Monarch Airlines ruined my Christmas.

gregg1

So, am I correct in thinking that you originally allowed to arrive at checkin twenty three minutes before it closed bearing in mind you were using two different forms of public transport...........?!!!!!:doh:

Oli.s

Doesnt the extract relating to denied boarding you have qouted relate to being denied boarding in the circumstances that the flight is over subscribed only?

It doesnt make sense that they would ask other passengers to surrender there seats as qouted in the extract if they were refusing to board you becuase they were leaving.

Voyager2002

gregg1 wrote: »

So, am I correct in thinking that you originally allowed to arrive at checkin twenty three minutes before it closed bearing in mind you were using two different forms of public transport...........?!!!!!:doh:

Remember that his departure was from Germany. Public transport there is efficient, punctual and reliable, so his travel plans were realistic. I would not attempt such a think in the UK, however.

Voyager2002

Oli.s wrote: »

Doesnt the extract relating to denied boarding you have qouted relate to being denied boarding in the circumstances that the flight is over subscribed only?

.

No, the law gives passengers rights when they are denied boarding for virtually any reason (apart from things like being drunk or abusive, obviously).

Voyager2002

Mr_Wang wrote: »

If you get compensation for this, then I want compensation for all the many times I've been delayed, already sat on the plane because some muppet arrived late/missed the final call etc... meaning I have missed a connection at the other end.

Has that actually happened to you?

Airlines have a limited number of "slots", or times when they are allowed to use the runway for take-off or landing. It would be very unusual indeed for a flight to miss its slot because of waiting for a passenger.

i_love_it

Well there is no denying you cut it fine but my knowledge of departures is the flight can only leave early if all booked passengers are present on board.
But my knowledge has more experience in charter flights, ths was a schedule flight with monach I guess?
if your timings are correct and are indeed in time albeit by a minute or 3 there must have been some undisclosed circumstance that the captain deemed it best practice to depart early, usually weather, possible closure of arrival airport runway for again usually weather?!
Accepting you at this stage could have jeopardised an atc slot......

absolutely understand your frustration and disbelief after a stressful commute & assuming you just made it, and as another poster pointed out pilots very human too and often just want to get away and back to have a life but they will have to make in detail report of of early departure & reason for it.

They are king, in charge of that aircraft, but totally accountable for their action and will not have refused your boarding for no reason

Seems the airline may have a get out clause for the 90 mins at check in instruction but sure they will offer some good will as you kept minimum time stated.

Good luck with it.

Bob_the_Saver

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Remember that his departure was from Germany. Public transport there is efficient, punctual and reliable, so his travel plans were realistic. I would not attempt such a think in the UK, however.

Punctual but not perfect and they do get breakdowns, strikes and bad weather even in Germany, cutting it so fine (if that was the case) would be very stupid.

Bob_the_Saver

I guess the 18.40 departure must have been a one off, the Monarch flight to Manchester from Munich when it departs late afternoon seems to be normally 17.55 which would mean the OP was late whichever way you look at it, but as I said, perhaps this 18.40 departure was a one off it being Christmas and all,
although a 17.55 departure (push away from gate) would tie in with post #5.
Given the way so many people who HAVE checked-in before they close the desk
usually seem to wander up to the gate at the last minute perhaps the op could find others who missed the flight if it lifted off 22mins before it would normally even leave the gate. (To do this it would have left the gate 10-20 mins before at most airports.)

Monarch also say in their FAQ's

What time do I need to arrive at the departure gate?

"Please make sure you arrive at the departure gate at least 40 minutes before departure. Gates close 40 minutes prior to departure and we reserve the right to deny boarding and cancel the reservation of any passenger arriving after this deadline."
Maybe the check-in staff suspected that the OP couldn't check-in, clear security and get to the gate in under 180 seconds.

This would of course mean that the flight COULD depart 40 mins early if everyone at the gate had boarded and an ATC slot was available.



Flying out in: Flying back in:

Munich - Manchester

date departs arrives
Fri 28 Dec 2012 17:55 19:00
Sat 29 Dec 2012 12:00 12:55
Sun 30 Dec 2012 17:55 19:00
Mon 31 Dec 2012 19:30 20:30


date departs arrives
Fri 04 Jan 2013 17:55 19:00
Sat 05 Jan 2013 12:00 12:55
Sun 06 Jan 2013 17:55 19:00
Fri 11 Jan 2013 17:55 19:00
Sat 12 Jan 2013 12:00 12:55
Sun 13 Jan 2013 17:55 19:00
Fri 18 Jan 2013 17:55 19:00
Sat 19 Jan 2013 12:00 12:55
Sun 20 Jan 2013 17:55 19:00
Mon 21 Jan 2013 12:35 13:35
Fri 25 Jan 2013 17:55 19:00
Sat 26 Jan 2013 12:00 12:55
Sun 27 Jan 2013 17:55 19:00

Danyúl_II

gregg1 wrote: »

So, am I correct in thinking that you originally allowed to arrive at checkin twenty three minutes before it closed bearing in mind you were using two different forms of public transport...........?!!!!!:doh:

Naive from me I guess, not least on Christmas Eve, but I've done it (not on Christmas Eve mind) at least 15 times in the last three years and never had a problem. Boo!

Danyúl_II

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

I guess the 18.40 departure must have been a one off, the Monarch flight to Manchester from Munich when it departs late afternoon seems to be normally 17.55 which would mean the OP was late whichever way you look at it, but as I said, perhaps this 18.40 departure was a one off it being Christmas and all,
although a 17.55 departure (push away from gate) would tie in with post #5.
Given the way so many people who HAVE checked-in before they close the desk
usually seem to wander up to the gate at the last minute perhaps the op could find others who missed the flight if it lifted off 22mins before it would normally even leave the gate. (To do this it would have left the gate 10-20 mins before at most airports.)

Monarch also say in their FAQ's

What time do I need to arrive at the departure gate?

"Please make sure you arrive at the departure gate at least 40 minutes before departure. Gates close 40 minutes prior to departure and we reserve the right to deny boarding and cancel the reservation of any passenger arriving after this deadline."
Maybe the check-in staff suspected that the OP couldn't check-in, clear security and get to the gate in under 180 seconds.

This would of course mean that the flight COULD depart 40 mins early if everyone at the gate had boarded and an ATC slot was available.



Flying out in: Flying back in:

Munich - Manchester

date departs arrives
Fri 28 Dec 2012 17:55 19:00
Sat 29 Dec 2012 12:00 12:55
Sun 30 Dec 2012 17:55 19:00
Mon 31 Dec 2012 19:30 20:30


date departs arrives
Fri 04 Jan 2013 17:55 19:00
Sat 05 Jan 2013 12:00 12:55
Sun 06 Jan 2013 17:55 19:00
Fri 11 Jan 2013 17:55 19:00
Sat 12 Jan 2013 12:00 12:55
Sun 13 Jan 2013 17:55 19:00
Fri 18 Jan 2013 17:55 19:00
Sat 19 Jan 2013 12:00 12:55
Sun 20 Jan 2013 17:55 19:00
Mon 21 Jan 2013 12:35 13:35
Fri 25 Jan 2013 17:55 19:00
Sat 26 Jan 2013 12:00 12:55
Sun 27 Jan 2013 17:55 19:00

#Thanks for the post.

Still doesn't take away from the fact that their own website says if you arrive 40 mins before the flight you'll be fine.

Bit contradictory, possibly on purpose I'd assume.