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rxfaith · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 71

We had a horrible experience flying Jazeera and so I thought I'd post to give everyone a heads up in case you're considering flying with them.

So we found tickets to Dubai through Jazeera for less then $100 per person round trip. In order to fly Jazeera you HAVE to be there 1 hour prior to departure to check in. On our way to Dubai, leaving from Kuwait, this was not a problem, however on our way home we were a little late. We arrived at the counter and the lady at the counter told us they close 1 hour prior to departure and we were TEN minutes late. She refused to check us in.

She told us to go to the main office and talk to someone there. We went and found the office and talked to the one of the managers. He too said it was too late, even though by this time the airplane was still not scheduled to take off for another 1/2 hour. He told us we had to purchase new tickets.

When we went to purchase the tickets they were THREE times the price they normally charge.

The plane ride was just as horrible...the attendants were extremely rude. They insisted we open ALL the windows during landing, even though the sun was EXTREMELY bright and we had a sleeping baby. We tried to reason with them and asked them to please keep the windows closed but according to them it was 'policy' and they leaned over us to open the windows. We then closed them because the sun was too much and again someone else came, argued with us, leaned over us and opened the window. Other things happened but no time to sit and write....

The service was horrible, no manners or any sense of customer service whatsoever.....not to mention they charge you for snacks!

I emailed customer service and all the rep said was 'it's policy to close 1 hour before and no we did not over charge you'. I asked about the lack of customer service on the flight and he/she did not respond. I then emailed again asking to please address this issue and nothing.

I know this is not the U.S. and we're dealing with a bunch of morons, but still at least an apology would have been nice.

I strongly recommend flying with someone else...you don't even get what you pay for with Jazeera.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Are you sure that you weren't flying with Northwest? That sounds like all the American airlines to me. Apparently they are changing to the US system of cattle herding and customer abuse.

VS

Cleopatra · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 5:15 pm Post subject:

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

bje · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 527

redeyes · Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 254

Neil McBeath · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 277 Location: Saudi Arabia

I cannot speak for Budget SAirlines in the USA, but in Britain if you turn up FIVE minutes late for a Budget Flight you're stuffed. A regural TV programme that is supposed to demonstrate the human interest side of flying with Easyjet - Airline - gives so many weekly examples of inflexible staff and disgruntled passengers that the Airline is now frequently referred to as Lousyjet.

I made the mistake of flying from Southampton to Glasgow with FlyBe this summer. We were late taking off on both sectpoors. In fact, we were so late at Glasgow that we didn't take off until after we should have landed at Southampton. Not a word of apology, so if I go to Glasgow again, I shall travel by National Express Coach.

I flew Jazeera once. It was fine. But then I turned up on time.

If you want obsequious sucking-up, then you have to pay an obscene amount of money - like Richard Gere in Pretty Woman.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Cheap airlines are for cheap people with cheap attitudes.

As for the xenophobic rxfaith, maybe she should head back to the USofA.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Saudi airlines will not let you board a domestic flight if there is less than 45 minutes to go. They are quite inflexible on this, and even getting an exception made when you have come from a connecting international flight requires permission from the manager.

The buying a new ticket puzzles me. Presumably this was for a new flight (selling another ticket for the same flight when they have closed boarding is pure extortion). Since Al-Jaeerah airlines probably runs on the Ryan Air/Air Arabia pattern of 'we'll charge any number we feel like' it wouldn't surprise me that they try and charge you three times as much if they think they've got you by the short and curlers. the only redress you have is to go and buy a ticket on another airline.

spicegirl · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 112

I believe that it's actually international aviation law that all passenger planes must have the window blinds raised for take-off and landing, day and night. In any case, the extremely bright sunshine's going to get you as soon as you land - and I guess the sleeping baby has to wake up sometime.

It's also not a good idea to argue with the cabin crew - they're there to enforce the safety regulations, and you can end up in a lot of trouble if you waste their time by hindering them in their cabin checks prior to take-off and landing.

I thought all international flights had at least a one-hour policy for check-in - most of them specify 2 hours, and in the larger international airports, 2 and a half hours. It's normal for airlines to deny you boarding if you're late arriving at check-in.

rxfaith · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 71

I take full responsibility for arriving late....but service would have nice...anyways, just wanted to let everyone because I would have wanted to know this prior to flying.

Scot47.....Xenophobic? Although i'm American, i'm originally from this side of the world....nice try

trapezius · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:02 pm Post subject:

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

...Why are you criticizing the airline for doing thier job... I believe you have confused airline policy with customer service...because they insisted that you keep the window blinds up during landing is not really considered bad customer service. I guess if you did not conform to the rules then yes probably the flight attendant had to take more extreme measures because you would not abide by the rules. Your lucky they didn't stun you with a lazer gun. LOL

...because you have a baby on board doesn't really make you exempt from the rules...sometimes such policies appear rediculous or unreasonable to passengers, but it's for the collective saftey of all the passengers...another problem is the the use of mobile phones upon take off and landing...in many instances I think it is the various unthinking passengers who are the morons.

As far as having to pay for snacks/ beverages...try flying on any Canadian airlines and you will discover that to be the norm.

Lets face it unless you are in first class, you can forget about any special treatment/ care.

007 · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 6:19 pm Post subject:

Bebsi · Joined: 07 Feb 2005 Posts: 958

To sum up a few pertinent points:

-With most airlines, you must be there strictly a specified period before departure. This is mainly to avoid delays. There are also other people waiting for your seat who will happily pay more than you have done

-It is normal practice to open the blinds for takeoff and landing

-If you decide to undo measures already taken by flight staff in the interests of safety and/or regulations, you can actually be prosecuted. It is not unusual for them, certainly, to redo what you have undone, i.e. opening the blinds after you have closed them

-Safety is of far greater concern than a baby's beauty sleep!

-Many airlines, including national airlines, now charge for snacks on board. For a cheap ticket, I assume this is going to be the case