Author Topic: El Al laying down the law  (Read 15547 times)

Offline Aeajda1

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El Al laying down the law
« on: October 29, 2012, 05:01:53 PM »
Due to the hurricane, my parents flight to Israel for Monday was cancelled. After 3 hours on hold, a customer service asked if she had a regular ticket or a "glitch" ticket. After asking what the difference was, he said that i should just answer him. When saying it was a glitch ticket, he immediately said sorry he couldn't help and could get them on a flight in a week.

In addition, until today, El Al was willing to refund tickets due to the hurricane but NOT the 75 dollar upgrade to a direct flight. After noticing the rule that ALL funds must be refunded if the airline itself cancels, they offered to do so.

El Al's customer service and despicable back pedaling after this glitch, especially using it to their advantage in a natural disaster, is sickening. Beware....

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #1 on: October 29, 2012, 05:05:46 PM »
If anything here is despicable it's taking advantage of a companys error.

I certainly hope they'd prioritze their customers when trying to rebook.

Just be grateful they offered to rebook at all, AFAIK they don't have to (just refund).
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Offline Ergel

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Re: Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #2 on: October 29, 2012, 05:30:46 PM »
I certainly hope they'd prioritze their customers when trying to rebook.
+1
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline dealer

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Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #3 on: October 29, 2012, 05:33:46 PM »
If anything here is despicable it's taking advantage of a companys error.

I certainly hope they'd prioritze their customers when trying to rebook.

Just be grateful they offered to rebook at all, AFAIK they don't have to (just refund).
-1

Offline yare

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Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #4 on: October 29, 2012, 06:54:47 PM »

Offline JEWDA

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Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #5 on: October 29, 2012, 07:20:41 PM »
If anything here is despicable it's taking advantage of a companys error.

I certainly hope they'd prioritze their customers when trying to rebook.

Just be grateful they offered to rebook at all, AFAIK they don't have to (just refund).
Another guy who didn't get on the deal....
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Offline whacked1

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Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #6 on: October 29, 2012, 07:23:13 PM »
Another guy who didn't get on the deal....
+1

Offline Ergel

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Re: Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #7 on: October 29, 2012, 07:31:26 PM »
Another guy who didn't get on the deal....
-1, I don't agree with his first or third sentence, but wouldn't you agree with his second?
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Offline Achas Veachas

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Re: Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #8 on: October 29, 2012, 07:31:56 PM »
-1, I don't agree with his first or third sentence, but wouldn't you agree with his second?
+1

Offline JEWDA

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Re: Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #9 on: October 29, 2012, 07:35:15 PM »
-1, I don't agree with his first or third sentence, but wouldn't you agree with his second?
Not really, because the whole point of honoring them was to get customers.
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Offline Ergel

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Re: Re: Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #10 on: October 29, 2012, 07:44:22 PM »
Not really, because the whole point of honoring them was to get customers.
But in a Queston of priority, wouldn't you prioritize full paying customers
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Offline JEWDA

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Re: Re: Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #11 on: October 29, 2012, 07:52:50 PM »
But in a Queston of priority, wouldn't you prioritize full paying customers
not when it comes to customer service.
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Offline yare

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Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #12 on: October 29, 2012, 08:13:34 PM »
But in a Queston of priority, wouldn't you prioritize full paying customers
and where do you draw the line?  paying customers before award tickets? higher fare buckets before the lower?   pretty ridiculous.    this isn't an upgrade priority list, it's rescheduling the actual flight you paid for.  every customer has the same rights to be rescheduled.       the second they decided to honor the tickets, there's no room for them to differentiate b/w those customers and any others.   

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Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #13 on: October 29, 2012, 08:16:54 PM »
and where do you draw the line?  paying customers before award tickets? higher fare buckets before the lower?   pretty ridiculous.    this isn't an upgrade priority list, it's rescheduling the actual flight you paid for.  every customer has the same rights to be rescheduled.       the second they decided to honor the tickets, there's no room for them to differentiate b/w those customers and any others.   
+1
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Offline WhyAich

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Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #14 on: October 29, 2012, 08:21:26 PM »
and where do you draw the line?  paying customers before award tickets? higher fare buckets before the lower?   pretty ridiculous.    this isn't an upgrade priority list, it's rescheduling the actual flight you paid for.  every customer has the same rights to be rescheduled.       the second they decided to honor the tickets, there's no room for them to differentiate b/w those customers and any others.
+1, the only reason they get away with this is because they are a Jewish company. Either honor them or don't. Do not classify them as second class.
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Offline JEWDA

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Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #15 on: October 29, 2012, 08:28:29 PM »
+1, the only reason they get away with this is because they are a Israeli  company. Either honor them or don't. Do not classify them as second class.
FTFY
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Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #16 on: October 29, 2012, 08:38:25 PM »
and where do you draw the line?  paying customers before award tickets? higher fare buckets before the lower?   pretty ridiculous.    this isn't an upgrade priority list, it's rescheduling the actual flight you paid for. every customer has the same rights to be rescheduled.       the second they decided to honor the tickets, there's no room for them to differentiate b/w those customers and any others.

Incorrect. SBY list is sorted by status and fare class, as you suggested.

The law, to the best of my knowledge, allows them to refuse to rebook altogether and simply refund the 'payments'.

Everything they do beyond that is more than they're required to do.
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Offline daganster

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Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #17 on: October 29, 2012, 08:41:39 PM »
If anything here is despicable it's taking advantage of a companys error.

Why because it's a Jewish company? what if Alitalia had a mistake would you also have a problem with people taking advantage? Maybe Elal takes advantage of people all year round and charge a ridiculous price for tickets to Israel! DOn't they control how many airlines/flights could fly to Israel by minimizing the direct flights they raise the prices!

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Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #18 on: October 29, 2012, 08:48:04 PM »
Why because it's a Jewish company? what if Alitalia had a mistake would you also have a problem with people taking advantage?
Elal is no more Jewish than Alitalia. Both have a certain percentage of Jewish shareholders (well, AZ per se is privately held so I'm not sure).

Either way, I've taken advantage of airlines a lot more than you'd think, but still, if anything in the entire story is 'despicable', I'd pick the guy forcing someone to give him something at loss.

Maybe Elal takes advantage of people all year round and charge a ridiculous price for tickets to Israel!
Have you heard of the market?

Either way, they don't make money, so they're not charging all that crazy much.
DOn't they control how many airlines/flights could fly to Israel by minimizing the direct flights they raise the prices!

No, they don't. Israel has an open skies agreement with both Europe and Israel. You're welcome to start flying there.
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Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: El Al laying down the law
« Reply #19 on: October 29, 2012, 08:49:56 PM »
Another guy who didn't get on the deal....
BS. I saw this deal posted on DDF when the thread only had the OP and one other post. The fact is I did not, and still do not have any use for it. I wouldn't buy it if it was available right now.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים