a metal cage to ensure it met size restrictions

Full Story

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1310345/Budget-airlines-bag-blunder-hits-passengers-60-levy.html

[tim....]

Post by Joe Curry
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk
Sean Poulter
A leading budget airline may have unfairly charged thousands of
passengers because its measuring devices for hand luggage were too
small.
Customers of bmibaby were routinely asked at departure gates to put
their hand luggage in a metal cage to ensure it met size restrictions
Full Story
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1310345/Budget-airlines-bag-blunder-hits-passengers-60-levy.html

I can't believe that people who were sure that they bag was regulation size
didn't complain.

I am (sure) and I would have (complained)

tim

[Joe Curry]

On Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:44:32 +0100, "tim...."

Post by tim....
I can't believe that people who were sure that they bag was regulation size
didn't complain.
I am (sure) and I would have (complained)

Perhaps they did Tim and were told to buzz-off?

[tim....]

Post by Joe Curry
On Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:44:32 +0100, "tim...."

Post by tim....
I can't believe that people who were sure that they bag was regulation size
didn't complain.
I am (sure) and I would have (complained)

Perhaps they did Tim and were told to buzz-off?

I doubt very much that the local trading standards department would conform
to such a request.

It seems to have taken surprisingly long for someone to have escalated a
complaint to a party that has the power to do something

tim

[William Black]

Post by tim....

Post by Joe Curry
On Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:44:32 +0100, "tim...."

Post by tim....
I can't believe that people who were sure that they bag was regulation size
didn't complain.
I am (sure) and I would have (complained)

Perhaps they did Tim and were told to buzz-off?

I doubt very much that the local trading standards department would conform
to such a request.
It seems to have taken surprisingly long for someone to have escalated a
complaint to a party that has the power to do something

Apparently the bins that caused the problem were all on the 'air side'
and the bins at check-in were the normal size.

This being the case it is quite possible that the local trading
standards 'writ' didn't run.

They would certainly be denied access if they turned up without an
appointment.

[tim....]

Post by tim....

Post by Joe Curry
On Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:44:32 +0100, "tim...."

Post by tim....
I can't believe that people who were sure that they bag was regulation size
didn't complain.
I am (sure) and I would have (complained)

Perhaps they did Tim and were told to buzz-off?

I doubt very much that the local trading standards department would conform
to such a request.
It seems to have taken surprisingly long for someone to have escalated a
complaint to a party that has the power to do something

Apparently the bins that caused the problem were all on the 'air side' and
the bins at check-in were the normal size.
This being the case it is quite possible that the local trading standards
'writ' didn't run.
They would certainly be denied access if they turned up without an
appointment.

Once they have a complaint I don't see that "having to make an appointment"
is a deterrent to following it up.

tim

[William Black]

Post by tim....

Post by tim....

Post by Joe Curry
On Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:44:32 +0100, "tim...."

Post by tim....
I can't believe that people who were sure that they bag was regulation size
didn't complain.
I am (sure) and I would have (complained)

Perhaps they did Tim and were told to buzz-off?

I doubt very much that the local trading standards department would conform
to such a request.
It seems to have taken surprisingly long for someone to have escalated a
complaint to a party that has the power to do something

Apparently the bins that caused the problem were all on the 'air side' and
the bins at check-in were the normal size.
This being the case it is quite possible that the local trading standards
'writ' didn't run.
They would certainly be denied access if they turned up without an
appointment.

Once they have a complaint I don't see that "having to make an appointment"
is a deterrent to following it up.

That's because you've never had dealings with either the British
Airports Authority or Trading Standards 'Officers'.

The BAA think they're God.

While Trading Standards are quite up to bullying some Asian shopkeeper
on a daily basis they don't even like going up against the big
supermarkets, never mind someone with armed cops on the premises...

They're not champions fighting the good fight for the consumer, they're
Local Government Officers who enjoy using their authority to bully
people who they are capable of frightening.

[Joe Curry]

On Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:40:40 +0100, William Black

Post by William Black
The BAA think they're God.

Given their apparent 'escape' from the Competition Commission
they could well be? :-(

[Mizter T]

Post by William Black

Post by tim....

Post by Joe Curry
On Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:44:32 +0100, "tim...."

Post by tim....
I can't believe that people who were sure that they bag was regulation
size didn't complain.
I am (sure) and I would have (complained)

Perhaps they did Tim and were told to buzz-off?

I doubt very much that the local trading standards department would conform
to such a request.
It seems to have taken surprisingly long for someone to have escalated a
complaint to a party that has the power to do something

Apparently the bins that caused the problem were all on the 'air side'
and the bins at check-in were the normal size.
This being the case it is quite possible that the local trading
standards 'writ' didn't run.

No, airside or not wouldn't make a difference. Just wondering whether
this might actually be a CAA issue in regulatory terms though, not
sure.

Post by William Black
They would certainly be denied access if they turned up without an
appointment.

TS departments are capable of making appointments.

[Joe Curry]

On Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:11:35 +0100, William Black

Post by William Black
Apparently the bins that caused the problem were all on the 'air side'
and the bins at check-in were the normal size.

The point of no return.... :-(

[David Walters]

Post by Joe Curry
On Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:11:35 +0100, William Black

Post by William Black
Apparently the bins that caused the problem were all on the 'air side'
and the bins at check-in were the normal size.

The point of no return.... :-(

Is there really such a point? Once I've gone air side is there anything
stopping me from leaving the airport without getting on a plane first?

[William Black]

Post by David Walters

Post by Joe Curry
On Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:11:35 +0100, William Black

Post by William Black
Apparently the bins that caused the problem were all on the 'air side'
and the bins at check-in were the normal size.

The point of no return.... :-(

Is there really such a point? Once I've gone air side is there anything
stopping me from leaving the airport without getting on a plane first?

Obviously nobody is stopping you go back out again, but once you do so
your ability to get back past the security point may be compromised.

In some places your boarding cards are marked at security

Turn up with a marked card and you can expect to spend some time
explaining yourself.

[tim....]

Post by David Walters

Post by Joe Curry
On Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:11:35 +0100, William Black

Post by William Black
Apparently the bins that caused the problem were all on the 'air side'
and the bins at check-in were the normal size.

The point of no return.... :-(

Is there really such a point? Once I've gone air side is there anything
stopping me from leaving the airport without getting on a plane first?

Not usually, nope.

It's the getting in again if you leave by mistake that's hard

tim

[Joe Curry]

On Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:51:48 +0100, David Walters

Post by David Walters

Post by Joe Curry
The point of no return.... :-(

Is there really such a point? Once I've gone air side is there anything
stopping me from leaving the airport without getting on a plane first?

Forfeiting a trip and losing what you have already paid? ;-(

[David Walters]

Post by Joe Curry
On Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:51:48 +0100, David Walters

Post by David Walters

Post by Joe Curry
The point of no return.... :-(

Is there really such a point? Once I've gone air side is there anything
stopping me from leaving the airport without getting on a plane first?

Forfeiting a trip

Which airports does that happen at? I haven't flown anywhere for the last
18 months but my recollection of security is they look at your boarding
card but often don't actually touch it let alone mark it.

Post by Joe Curry
and losing what you have already paid? ;-(

That might not be a problem. I want to have a look round LHR T5 airside
but don't actually want to fly anywhere. Buying a ticket and then missing
my departure seems a simple way to get a look. Unfortunately there aren't
any £5 all inclusive fares available :-(

[William Black]

Post by David Walters

Post by Joe Curry
On Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:51:48 +0100, David Walters

Post by David Walters

Post by Joe Curry
The point of no return.... :-(

Is there really such a point? Once I've gone air side is there anything
stopping me from leaving the airport without getting on a plane first?

Forfeiting a trip

Which airports does that happen at? I haven't flown anywhere for the last
18 months but my recollection of security is they look at your boarding
card but often don't actually touch it let alone mark it.

Just about everywhere in Asia.

In India they get stamped twice on boarding an international flight,
once when you clear immigration, once more at security.

The stamps are then checked at the gate by yet another cop before the
airline staff even get to see them...

[Joe Curry]

On Thu, 16 Sep 2010 13:26:31 +0100, David Walters

Post by David Walters
Unfortunately there aren't
any £5 all inclusive fares available :-(

Or 'platform' tickets. :-(

[Joe Curry]

On Tue, 14 Sep 2010 11:51:06 +0100, "tim...."

Post by tim....
It seems to have taken surprisingly long for someone to have escalated a
complaint to a party that has the power to do something

Doesn't it always? The consumer taking back-seat?