Air South West - getting off early
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Air South West - getting off early
I'd like to book a flight with Air South West from London to travel to SW England. The flight seems to route LGW-PLH-NQY. I note further that the fare LGW-PLH costs more than the LGW-NQY fare.
I plan to travel only with hand luggage. If I purchase the cheaper ticket for LGW-NQY, but on arrival decide to get off at PLH, how keen will cabin crew be to stop me getting off the plane ? I realise that there are all sorts of constraints about not being permitted to take off if baggage and passengers are known not to match up (despite what Govt rules may say, I believe bags have a habit of accidentally being loaded on the wrong aircraft), but would WOW really make a big effort to stop me if there is no checked baggage ?
To all the pedants out there - yes the air navigation order may seem to give captain carte blanche to do whatever he likes in his airplane kingdom, but I suspect that WOW will have procedures in the operations manual stipulating what is meant to happen under such a scenario.
I plan to travel only with hand luggage. If I purchase the cheaper ticket for LGW-NQY, but on arrival decide to get off at PLH, how keen will cabin crew be to stop me getting off the plane ? I realise that there are all sorts of constraints about not being permitted to take off if baggage and passengers are known not to match up (despite what Govt rules may say, I believe bags have a habit of accidentally being loaded on the wrong aircraft), but would WOW really make a big effort to stop me if there is no checked baggage ?
To all the pedants out there - yes the air navigation order may seem to give captain carte blanche to do whatever he likes in his airplane kingdom, but I suspect that WOW will have procedures in the operations manual stipulating what is meant to happen under such a scenario.
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I think that would depend on your crew. I doubt they would force you to stay on, but I think a bit of common sense might be a better idea.
When you check in at LGW, a quick word at check-in, and explain that although you booked to NQY, plans have changed since then and actually PLH is more convenient for where you are staying. I cant see there being a problem.
Suddenly wanting to get off at PLH, when you have a NQY ticket might possibly raise suspicion that will not help. The crew wont like someone suddenly getting off, as you could have hidden anything on the aircraft before you decided to change your mind.
RTG!
When you check in at LGW, a quick word at check-in, and explain that although you booked to NQY, plans have changed since then and actually PLH is more convenient for where you are staying. I cant see there being a problem.
Suddenly wanting to get off at PLH, when you have a NQY ticket might possibly raise suspicion that will not help. The crew wont like someone suddenly getting off, as you could have hidden anything on the aircraft before you decided to change your mind.
RTG!
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When you check in at LGW, a quick word at check-in, and explain that although you booked to NQY, plans have changed since then and actually PLH is more convenient for where you are staying. I cant see there being a problem.
A sharp check in agent will refuse to check the pax in.
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Well you can't just get off. Passenger figures are checked for each sector and if they don't add up you'll cause problems for the crew.
I wouldn't say anything until you got on board and then have a quiet word with the crew. Ask them if the Captain minds if you get off at Plymouth. If he's like me he wont mind where you get off as long as he knows about it. I don't see any reason why he would try and stop you and they certainly can't imprison you.
I wouldn't say anything until you got on board and then have a quiet word with the crew. Ask them if the Captain minds if you get off at Plymouth. If he's like me he wont mind where you get off as long as he knows about it. I don't see any reason why he would try and stop you and they certainly can't imprison you.
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If you knowingly buy a ticket for one destination and then disembark yourself at another destination for which the ticket price would have cost more, are you no commiting fraud as well as whatever else. Certainly if the airline caiught you doing this, they might possibly try to make such a charge of defrauding them come to court? It might certainly make the newspapers? Detract from the custard flying aorund the Honourable Mambers.
Is it worth the risk? If the police are called, you wil be locked up perhaps and also DNAd.....think of the scandal...your wife might even leave you...!
Is it worth the risk? If the police are called, you wil be locked up perhaps and also DNAd.....think of the scandal...your wife might even leave you...!
Don´t say anything to anyone. When the flight arrives at PLH deplane with the rest of the PLH pax. No one will be the wiser until they make the head count prior to departing again. If it causes a flight delay that´s WOW´s problem for having a somewhat flawed fare structure! If they sue you (they won´t) counter sue them for gross negligence in allowing you to leave the aircraft unchallenged.
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If I were to buy a train ticket from Glasgow to London, then decided to terminate my journeyy at an intermediate station then any attempt to detain me on the train would result in the employees of the train company facing arrest. Why would the same not apply to an aircraft?
As for the fraud charge I suspect a judge would simply throw that out of court on the grounds of an unreasonable contract.
As for the fraud charge I suspect a judge would simply throw that out of court on the grounds of an unreasonable contract.
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You have entered into a commercial contract. If you get off at another destination other than that you are ticketed to in breach of that contract, the airline can charge you the difference in fare prevailing at the point of the breach together with any reasonable costs it incurs as a result of both the breach and the subsequent recovery. The best thing you can do, if you think otherwise, is to read that contract.
Those that advise counter-sueing for some airy fairy non monetary nonsense, or who suggest unfair contract terms are living in cloud cuckoo land, which is unfortunate as that destination has no regular air service!
You seem like a sensible chap, therefore either find the cheapest possible fare to your intended destination, or teach them a commercial lesson by driving or taking the bus or train.
Those that advise counter-sueing for some airy fairy non monetary nonsense, or who suggest unfair contract terms are living in cloud cuckoo land, which is unfortunate as that destination has no regular air service!
You seem like a sensible chap, therefore either find the cheapest possible fare to your intended destination, or teach them a commercial lesson by driving or taking the bus or train.
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Another point you might like to consider is that if you enter into a contract to fly you from Gatwick to Plymouth and the aircraft for weather/operational or any other reason omits Plymouth and flies you to Newquay, they would be responsible for transporting you to your intended destination and meeting the reasonable costs involved in doing so. If you are ticketed to Newquay, then the contract would be fulfilled and you would then be on your own.
The costs involved in an en-route stopover may well be disproportionate to the direct costs involved in a slightly longer journey. This takes into account the supply and demand factors. For example if the en-route stopover only accounts for around 20% of the passengers on a total one way flight trip, then it is not unreasonable that an airline applies a cost premium to the shorter sector, which it would in other circumstances either not serve, or utilize perhaps on a smaller aircraft with a higher unit seat cost.
The costs involved in an en-route stopover may well be disproportionate to the direct costs involved in a slightly longer journey. This takes into account the supply and demand factors. For example if the en-route stopover only accounts for around 20% of the passengers on a total one way flight trip, then it is not unreasonable that an airline applies a cost premium to the shorter sector, which it would in other circumstances either not serve, or utilize perhaps on a smaller aircraft with a higher unit seat cost.
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Even if it was fine for you, think of the pax and the crew because if the crew got news of someone getting off suddenly when the are meant to stay on further surely they would wantto do a very thorough security check meaning maybe dissembarking pax again. I guess it would delay the aircraft meaning unhappy crew and pax, unhappy airline because of the delay....if they found out you did it delibratly then they may even ban you from flying with they wouldnt they???
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You may also find that the airline then cancels the remainder of your itinerary, as you have not completed the journey as booked.
Beware - a lot of airlines cancel bookings automatically now, so your return journey may be cancelled without you knowing (until you turn up at the airport)
Beware - a lot of airlines cancel bookings automatically now, so your return journey may be cancelled without you knowing (until you turn up at the airport)
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Out of curiousity, how much is the difference?
The way i see it, you need to speak to someone, i would suggest check-in at Gatwick, purely because if its a handling agent, they are unlikely to know that its cheaper to fly the full distance. Just ask them, and if they say no, dont argue, just try...
...speaking to the captain (via the crew) sounds like a good bet. I'm sure if you are reasonably polite there wont be a problem. However, as I (and others) said, there could be a security issue. Certainly I might be concerned that a pax suddenly changing his plans at last minute may have left a device or something on board.
Getting off with the PLH passengers is not recommended. I am told WOW seats pax for the two destinations on different sides of the aisle anyway, so you will likely be noticed.
As a last resort, I flew with Eastern airways on their SOU-NCL-ABZ service, and was seated next to a very nervous passenger, who asked to be let off at NCL, rather than go through taking off and landing again to get to Aberdeen. It didnt seem to be a problem then, they simply asked her to identify her bag and she disembarked with all the other NCL pax... how goods your acting???
RTG!!!
The way i see it, you need to speak to someone, i would suggest check-in at Gatwick, purely because if its a handling agent, they are unlikely to know that its cheaper to fly the full distance. Just ask them, and if they say no, dont argue, just try...
...speaking to the captain (via the crew) sounds like a good bet. I'm sure if you are reasonably polite there wont be a problem. However, as I (and others) said, there could be a security issue. Certainly I might be concerned that a pax suddenly changing his plans at last minute may have left a device or something on board.
Getting off with the PLH passengers is not recommended. I am told WOW seats pax for the two destinations on different sides of the aisle anyway, so you will likely be noticed.
As a last resort, I flew with Eastern airways on their SOU-NCL-ABZ service, and was seated next to a very nervous passenger, who asked to be let off at NCL, rather than go through taking off and landing again to get to Aberdeen. It didnt seem to be a problem then, they simply asked her to identify her bag and she disembarked with all the other NCL pax... how goods your acting???
RTG!!!
Bealzebub, legally speaking you may well be 100% correct. The reallity is that no company is going to spend the time, effort and money to make a legal case for the amount involved here.
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If it's a return ticket then it's correct to point out that breaking the outbound sector may automatically cancel the remainder of the itenarary. If on the other hand he is doing this on the return sector, there will be no problem. Done it quite a few times myself (with another airline) and they're still quite happy to take my money and issue me tickets.
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If it's a return ticket then it's correct to point out that breaking the outbound sector may automatically cancel the remainder of the itenarary. If on the other hand he is doing this on the return sector, there will be no problem. Done it quite a few times myself (with another airline) and they're still quite happy to take my money and issue me tickets.
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Hey-perhaps someone reading this post on so called Professional Pilot website has already clueded up WOW ops that someone is planning such a scam which could lead to flight disruptions?
Oh-not me-but....
I would just be unhappy as the Captain if I know that a passenger plans to risk delaying my flight for the saving of a few €. But I must be one of the pedants of which you speak?
Oh-not me-but....
I would just be unhappy as the Captain if I know that a passenger plans to risk delaying my flight for the saving of a few €. But I must be one of the pedants of which you speak?
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I got my info from an Airliners.net trip report. Must admit I thought it was odd, and surely not good from a weights and balance point of view.
New WOW Service From London City To Newquay (pics) — Trip Reports Forum | Airliners.net
Anyone here ever flown with WOW that could confirm/deny this.
RTG!
New WOW Service From London City To Newquay (pics) — Trip Reports Forum | Airliners.net
Anyone here ever flown with WOW that could confirm/deny this.
RTG!
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Questions
How did it go? Did it work? Did you save a few quid?
I would hope you are also happy if the airline breaches your contract not to take any compo from them, but smile and walk away.............
Serious Q to those in the know.
If spotted pulling a stunt like this, is a deliberate offloader permitted to be in the RZ given no excuse and no prior notice whilst committing posible fraud?
I would hope you are also happy if the airline breaches your contract not to take any compo from them, but smile and walk away.............
Serious Q to those in the know.
If spotted pulling a stunt like this, is a deliberate offloader permitted to be in the RZ given no excuse and no prior notice whilst committing posible fraud?