2024-07-21 21:10:08
Gediminas said that at first the situation looked good, although the action was slow, it didn’t seem like anything was going wrong.
“There was nothing too much, it really wasn’t like chaos. Didn’t work at first self-checkin function. We flew with Ryanair airlines, and check-in for this company’s flights can only be done online, but soon several boxes were opened where employees checked in passengers manually,” the interviewer began.
The man said that although the flight check-in took longer than usual, but considering the whole situation, the process moved quickly enough.
“Everything looked relatively good, even considering how smoothly everything was going. Unfortunately
We were supposed to fly out of Vienna at around 17:45, but shortly before the scheduled boarding, we were informed that the flight was delayed for an hour and a half. A little later, it was postponed for another half hour. We finally had to leave around 11:30pm. However, around 22:30 we saw on the scoreboard that the flight was cancelled. As I understand it, the plane didn’t even take off from Vilnius,” said the man from Vilnius.
As Gediminas later found out, there were 12 flights canceled or delayed in Vienna that evening.
Nobody knows anything
According to Gedimin, neither the airline nor the airport was prepared for such a situation.
“Not a single person came to the gate, they didn’t tell us anything, we had to find out everything ourselves. We also had to look for information everywhere: we didn’t know where to go, we just had to ask the airport staff to at least direct us where to look for help and information, what to do next”, the man continued his story.
Gediminas said that he didn’t get any more help there after he and his family didn’t quite figure out which box to go to.
“They gave us two printed sheets: one with confirmation that the flight was canceled, the other with information about the laws of the European Union (EU) that we are entitled to compensation. The funniest thing is that there is a long link printed on that page, which you need to search for on the Internet and register your complaint there. Everything, such help from the airport and from the airlines”, said the interviewer.
Will pay later
Although according to EU regulations, a traveler is entitled to compensation for any losses incurred for a canceled flight, that is, new travel tickets, accommodation, transport and the like, but Gediminas said that the reality is somewhat different: he had to purchase all this with his own funds – compensation, according to airlines, will be transferred later.
“What if a person has no money or doesn’t know English? In this case, he remains simply on the street, at the will of fate. One woman asked for help from the employees because she did not have money for the night, unfortunately, she was told that such are the rules, the traveler must purchase everything himself”, the man was surprised at the insensitivity of the system.
Since there are two large hotels near the airport, all passengers were offered accommodation there.
Unfortunately, the rooms there quickly ran out.
“We stood in line and found out that we simply couldn’t fit in anymore. The hotels were overcrowded. I had to drive back to the center of Vienna and look for accommodation there. Let me remind you, the action takes place at midnight, so you won’t book anything through Airbnb or Booking.com, you have to wait for the morning, the only way out is to go to the hotel and hope to have a free room. We were lucky, because we got a room for the night thanks to a complete coincidence – one of the hotel guests canceled the night”, Gediminas continued the story.
The extended holiday reaped thousands
Ryanair only replaces canceled flights with another flight of its own airlines.
“At the airport, we tried to buy other tickets right away, but we were told that the next flight to Lithuania will be in two weeks. We are a family of four, so try to imagine how different life in this European metropolis would be for another two weeks. We got in touch with another Lithuanian, he was traveling alone, so he was lucky to get a seat on today’s flight, there is no hope for the four of us. So we had to look for tickets for another airline,” said Gediminas.
He added: the ticket prices were skyrocketing. In a few minutes, these rose from 180 euros per person to several hundred.
“We got tickets for tomorrow’s flight, that is, Sunday.” The tickets cost a lot to our family: 400 euros per person. The additional two nights also cost several hundred euros, so this “extension” of the vacation ended up costing about 2,000 euros. But at least we are happy that we will fly home tomorrow”, Gediminas named the incredible sums.
Baggage had to be fought for
The baggage claim experience is not much more pleasant. Employees escorted passengers from one window to another, and in order to collect their belongings, they had to walk across the length and breadth of the airport.
“Yesterday we tried to collect the luggage. We were told to go to the “Lost and found” box, apparently, they would give us our bags there. We went and waited. Some people were cursing, some were banging their heads against the wall, it seemed hopeless. We call the button to call the employees, but no one responds. Again, we marched across the entire airport to the Ryanair counter,” said Gediminas about the ridiculously grueling adventures at the airport.
When Ryanair staff contacted airport staff, it was revealed that staff were simply tired and that 12 canceled flights was too much for them, so travelers were told to return tomorrow.
A similar situation happened again today.
“We went to the same counter again, where we were supposed to be directed to where we could collect our luggage. No one is there, we ring the bell, no one comes. My wife was left standing there, I ran to the Ryanair counter, there was a huge queue again. In the end I was told that there was no other option but to ring that bell and wait for someone to show up. Then I asked them to make a phone call and ask for an employee. It helped.
There was a very helpful employee, she took me everywhere I needed to go. The funny thing is that in order to collect my bags, I needed a valid plane ticket, and I don’t have one, so if it wasn’t for that employee, I wouldn’t have my bags until now. It’s just a complete mess,” said Gediminas.
Cheap tickets are cheap worries
Speaking about his story, Gediminas said that he felt that neither the airport nor the airline was ready to help the person.
EU regulations stipulate that if a flight is delayed for more than three hours, airlines must provide free meals to passengers.
“All cafes at the airport close at 9:00 p.m. At about half past nine in the evening, we got a message on the board that the passengers of this flight could eat for free in some bar. The amount of food is quite ridiculous – 4 euros per person. We went to the bar, told the situation, and the employee says that no one informed him, so he can’t help. I had to ask him to call the manager and find out. In any case, after receiving permission, all passengers had half an hour to buy something to eat,” the interviewer recalled.
He added: All the staff looked like they were more concerned about getting home quickly.
“Everyone talks about rules, regulations, nobody wants to consider the human factor. However, I do not blame the staff, it seems that the airport management did not take care not only of informing the passengers, but also did not provide any information to the staff.
The same could be said for Ryanair. The airport worker who helped us collect our luggage today said a very wonderful idea: we travel with cheap airlines, so taking care of us is cheap. Cheap tickets mean lower wages for workers, so you’re on your own. For example, a flight with “Austrian airlines” would probably have provided a completely different experience”, the interviewer shared his impressions.
2024-07-21 21:10:08