Family Of 5 Ejected Of Etihad Airway After Etihad Made An Error On The Their Seating

Status
Not open for further replies.

azam.d

Newbie
Joined
Mar 11, 2009
Posts
6
FAMILY OF 5 EJECTED OF ETIHAD AIRWAY FLIGHT EY 0612 AFTER ETIHAD MADE AN ERROR ON THEIR SEATING

I am writing to you RE: an experience my family and I had on flight, Etihad Airway Ey 0612, we are a family of 4 with my wife’s nephew also traveling with us.

On Saturday 28th February 2009 my family and I arrived to Casablanca international airport at 6.30am to depart to Australia. We went through the usual protocol, we arrived to where the passengers were boarding, handed our tickets to the ground crew,
This is where the problem started; we were given the wrong boarding passes without our knowledge. The lady at the boarding department gave us a pass from Abu Dhabi to Australia. We made our way down to the plane. As we arrived into the plane we were given directions on were we were seated.

We made our way only to find that the seats were allocated to two other passengers and my wife was seated 13 isles away. I sat my two kids down aged 4 and 6 and made my way to the front of the plane to discus the problem. I raised the matter with one of the flight attendant only to be told that nothing can be done about it as the flight was full and return to my seat. I knew for a fact that there were 17 spare seats and five of them were side by side we got into a disagreement, she was rude and disrespectful to me and my wife, called my wife a dog and a number of other rude words. I reminded her over and over again that this is there mistake and it has to be rectified before we fly. I requested to speak to the Captain at lease five times and was again rejected that privilege

The plane was delayed for over an hour and a half, we were told either we apologies to the flight attendant or we had to all leave the plane there was no other alternative
By then the other passengers were getting involved with rude comments to the staff about there behavior towards us. We were then told to leave. They removed our luggage left it on the runway sent us on our way. Mind you it was around 9 degrees. No body from the entire Etihad Airway would help us or wanted to get involved.

I am requesting immediate action towards the flight crew and dismissal of Soumia, flight crew chief. This whole matter was handled wrong and this should have never happened we should have never been told to leave the plane. Once I arrive back to Australia I will commence a law suite and approaching the current affair and what ever other television and radio station that wants to listen. Too many other problems with Etihad Airway have gone on deaf ears, but not this time. :evil:
 
Read our AFF credit card guides and start earning more points now.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

Re: Etihad BNE-SIN - $1299 for two

very disappointing to hear this kind of disgusting behaviour from their staff. i had been very tempted by etihad's specials ex-brisbane but i've heard a number of these stories which are concerning.

good luck
 
Re: Etihad BNE-SIN - $1299 for two

This sounds like a frightful experience.

I guess we've all been warned so buyer beware should you venture onboard!
 
Re: Family Of 5 Ejected Of Etihad Airway After Etihad Made An Error On The Their Seat

Conduct was certainly unacceptable, although I wonder why the crew acted the way that they did. That is pretty extreme. It wouldn't be a cultural misunderstanding, would it?

I am requesting immediate action towards the flight crew and dismissal of Soumia, flight crew chief. This whole matter was handled wrong and this should have never happened we should have never been told to leave the plane. Once I arrive back to Australia I will commence a law suite and approaching the current affair and what ever other television and radio station that wants to listen. Too many other problems with Etihad Airway have gone on deaf ears, but not this time. :evil:

Whilst I agree that reprimand and some sort of (substantial) compensation is in order, would a law suit be most appropriate? What action would you bring against them?

Also, I'd be careful of ACA and TT - they could trivialise and warp the entire thing.

I'd be more leaning towards a stern yet emotionless and formal letter of complaint to the airline, followed by complaining to a consumer interests group if there is unsatisfactory follow-up.
 
Re: Family Of 5 Ejected Of Etihad Airway After Etihad Made An Error On The Their Seat

sounds to me that there are probably 2 sides to the story and would consider that 1st

Dave
 
Re: Family Of 5 Ejected Of Etihad Airway After Etihad Made An Error On The Their Seat

The conduct of the cabin crew is definitely unprofessional in the extreme under whatever circumstances, though I too am intrigued as to what incited such behaviour.

IME it is usually easier to change seats with the gate agent when you're on the ground, unless the aircraft was full. Just out of interest however, how did you know that there were 17 spare seats on the plane?
 
Re: Family Of 5 Ejected Of Etihad Airway After Etihad Made An Error On The Their Seat

Emirates (or any other airlines I venture to guess) do the same, i.e seperate minors to their adult when we did not prerequested the seat when the flight is full.

It happened to me before with Emirates, I flew with both my children at that time were 7 and 9 yrs old. The 2 girls been seated 19 seats apart from me.

Only after I politely ask an assistant of a cabin crew to watch for my youngest that often has air sickness that the cabin crew try their best to move some passanger to allow us to be together.

I wonder why do airlines ask for ages when we book the ticket yet never use them when doing the seating arrangement?
 
Re: Family Of 5 Ejected Of Etihad Airway After Etihad Made An Error On The Their Seat

..she was rude and disrespectful to me and my wife, called my wife a dog and a number of other rude words.

Seriously - a cabin crew member called your wife a dog?! No, really?

If so, that makes the drunk ramblings of a teenager down Chapel St. seem pretty tame.

I would suggest that you write to Eithad in a calm and controlled manner and describe your experience. Getting all hot and bothered won't help you one little bit.

This is a good reminder that checking all documents given to you whilst travelling is very prudent. This problem could have been all sorted out if the OP had just reviewed their boarding passes at check-in.
 
Re: Family Of 5 Ejected Of Etihad Airway After Etihad Made An Error On The Their Seat

Seriously - a cabin crew member called your wife a dog?! No, really?

If so, that makes the drunk ramblings of a teenager down Chapel St. seem pretty tame.

Was thinking along similar lines. Last time I heard anyone call someone else a dog was when I was in high school. Not that it diminishes it anyway, but in what language was the verbal discourse from the crew member? Any cultural factors at play that could have lead to your predicament?
 
Re: Family Of 5 Ejected Of Etihad Airway After Etihad Made An Error On The Their Seat

....

This is a good reminder that checking all documents given to you whilst travelling is very prudent. This problem could have been all sorted out if the OP had just reviewed their boarding passes at check-in.

When the flight is full, the better chance to get it sorted it is on board approaching the flight attendant politely.
 
Re: Family Of 5 Ejected Of Etihad Airway After Etihad Made An Error On The Their Seat

I'm going to tread lightly and say there is always two sides to every story but I'm guessing that azam.d was given 1 x two seats and 1 x three seats. To me, it maybe an inconvenience or even a breach of a promise by the check-in staff to seat all five together, but IMO definitely not a big of a deal to warrant making a big fuss on both sides and be booted off the plane (and possibly the cancellation of all tickets).

If I knew for a fact that there were five adjacent empty seats - I'd might even considering scouring the plane for those seats given that it was only boarding (and when most people are in their assigned seat).

And demanding to see the pilot? I think I would have said No five times too!
 
Re: Family Of 5 Ejected Of Etihad Airway After Etihad Made An Error On The Their Seat

I'm still amazed (well maybe not really) that so many Australians think Islamic Arabic airlines are great.

Maybe a short stint in Saudi Arabia would disavow them of those thoughts.

BTW I have been there on business (as an Australian Govt officer), so I have a vague notion of what I am talking about.
 
Re: Family Of 5 Ejected Of Etihad Airway After Etihad Made An Error On The Their Seat

Was thinking along similar lines. Last time I heard anyone call someone else a dog was when I was in high school. Not that it diminishes it anyway, but in what language was the verbal discourse from the crew member? Any cultural factors at play that could have lead to your predicament?
But we do all know, or should know, that being liken to a dog is the gravest of insults in some cultures. This is not lessen by other cultures finding such an insult to be amusingly, immature.
 
Re: Family Of 5 Ejected Of Etihad Airway After Etihad Made An Error On The Their Seat

But we do all know, or should know, that being liken to a dog is the gravest of insults in some cultures. This is not lessen by other cultures finding such an insult to be amusingly, immature.

Indeed, which is how I viewed the "dog" comment - and found it being used as an insult very plausable in certain cultures.


azam.d - this site doesn't provide Ethiad direct feedback, it is for Frequent traveller's (and also not so frequent traveller's) to discuss various airline/travel related topics. You really should send Ethiad a copy of your complaint so that it can be registered and actioned by them.
 
Re: Family Of 5 Ejected Of Etihad Airway After Etihad Made An Error On The Their Seat

I'm still amazed (well maybe not really) that so many Australians think Islamic Arabic airlines are great.

Maybe a short stint in Saudi Arabia would disavow them of those thoughts.

BTW I have been there on business (as an Australian Govt officer), so I have a vague notion of what I am talking about.
In my working life I have travelled on many middle eastern carriers including Emirates and Etihad and can only offer them the highest compliments,in fact the service I have received has been better than that received from western carriers.
I have also spent a fair amount of time living and working in Saudia Arabia and have the fondest memories of my time spent there .

azam.d It certainly does sound like there was a breakdown in communications somewhere and you deserve at least an explanation of the circumstances surrounding how you came to be given incorrect boarding passes etc.
May I suggest you right a calm letter setting out your experiences and send it to Etihad via their customer feedback email address:
Contact us
or by mail:
Level 36, Aurora Place, 88 Phillip St, NSW 2000, Sydney, Australia
Good luck ,I hope you are able to reach a satisfactory conclusion.
 
Re: Family Of 5 Ejected Of Etihad Airway After Etihad Made An Error On The Their Seat

sounds to me that there are probably 2 sides to the story and would consider that 1st
That's the first thing I though of... also, I can understand that you were not allowed to speak with the captain. That's what the customer service managers are for.
 
Re: Family Of 5 Ejected Of Etihad Airway After Etihad Made An Error On The Their Seat

I'm going to tread lightly and say there is always two sides to every story but I'm guessing that azam.d was given 1 x two seats and 1 x three seats. To me, it maybe an inconvenience or even a breach of a promise by the check-in staff to seat all five together, but IMO definitely not a big of a deal to warrant making a big fuss on both sides and be booted off the plane (and possibly the cancellation of all tickets).

If I knew for a fact that there were five adjacent empty seats - I'd might even considering scouring the plane for those seats given that it was only boarding (and when most people are in their assigned seat).

And demanding to see the pilot? I think I would have said No five times too!
The seating part we could proberly get over in time, but the part when the flight attendant called my wife a dog, it was in Arabic. She obviously thought that we wouldn’t understand what she was saying because we were speaking in English and also had an Australian passport, that’s when we replayed back in a rude manner, The flight crew didn’t hear her say that or there not admitting it, why would they, again that’s why the captain decided to take action like he did with out the knowledge of what Soumia said to my wife, we were told either we apologies to the flight attendant or we had to all leave “Apology after what” calling my wife a DOG
 
Re: Family Of 5 Ejected Of Etihad Airway After Etihad Made An Error On The Their Seat

azam.d,

Interesting.

Do as others have suggested and write a polite, unemotional yet forceful letter to to Etihad. This is by far your best option and will yield the best results.
 
Re: Family Of 5 Ejected Of Etihad Airway After Etihad Made An Error On The Their Seat

azam.d,

Interesting.

Do as others have suggested and write a polite, unemotional yet forceful letter to to Etihad. This is by far your best option and will yield the best results.


I have reply’s from the following with excuse after excuse and all they offer was some flyer points

Mohamed Abubaker Al Farea
Vice President
Corporate Safety, Security and Quality

James hogen
CEO of Etihad Airways


Imran GM
Guest Affairs Department

Barry Green
Head of CRM & Loyalty
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Become an AFF member!

Join Australian Frequent Flyer (AFF) for free and unlock insider tips, exclusive deals, and global meetups with 65,000+ frequent flyers.

AFF members can also access our Frequent Flyer Training courses, and upgrade to Fast-track your way to expert traveller status and unlock even more exclusive discounts!

AFF forum abbreviations

Wondering about Y, J or any of the other abbreviations used on our forum?

Check out our guide to common AFF acronyms & abbreviations.
Back
Top