Scammed by Norweigan Airlines?

twirlie

We managed to get some very cheap flights for May half term to Malaga through Norweigan Airlines. Really nice times, leaving london at 10am, returning 2pm.

Just had an email to say that our return flight is now 7am and there are no other direct flights available we can switch to. The only option we have is cancel or change to a flight that goes via the moon and turns a 2 hour flight into a 9 hour one.

We never would have booked a 7am flight, as we are 4 adults flying with 4 children, staying over an hour away from the airport. Similar flights are now 5x more than we paid. Surely Norweigan aren't allowed to just cancel a peak time flight like this without having a comparable alternative that we can switch to free of charge? Call me a sceptic but this seems to be a very good way of taking full payment and sitting on it for several months before forcing us to ask for a refund so they can sell the flights for much more money than we originally paid.......

Would love to know where we stand legally in this scenario. I've had flight times be significantly changed before but the airline has always had another similar one to rebook us onto.. it's never happened that the airline has suddenly reduced their timetable to just one direct flight in an entire day!

PeacefulWaters

Would love to know where we stand legally in this scenario

If I've understood things correctly you are entitled to talk to their customer services. Alternatively you can accept the change.

"Changes in Travel Itineraries
In the event of a change in itinerary, Norwegian will provide prompt notification of any changes made via the telephone number or email address provided at the time of booking. If the booking was made through an agency, it is the responsibility of the agent to pass on any information that may be provided by Norwegian.

The Customer Relations Department is available to address any concerns or feedback received. Correspondence will be acknowledged within 30 days and a subsequent response will be sent within 60 days of the date received. We do not have the ability to provide a formal response to any comments or concerns posted on our social networking sites. The Customer Relations Department can be contacted online, or by post; Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, Customer Relations, PO Box 115, 1330 Fornebu, Norway."

Scammed by Norweigan Airlines?

While it's an inconvenience most will sympathise with it most certainly isn't a scam. If you believe it is you're paranoid.

You need more than "it's a bit inconvenient" to progress anything.

Caz3121

Flight time changes are a risk when you book flights far in advance. Timetables change twice per year (end March and end October) when you booked it is likely the timetables and slots had not been finalised.
EU regulations requires the airline to compensation you if they notify of these changes within 14 days of the flight. Before that time they should offer you an alternative flight or a refund.
This happens with many airlines...there is no "scam"

twirlie

I was intentionally exagerating with my use of the word scam - while I think its morally wrong and a poor business practice to sell SUCH cheap fares (I'm talking £40ish per person return!) and then as soon as the fares become expensive, change their flight schedules so drastically, providing such limited alternatives that you literally have no choice but to either accept it or cancel - I don't believe its a conspiracy. lol. I just figured it would get me more responses to have an alarming title.

I'll call customer services in the morning. It's just sad that we thought we had everything sorted and now the entire trip is in jeopardy. There is no way we can afford what the fares are now going for. Thats interesting to know about schedules changing twice a year though Caz, thank you. When you say alternative flight, should it be like for like and within a reasonable time slot to the one booked? There is no alternative, other than flying with loads of connections or flying home at 7am (I think I got the time wrong in my original post) - a good 7 hours before the flights we had originally chosen. I don't know many people who would pick flights that early when they have 4 children - 3 of which are toddlers who'd need to be wrestled into cabs at 3am to get to the airport on time!

duchy

Why would you deliberately exaggerate l by describing something as a scam when you don't believe it is a scam at all?

Screaming scam on here when it patently isn't tends to discourage rather than encourage replies for fairly obvious reasons (as illustrated by the low number of replies)

PeacefulWaters

twirlie wrote: »

I was intentionally exagerating with my use of the word scam

Well it's a term that is invariably used incorrectly and, for me anyway, instantly loses the user a large chunk of sympathy and support.

- while I think its morally wrong and a poor business practice to sell SUCH cheap fares (I'm talking £40ish per person return!) and then as soon as the fares become expensive, change their flight schedules so drastically, providing such limited alternatives that you literally have no choice but to either accept it or cancel

Alas, if they've not sold enough seats they will consolidate and reduce the number of flights across their network. It's better than going bust and not honouring the flight at all.

I don't believe its a conspiracy. lol. I just figured it would get me more responses to have an alarming title.

It made me want to back the airline.

I'll call customer services in the morning. It's just sad that we thought we had everything sorted and now the entire trip is in jeopardy. There is no way we can afford what the fares are now going for. Thats interesting to know about schedules changing twice a year though Caz, thank you. When you say alternative flight, should it be like for like and within a reasonable time slot to the one booked? There is no alternative, other than flying with loads of connections or flying home at 7am (I think I got the time wrong in my original post) - a good 7 hours before the flights we had originally chosen. I don't know many people who would pick flights that early when they have 4 children - 3 of which are toddlers who'd need to be wrestled into cabs at 3am to get to the airport on time!

With 1 adult per child I think you're over-worrying the difficulties faced. If you're well prepared the night before you'll have no issues.

photome

I sympathise, its crap when it happens.

If Norwiegan dont have any other flights I am not sure how they can put you on an alternative to suit.

I dont really see how much of an isue it is to get the 7am flight though, yes you lose a few hours of your holiday but getting kids ready isnt that difficult.

No its not a scam and it happens all the time

alanrowell

There's an observation - which is surprisingly accurate - that when someone uses "scam", "rip-off" and similar in the title then it won't be.

In most cases it's because people don't believe rules should apply to them.

So use words like that with care.

In your case ALL airlines will change timetables for various reasons, so what has happened to you isn't unusual.

richardw

alanrowell wrote: »

..... ALL airlines will change timetables for various reasons, so what has happened to you isn't unusual.

easyJet doesn't seem to do this.

richardw

Has the flight number changed or does it remain the same with a different time?

If the number has changed then you have a cancellation with re-routing rights under EC261/2004.

LynseyLou_2

Hi there - this information comes from a third party (a friend of mine, who travelled with Norwegian). She flew from Gatwick to Fort Lauderdale with NA and thought it was wonderful. Nice new plane, lovely staff. That was until she got to Florida to find that her bags were missing. She attempted to find someone - no-one was there to take her questions. She emailed customer services to complain and was told to write a letter saying exactly the same thing. She got her bags back two months later - damaged and items missing. I would be interested to know what your experience of their customer service is, once you have questioned their timetable change. I would like to know if it is appalling as what I have been told.