Apr 04, 2012 05:54 AM
11494 Views
I will never fly Vietnam Airlines again. Yesterday, 31st March 2012, I was scheduled to depart Paris for Ho Chi Minh City on a 23:20 flight (Vietnam Airlines flight 2106. I booked my return trip through ebookers.com.
Only upon arriving at the airport, 4 hours prior to departure, I learned the flight had been cancelled. I was told this was due to weather, although other flights to the area with other airlines were not cancelled, and family in Vietnam informed me there were no severe weather issues on 31st March. I went about trying to find an alternate flight, and after 2 hours, I was informed I was booked on a 13:10 pm flight the following day, 1st April. This required staying an extra night in Paris. I was unable to secure a room through customer service at the airport, so booked a hotel myself.
Upon returning to the airport earlier today, I was informed in fact I was only on standby for the 13:10 flight to Ho Chi Minh City. This flight was full, so I did not secure a seat. I am now confirmed for this evening's flight, leaving at 23:20. I can only hope this flight is not cancelled as well. It total I will have spent 15 hours at the airport as a result of this flight cancellation.
After speaking to a very helpful customer service representative at ebookers, I learned that ebookers was never informed that the flight was cancelled, and this is why I did not receive a call or email about the flight cancellation. Even now, 14 hours after the flight was meant to depart, ebookers has not been informed of the cancellation. I cannot understand how any business is run this way.
How can you cancel a flight (for no apparent reason) and not inform online booking agencies?