Overbooking: Cecchetto's misadventure with ITA Airways happens with all airlines
Far be it from me to defend ITA Airways: my review of the disastrous experience in the Superior classroom continues to make readings day after day [...]
ITA Airways
SkyTeam
Far be it from me to defend ITA Airways: my review of the disastrous experience in Superior classroom continue to do readings day after day. However, I have read junk starting with the statements of the well-known producer and public figure Claudio Cecchetto. Gross errors by those who fly little and know even less about the world of transportation, aviation even in the journalistic field.
The facts
In this article:
I purchase a premium ticket for an international flight. I arrive 3 hours early at the ceck-in and am told that due to overbooking my seat (already PAID for) is no longer there. Note that for this category there is no overbooking
The flight is full and they offer me to go in economy refunding me the difference in price. Dear ITA I choose the seat not you because for an 11-hour trip thank goodness I can afford a more comfortable seat (I am of a certain age
). I have to go because of a work commitment, but I would have gladly returned home. The "surprises" are not only in the Easter egg, ITA does them too! Keep in mind.
With this post Claudio Cecchetto expresses his disappointment for what happened, namely a downgrade from the ticket he bought due to, according to him, overbooking. Analyzing what was written, it seems to be understood that Cecchetto bought a premium economy ticket and, upon arriving at the airport, discovered that he had been downgraded to traditional economy.
I have not read anywhere an official statement from ITA Airways, these are hot days ahead of the closing of the sale to Lufthansa and I imagine they are focused on more important matters.
The Rome-Miami flight, AZ63, is the Italian airline's only daily connection to Florida. This connection is One of those where there are rotations of both the A350, the flagship, than of the former Alitalia A330. A not insignificant difference since the former is very modern and very comfortable, in all cabins, while the second is elderly and close to retirement.
There is also a difference in the layout: because the A350 has only business and economy, while the old A330 is configured with three classes: business, premium economy and economy.
Premium economy on ITA's A330
Reading Cecchetto's words, it seems that the well-known record producer bought a PE ticket and was downgraded to traditional economy. And overbooking is one of the most plausible reasons, as stated by the Radio DeeJay founder himself.
Cecchetto remarks in his post : "... note that for this category there is no overbooking ... " I have no idea on what basis I base this statement, but overbooking affects everyone From business to economy, perhaps only first class is safe.
There are many reasons for overbooking. We have written about so many such cases, in the U.S. it is a daily practice that also enriches passengers affected by this hardship. In Europe it is not possible to receive thousands of dollars as in the U.S. because of, or because of, the European directive that protects passengers from such inconveniences.
It is the same directive that obliges companies to refund the difference of the ticket paid or to allow the passenger to cancel/modify the trip and get a full refund. The main problem is that AZ has only one daily flight to Miami so there was no possibility of re-routing, and the only solution was to postpone the departure (but Cecchetto had to get to Miami for work).
So ITA Airways is required, like all companies, to Return 75% of the cost of the ticket for not fulfilling the contract with the passenger, unfortunately nothing more, and of course nothing less.
My similar misadventures
My most recent Cecchetto-like misadventure was aboard the Finnair. I should have traveled in business class, But because of a car change, I ended up flying in premium economy.
Those who read TFC regularly know full well that machine changes can happen every day, and overbooking is standard practice in the world of air travel. Sometimes it is a strategy of the airline, sometimes it is a concomitant due to external factors such as re-routing passengers from other flights or technical problems just to name a couple.
In conclusion
Being hit by the "jinx" of overbooking happens to all travelers: it's like Russian roulette. I when I am in the U.S. I always hope to hear the announcement "we are looking for volunteers because the plane is overbooked." It has happened to me before and I am always ready at the right price to raise my hand. Unfortunately, in Europe we are much more protected and such cases cannot happen, but on the other hand we are much more protected than in the U.S. when it comes to cancellations, delays and general inconvenience.
