The Wrong Birmingham!
Apr 28th 2016, 10:22 pm
#16
Septic Sprout
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,995
Re: The Wrong Birmingham!
I read that in the paper today. Sorry, but I would be so embarrassed about my mistake that I'd never put it in the paper! Obviously I feel sorry for them, but it wasn't the travel company's problem so I can understand them refusing to refund. If the drop-down list says 'Birmingham UK' and then 'Birmingham, Alabama' then it couldn't really be much clearer. I'd have thought the price for the flights would have told them it wasn't Brum UK, it'd be way cheaper to fly internal USA.
We once arranged to meet my sister to go to The Reindeer Centre near Ashford, Kent. She travelled down from Nottingham and I never thought she'd make a mistake because she had been to Ashford with us before to The Rare Breeds Centre. She booked her ticket to Ashford, Surrey and didn't realise until she got there that she'd got it wrong.
We once arranged to meet my sister to go to The Reindeer Centre near Ashford, Kent. She travelled down from Nottingham and I never thought she'd make a mistake because she had been to Ashford with us before to The Rare Breeds Centre. She booked her ticket to Ashford, Surrey and didn't realise until she got there that she'd got it wrong.
Incidentally, the drop down options on that site make you close between:
BIRMINGHAM, AL, US (BHM)
BIRMINGHAM, GB (BHX)
A moment's distraction or a fat-fingering of the selection could prove costly if one also doesn't read the confirmation properly.
Apr 28th 2016, 10:27 pm
#17
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2014
Location: London
Posts: 556
Re: The Wrong Birmingham!
I agree about the price. Was assuming they booked in plenty of time if this was supposed to be a really special trip.
Apr 29th 2016, 2:49 am
#18
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 5
Re: The Wrong Birmingham!
I was in Birmingham airport a few years ago at the car hire desk and a French man beside had the same problem. Someone in his office had made the same mistake!
Apr 29th 2016, 8:08 am
#19
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2015
Location: Panama City, FL
Posts: 2,133
Re: The Wrong Birmingham!
While waiting in Atlanta for our flight to Manchester, they announced on the PA the Manchester flight was overbooked and were offering cash to anyone willing to be bumped to the next flight.
We were on a time-crunch so didn't ask but found out later they were referring to the flight to Manchester NH, 2 gates up.
We were on a time-crunch so didn't ask but found out later they were referring to the flight to Manchester NH, 2 gates up.
Apr 29th 2016, 8:34 am
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Portlandia Metro
Posts: 7,427
Re: The Wrong Birmingham!
I see they got a cheap trip to Vegas
Everyone at Virgin Holidays wants to see them enjoy a well-deserved break, so we’re giving them two economy-class flights with Virgin Atlantic, five nights hotel accommodation, and are waiving all applicable fees and charges.’
Everyone at Virgin Holidays wants to see them enjoy a well-deserved break, so we’re giving them two economy-class flights with Virgin Atlantic, five nights hotel accommodation, and are waiving all applicable fees and charges.’
Apr 30th 2016, 5:55 pm
#21
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 4,913
Re: The Wrong Birmingham!
People attempting to travel to San Jose, California (SJC) have been known to select SJO (San Jose, Costa Rica) by mistake. Normally the mistake is discovered in time, but every year or so there are reports of people who actually got on the flight and ended up in the wrong place.
A 3,000-mile error on way to San Jose
A 3,000-mile error on way to San Jose
Apr 30th 2016, 6:58 pm
#22
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2014
Location: London
Posts: 556
Re: The Wrong Birmingham!
Re: thread title. Is there a 'right' Birmingham? Lol, kidding, my uncle lives in Brum UK.
Apr 30th 2016, 9:25 pm
#23
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: The Wrong Birmingham!
We once flew from Newark, Nj to Melbourne.
The Melbourne, Florida not Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
We had a vacation in Florida and it was cheaper to fly to Melbourne (on the "Space coast") instead of Orlando.
I do remember checking very carefully that I was booking the flights to Florida at the time as Continental Airlines did have the drop down option for both cities.
The Melbourne, Florida not Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
We had a vacation in Florida and it was cheaper to fly to Melbourne (on the "Space coast") instead of Orlando.
I do remember checking very carefully that I was booking the flights to Florida at the time as Continental Airlines did have the drop down option for both cities.
May 1st 2016, 5:02 am
#24
Septic Sprout
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,995
Re: The Wrong Birmingham!
Many moons ago Mrs tonrob worked as a call centre agent on a hotel reservations line. Apparently these types of mistakes were pretty common.
