Ryanair announced that it is pulling out of Prague because the airport refused to give it a fee discount in exchange for a guaranteed rise in the number of passengers.
It will end its flights to Birmingham and Frankfurt as of July 1, and the last two routes to Dublin and Stockholm will be canceled at the end of Oct. It had proposed to base six planes in Prague for servicing 2m passengers a year to 33 destinations. Prague Airport’s prices apply equally to all carriers, and it does not intend to change this policy. Ryanair will continue to operate a Brno-London route.

O zi mai tarziu aceasi companie isi anunta si incetarea tuturor zborurilor din/spre Budapesta, suspendarea urmand sa se produca din 28 octombrie.

Wizzair a intrat pe aeroportul din Praga anul trecut luand din publicul SkyEurope, si ducand la pierderi foarte mari ale companiei concurente. Un alt exemplu care-mi vine in minte: dupa vreo doi ani de la infintarea Wizzair la Budapesta SkyEurope inceta de pe aeroportul ungar. Wizzair a invins SkyEurope de fiecare data, la Budapesta, Cracovia si Praga. SkyEurope si-a dat in cele din urma (dar nu din cauza Wizzair) obstescul sfarsit.

Dupa ce in 14 luni Wizzair s-a extins cat a putu la Praga, Ryanair spune “Bye, Bye Prague!” si taie putinele curse pe care le avea. Cum si la Budapesta Wizzair s-a impus foarte bine, Ryanair iese si de pe acest aeroport.

In consecinta:
- Ryanair decide sa nu joace agresiv impotriva unei companii destul de puternice si pleaca cu coada intre picioare
- Ryanair se pregateste sa achizitioneze o parte din Wizzair si atunci nu vede rostul continuarii operatiunilor pe aeroporturile unde “partenerul” are baze operationale.

Eu optez pentru a doua versiune! Voi ce credeti?

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Alitalia launch special fares to SkyEurope stranded passengers.

If they has ticket issued before Aug 31. they can buy tickects with Alitalia to and from one of SkyEurope network such as Athens, Barcelona, Brussells, Bucarest, Budapest, Istanbul, London, Paris Sofia, Thessaloniki from italians port of call of Bari, Catania, Milan (Linate and Malpensa), Naples, Rome and Venice. Alitalia do not allows to fly to Amsterdam, Nice and Paris Orly. Off from the promotions are flighs operated under Alitalia code share with SkyTeam partners (flights with code 7000), with exception of the ones operated by Volare on Milan Linate-Barcelona and vice versa . Tickest at special fare can be bought only at Alitalia ticket counters at the airport.

For CSA flights to/from Prague for SkyEurope passengers click here.

easyJet rescue package for SkyEurope passengers

Following the announcement that SkyEurope has suspended its operations, easyJet, Europe’s leading low-fares airline, will offer those passengers stranded a special rescue fee of €40^* to return home on the routes where our flights overlapped with those of SkyEurope. These are:

London – Prague – London

London – Vienna – London

Milan – Prague – Milan

easyJet has made this offer available to any SkyEurope passengers due return home on these routes during the next seven days (offer available until 23:59 Tuesday 8 September).

To claim the exclusive €40 rescue package, passengers should call easyJet customer services on one of the numbers listed below.

Passengers must provide the agent with their SkyEurope booking reference number and present their SkyEurope booking confirmation at check-in as further proof of booking.

From UK: 0870 6 000 000
From Italy: 899 676 789

If you are calling from a country not listed above, you can call us on +44 870 6 000 000.

For further information please contact Andrew McConnell in the
easyJet press office on 01582 52 52 52 or email
press.office@easyJet.com

^*Includes all taxes and charges.

Ryanair Launches €25 Skyeurope Rescue Fare

Ryanair, the World’s favourite airline, today (1st Sept), launched a €25 (one way including taxes and charges) rescue fare* for SkyEurope passengers who may have been left stranded or have had their travel plans disrupted by the bankruptcy of the airline yesterday.

This fare applies on flights to/from Bratislava to the following destinations

Alicante
Barcelona (Girona)
Brussels (Charleroi)
Rome (Ciampino)
Liverpool
London (Stansted).

Ryanair also pledged to assist with the repatriation of passengers who may be caught up in any future airline collapse and advised passengers that the best way to ensure travel plans are protected is to travel only with financially secure airlines such as Ryanair.

Ryanair’s rescue fare can be booked via www.ryanair.com/member/SkyEuroperescuefare.html until 20th September for travel until 17th December, and applies to SkyEurope passengers only.

* This fare must be booked via www.ryanair.com/member/SkyEuroperescuefare.html and passengers must quote their SkyEurope booking reference and bring the same reference for verification at the airport check-in point. Passengers who arrive to check-in without their SkyEurope booking reference cannot be accepted for travel.

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La Londra se poate.

2 august. Aeroportul Londra Stansted, una dintre cele mai mari baze ale Ryanair. 255 de zboruri sunt programate sa plece de pe acest aeroport in aceasta zi. Si pentru a fi siguri ca vor putea face fata fluxului de pasageri, Ryanair a pus la dispozitia calatorilor… 11 ghisee de check-in.

Este adevarat ca Ryanair incurajeaza oamenii sa-si faca check-in-ul online (optiune obligatorie de la 1 octombrie 2009), dar nici daca oamenii fac aceasta operatiune nu pot sa isi predea bagajele la timp in aeroport. Nu pot, pur si simplu! Pentru ca 11 ghisee de checkin nu sunt suficiente.

Vreo 600 de oameni au ramas pe afara. Compania nu a dat nici o explicatie, iar reprezentantii Swissport (firma de handling care se ocupa de pasagerii Ryanair pe Londra Stansted) au tacut si ei malc.

Intreaga poveste in The Times.

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Because I’ve started receive comments on this old post i have made it up to date.

The Italian low-cost carrier Myair and the Slovakian based low cost airline SkyEurope sign an agreement to form in the short future an alliance that will transform them in the fourth player on the low-cost aviation market in Europe.

According to a press release from Myair, Flyholding – the holding company of Myair and SkyEurope Holding, the holding company of SkyEurope Airlines announced that they have jointly entered into a protocol agreement to immediately commence an operating partnership between Myair and SkyEurope Airlines and explore an eventual strategic alliance.

The new alliance with Myair should help SkyEurope to fix the company financial problems. SkyEurope has been posting losses in both raports presented this year, and last year.

The alliance should help both of the companies to achieve lower prices when purchasing prices of services and fuel.

The companies will start selling each other’s tickets on their websites till the end of this year and will also use each other’s planes. Some airline market analysts says that SkyEurope’s Boeings will be used on the routes were both companies face a high seat demand, and the small CRJ900 of Myair will be used on the routes were are less passengers. Myair Airbuses could be leased in order to get extra cash for the new company operations (this information has not been confirmed by any of the two airlines).

The aim of this alliance is to create the fourth biggest low-cost airline in Europe, after Ryanair, easyJet and AirBerlin. SkyEurope head Jason Bitter said that the two cooperating airlines will play a bigger role on the European market than the one played till now.

Need to know
Friday, LTE International Airways – a charter airline based in Palma di Maiorca, Spain – ceased operation due to financial problems. The company, that own 7 aircraft Airbus 320 was part of MyAir Group, the same that owns Myair.

On the European market other companies that merged this year: Vueling and Clickair (both Spanish airlines) and Condor, TUIfly and Germanwings (all German airlines) are still in talks for merging.

Foto: An Myair Airbus 320 preparing to take off from Bucharest Baneasa airport.
Foto by: Cristian C./Boardingmedia.net

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Prima masura anuntata este: renuntarea la check-in-ul la aeroport si realizarea sa exclusiv online. Incepand cu data de 1 octombrie 2009 nici un pasager Ryanair nu-si va mai putea realiza check-in-ul la aeroport.Pasagerii care vor face check-in online si au bagaj de cala vor trebui sa se prezinte la aeroport la ghiseele “Ryanair bag drop desks” unde isi vor preda bagajul de cala.

Trecerea la noul sistem se va face in trei faze.

Prima faza – 19 martie 2009
serviciul de check-in online (limitat in momentul de fata) va putea fi utilizat si de:
- cetateti rezidenti ai unei tari din afara granitelor Uniunii Europene sau Economic European Area
- pasagerii care calatoresc cu bagaj de cala
- pasageri cu deficiente locomotorii
Toti pasagerii care vor utiliza serviciul de check-in online si care vor calatorii numai cu bagaj de mana (maxim 10kg) nu vor avea de platit nici o taxa suplimentara.
Pasagerii care vor calatorii cu bagaj de cala dar opteaza pentru check-in online vor achita o taxa de 5 euro per zbor.
Pasagerii care calatoresc cu sau fara bagaj de cala, dar vor dori sa realizeze check-in la aeroport vor achita o taxa de 10 euro per zbor.

A doua faza – 1 mai 2009
Toate rezervarile care vor fi efectuate de la aceasta data vor cuprinde serviciul de check-in online, care va fi tarifat cu 5 euro per pasager per zbor. In cazul in care pasagerul opteaza pentru check-in la aeroport taxa va fi de 20 de euro per pasager per zbor.

Pe parcursul verii Ryanair va renunta in marea majoritate a aeroporturilor la ghiseele de check-in.

A treia faza – 1 octombrie 2009
Nici un ghiseu de check-in nu va mai fi disponibil in cadrul aeroporturilor. Pasagerilor care nu vor efectua aceasta operatiune online li se va refuza imbarcarea in aeronava.

Pasagerii care vor calatroii doar cu bagaj de mana nu vor plati taxa de check-in online. Pasagerii care vor calatroii cu bagaj de cala vor plat taxa de check-in online de 5 euro si taxa de bagaj (10 euro/geanta – maxim 15kg, daca se achita online inaintea zborului sau 20 de euro/geanta daca se achita pin call center sau la aeroport). Toate gentile se vor preda la “Ryanair bag drop desks”.

Sursa foto

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Asa ca, iata zvonurile (pe care nu le pot da ca sigure, chiar daca stiu ca unele sunt sigure ):

- Blueair va mai lansa (in afara de anuntatele Napoli, Catania, Salonic si Paphos) inca trei – patru destinatii, cel mai probabil cu plecare din Bucuresti. Hai sa ne dam cu parerea! Eu zic ca este vorba de: Bucuresti – Rotterdam (daca nu, Eindhoven), Bucuresti – Copenhaga, Bucuresti – Atena si poate un Bacau – Barcelona sau Valencia.

- Ryanair se incapataneaza si a cerut un slot la Stockholm pentru un zbor spre Romania, insa se pare ca nu a cerut vreun slot si la noi. Cool!

- Wizzair ar putea anunta Bucuresti – Napoli – Bucuresti si Cluj – Napoli – Cluj, in regim de doua/trei zboruri pe saptamana.

- Se zice ca Tarom vrea sa zboare la Lisabona. Sa vedem daca poate!

- Cica inca o companie incearca Salerno (Napoli) – Bucuresti si retur. Spionii nostri ar zice ca este Air Dolomiti (partenere Lufthansa).

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Aceasta imagine nu poate fi preluata fara acceptul autorului. Copyright Cristian Curus.

Starting November 1st all European Union based airlines must publish the tickets prices including all taxes and surcharges. Also, passengers will be able to see the breakdown of the different categories of costs making up the final price: tariff, taxes, airport charges and other fees.

The EU Commission for transport announced this new rule early in the spring, but said at that moment that airlines will have near 6 months to change the way they are advertising their tickets and how they are showing the full price during the booking process. There are still 10% of the airlines that failed to update their systems till November 1st.

The main points of the new regulations for EU airlines are:
- airlines must advertise their tickets prices all-inclusive – fare, taxes and surcharges
- the passenger should see the full ticket prices in the first page showing the results of their search
- the passenger should be able to see the breakdown for the taxes and surcharges also in the page with the flight search results

At the moment there are some airlines operating flight to/from Romania that are not fully respecting the new rules. The Romanian low cost carrier Blue Air doesn’t show the full price and tax breakdown in the search result page and the Italian MyAir doesn’t show the full price in the flight search results page.

Wizzair, EasyJet, Germanwings, Clickair and SkyEurope – also low cost companies – are showing the full price and the tax breakdown in the flight search results page.

The new EU rules also ban airlines from adding optional additional charges without passengers’ express consent.

Most known optional additional charges are:
- credit card booking fees
- checking bags into the hold
- ‘fast-track’ boarding service charges
- airport check-in charge

For the moment none of the European low cost carriers is respecting the new rule about the optional charges.

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The new tax called “Collective madness” will be paid by each carrier taking off from any airport in the two mentioned countries, no matter it is a local or a foreign airline. The tax will be paid for each passenger carried on board of the aircraft.

In Ireland there the tax will be introduced starting with 30th March for each passenger that is outbound for another European country. The tax will be 8 euro for a passenger flying to one of the countries very close to Ireland – UK, Iceland, France, Spain and Germany, and 10 euro if he/she is flying to another European destination and the north African countries. For the moment the government have not mentioned if there will be a tax for the intercontinental flights (other than those to north Africa).

The press is expecting a very vehement reaction from low-cost airline Ryanair which is flying from all Irish airports to more than 90 European destinations. In the same time, Ryanair has a base at Bruxelles Charleroi Airport (the secont Bruxelles airport) from were is flying to almost 30 European and north African destinations.

Ryanair is flying to over 90 destinations from Irish airports. The company official are expected to attack the new tax in the next couple of days. (photo source)

In Belgium, the tax can be even higher, and if so it is expected that airlines will cut flights from the four main airports: Bruxelles International, Charleroi, Antwerp and Liege. For the moment, the government did not said how much this tax will be.

A French newspaper said (noting that there is not an official source to be quoted) that the new Belgian tax will be 10 euro for any European outbound flight and 40 euro for all the others.

A person working in the Belgian aviation sector told Boardingmedia.net that he hopes taxes will not be like those imposed last spring by the Dutch government: 11,25 euro per any passenger on an outgoing flight to any European destination and 45 euro for anybody flying to any worldwide airport.

The Belgian tax concern a lot the Dutch travelers too as many of the are using the Bruxelles International airport to fly intercontinental flights and Charleroi to reach European popular destination, as they do not want to pay the high Dutch taxes impose to airlines flying out Amsterdam or Rotterdam airports.

IATA (International Air Transport Association) criticized the Irish and Belgian proposals for the new tax, “Collective madness is the only way to describe the EUR 150 million Irish and EUR 132 million Belgian departure tax proposals. Filling budget gaps or financing government investment in the banking industry with gratuitous travel taxes is policy myopia at its worst,” told Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO, quoted by Associated Press.

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O poveste… cu o companie falimentara
In noaptea de joi spre vineri, ma suna un prieten… cu o voce disperata. Eu balmajesc ca m-a trezit din somn, el vorbea pe “fast forward”. L-am lasat sa termine si l-am rugat frumos sa mai spuna o data ce-mi spuse anterior, dar de data asta sa vorbeasca mai calm si mai rar ca sa inteleg si eu ceva. Zborul lui de la Londra la Toronto fusese anulat, dupa ce timp de mai multe ori in timpul zilei compania anuntase mai multe reprogramari ale cursei in cauza… anuland-o pana la urma. I-am explicat ca trebuie sa mearga la ghiseul companiei si sa solicite cazare la hotel si voucher pentru cina, precum si reprogramarea in urmatorul zbor.

El: Cristi, au anulat toate zborurile. Toate… Si pe alea de maine, si pe cele de poimaine… Si pe alea de anul viitor.
Eu: Adica au dat faliment?
El: Ne-au spus ca nu mai pot zbura si cam atat. Ne-au spus sa ne facem aranjamente cu alte companii si sa mergem la ei pe site sa citim ce facem sa luam banii inapoi.
Eu: Deci da, e faliment.

Situatia era intr-adevar disperata, iar prietenul meu trebuia sa aiba un loc intr-un prim zbor, in ziua urmatoare. Mi-a spus ca daca si-ar fi sunat sefii, probabil i-ar fi platit compania pentru care lucreaza, biletul de avion, dar nu a vrut sa faca asta pentru ca nu i se parea corect (evident, mai corect era sa ma trezeasca pe mine! ). I-am zis sa-mi dea un ragaz de cateva minute pentru a verifica starea zborurilor si ca-l voi suna eu inapoi, sfatuindu-l sa mearga la un hotel din aeroport si sa-si ia o camera. Din nou, omul s-a enervat… ca sa-i plateasca compania camera, iar eu i-am spus calm sa si-o plateasca singur pentru ca de la companie nu mai vede nici un sfant si ca ar trebui sa se obisnuiasca cu ideea.

In cele din urma am reusit sa-i dau de cap problemei prietenului meu: i-am facut o rezervare la British Airways pentru a doua zi, pentru Londra – Toronto, urmand sa achite el contravaloarea biletului la un ghiseul BA din aeroport. Pretul a fost redus cu 50% fata de tariful normal pentru zborul in cauza.
L-am instintat ca trebuie sa-si contacteze compania emitenta a cartii de credit (din Canada), lucru pe care l-a facut a doua zi de dimineata. Compania, care stia despre ce este vorba, i-a spus ce documente trebuie sa trimita prin e-mail si ca-si va recupera banii de pe zborul anulat in maxim 15 zile.

Una dupa alta
In povestea de mai sus este vorba de compania Zoom Airlines, o companie ale carei baze au fost puse de doi britanici prin anul 2000 si care a inceput sa opereze in anul 2001 zboruri in regim “low-cost” din Canada spre Marea Britanie si Franta, dar opera si cateva curse intre Marea Britanie si Statele Unite. Prin regim low-cost se intelege ca operau curse la preturi sub cele practicate de companiile de linie traditionale, aplicand o serie de taxe pentru servicii aditionale si avand in acelasi timp un sistem diferit de folosire a avioanelor (aceasi aeronava opereaza mai multe zboruri decat o aeronava a unei companii traditionale) lucru care permite companiei sa practice preturi mai mici. Pe 28 august un avion al companiei a fost retinut la sol, la Glasgow, pentru ca Zoom Airlines avea datorii catre firma ce gestioneaza controlul de trafic aerian. In acelasi timp, un alt avion aflat la Toronto astepta sa fie imbarcat pentru a zbura api catre Londra. Insa compania care asigura combustibilul a refuzat umplerea rezervoarelor pana ce patronii Zoom nu-si achita toate datoriile, integral. In nici o ora site-ul companiei a fost suspendat, iar toti angajatii au primit ordin de a intrerupe orice activitate. In acel moment compania s-a declarat falimentara.

Zoom Airlines nu este prima companie care a avut probleme financiare si care s-a vazut nevoita sa-si inchida imediat toate operatiunile. Iata mai jos lista companiilor care au “decedat” anul acesta:
– 31 Martie: Aloha Airlines (principala companie aeriana din insula Hawaii)
– 3 aprilie 2008: ATA Airlines (companie americana care si-a inceput operatiunile in 1973. Compania opera peste 50 de curse pe zi, intre Statele Unite, Hawaii, Mexic si mai multe destinatii din America de Sud)
– 7 aprilie 2008: Skybus Airlines (una dintre noile companii low-cost din Statele Unite, cu o retea ce deservea peste 30 de orase si care isi lansase operatiunile doar cu un an in urma)
– 9 aprilie 2008: Oasis (companie din Hong Kong care efectua zboruri intre acest oras si Londra)
– 26 aprilie 2008: EOS Airlines (companie americana, care opera zboruri cu avioane configurate numai Business Class; opera un numar de doua, pana la patru zboruri zilnice intre New York si Londra; anul acesta ar fi trebuit sa deschida ruta Londra – Dubai si New York – Paris, precum si un zbor intre Londra si Georgetown, in Guyana)
– 13 iunie 2008: Silverjet (companie britanica, tot “only-business” care opera zboruri intre Londra Luton si Dubai si Newark)

Scopul listei de mai sus este de a demonstra ca orice companie aeriana, indiferent de profil – low cost sau traditionala -, indiferent de publicul tinta – cei care vor sa cheltuiasca putin pe zboruri sau pasagerii de business care vor plati si 2.000 de euro pe un singur bilet -, si indiferent de tara de unde se afla… pot ajunge usor la faliment. Industria aeronautica presupune multe cheltuieli, iar faptul ca pretul petrolului a crescut foarte mult in ultimele luni nu este singurul lucru care influenteaza profitul companiilor aeriene. Daca o companie nu va reusi sa-si administreze foarte bine banii, poate ajunge foarte usor in situatia in care, creditorii sa refuze a mai efectua anumite servicii, iar singurul lucru care ramane este ca respectiva companie aeriana sa fie declarata falita.

Ce se intampla daca o companie aeriana declara falimentul?
Este destul de greu de explicat acest lucru, dat fiind ca exista foarte multe actiuni care vor trebui realizate dupa declararea falimentului. Nu intru aici in partea administrativa, ci voi pune accentul pe situatia in care se afla pasagerul.

Cateva lucruri de stiut, inca de la bun inceput sunt:
– companiile aerine foarte mari, de linie sau low-cost (Easyjet, Ryanair), pot ajunge la faliment doar in cazuri exceptionale si de acceea sunt considerate de experti ca fiind mai sigure. O companie cu o flota de peste 100 de avioane si cu o retea de zboruri foarte intinsa, gaseste mereu modul de a egala balanta dintre cheltuieli si venituri. Cel mai bun exemplu in acest caz sunt chiar low-cost-urile Ryanair si Easyjet, care raporteaza profituri semnificative in fiecare an. Faptul ca cifrele declarate pentru acest an sunt mai mici, deci compania nu a fost la fel de profitabila ca anul trecut, se datoreaza numai pretului petrolului.
– in cele mai multe cazuri, incetarea operatiunilor unei companii aeriene se face fara un “preaviz”
– pasagerii pot fi informati chiar si dupa check-in ca operatiunile companiei lor au fost definitiv suspendate
– in cazul falimentului, daca sunteti deja in aeroport, nici o companie aeriana nu va va asigura cazare la hotel si masa pe toata perioada de pana la zborul dvs. (care evident va fi cu o alta companie)
– companiile nu sunt obligate sa va puna la dispozitie un bilet gratuit, cu o alta companie.
– companiile nu vor putea efectua un refund al pretului biletelor neutilizate, deci va trebui sa discutati direct cu banca dvs. pentru a primi inapoi banii.

Ce NU TREBUIE sa faceti in cazul in care aflati ca nu veti mai putea zbura cu o companie declarat proaspat falimentara:

A. daca sunteti la aeroport si va pregateati de check-in/imbarcare:
– NU trebuie sa va panicati
– NU trebuie sa tipati la personalul de la sol (de la ghiseul companiei, de la ghiseul de check-in sau de la poartea de imbarcare). Amintiti-va ca acestia tocmai au ramas fara serviciu si ganditi-va ca oricum ei nu au nici o vina.
– NU trebuie sa va duceti glont la prima companie aeriana care va iese in cale si sa cereti un nou bilet, pe care sa-l achitati imediat, fara sa va informati daca exista companii dispuse sa ofere un pret mai mic pasagerilor afectati de anularea zborului dvs.

B. daca sunteti acasa si mai aveti intre o zi si un an pana la data de zbor:
– NU trebuie sa incercati sa contactati compania aeriana. aceasta si-a suspendat toate activitatile, inclusiv serviciul de call center.
– NU trebuie sa dati fuga pe internet sa procurati alt bilet, indiferent de pretul acestuia… pentru ca vreti sa calatoriti oricum, fara sa va informati daca exista companii dispuse sa ofere un pret mai mic pasagerilor afectati de anularea zborului dvs.

Ce TREBUIE sa faceti:

A. daca sunteti in aeroport si va pregateati de check-in/imbarcare:
– incercati sa aflati de la personalul companiei care sunt conditiile prin care puteti sa va efectuati totusi calatoria. De regula, mai multe companii aerine ofera locuri la preturi speciale pentru calatorii aflati in astfel de situatii. Zborurile pot fi operate de companie catre orasul dvs. de destinatie sau catre unul mai apropiat. In cazul in care sunteti la jumatatea calatoriei, cand s-a intamplat nefericitul faliment, companiile in cauza vor avea preturi speciale pentru biletele one-way (de regula mult mai scumpe decat unul achizitionat dus-intors).
– daca sunteti la inceputul itinerariului (compus dintr-un zbor dus-intors) veti putea beneficia de tarife speciale si in acest caz.
– petreceti cateva ore in aeroport, incercand sa acumulati cat mai multe informatii despre posibilitatea cumpararii unui nou bilet de la o alta companie si despre cum ati putea sa va recuperati banii cheltuiti pe biletele care nu vor mai fi utilizate.
– daca reusiti sa va luati un bilet pentru a doua zi, mergeti la cel mai apropiat hotel.

B. daca sunteti acasa si mai aveti intre o zi si un an pana la data de zbor:
– accesati site-ul companiei aeriene in cauza pentru a afla ce ar trebui sa faceti. vizitati site-ul de mai multe ori, la intervaluri regulate de timp, deoarce companiile vor introduce noi date despre recuperarea banilor si preturi “speciale” oferite de alte companii aeriene.
– contactati-va banca emitenta a cardului si anuntati ca zborul dvs. a fost anulat definitiv, iar compania nu poate face refund. Banca ar trebui sa va lase sa anulati tranzactia, daca este vorba de un card de credit. (o sa completez cu informatii…. dupa ce voi discuta la bancile din Romania, sa vedem ce se poate face intr-o astfel de situatie).
– aflati care sunt companiile ce zboara pe ruta pe care ar fi trebui sa zburati dvs. si incercati sa vedeti daca respectiva companie va poate oferi un pret “special”.
– daca mai aveti cel putin 4 luni pana la inceperea itinerariului dvs. cautati pur si simplu o alta alternativa de zbor, pretruile fiind accesibile cu un asa mare avans.

Protejeaza-te singur!
Compania aeriana iti vinde un serviciu, dar daca lucrurile nu merg bine pentru ei, vor merge prost si pentru tine. Asa ca trebuie sa iei in considerare urmatoarele lucruri:
– e mai bine sa-ti cumperi singur biletul, direct de pe site-ul companiei aeriene sau de pe un site care se foloseste de sistemele de rezervari Amadeus, Galileo sau Worldspan (folosite de marea majoritatea a companiilor de linie).
– plateste cu cartea de credit. In cazul in care, in maxim 180 de zile de la data platii, compania aeriana da faliment faci o cerere la banca emitenta a cardului si aceasta ar trebui sa faca refund integral pentru suma achitata. Daca ai platit cu un card de debit, atunci regula tocmai mentionata nu se aplica. In majoritatea din cazuri, platile cash nu vor fi niciodata recuperate.
– mai bine nu cumperi de la agentiile de turism. In cazul in care o companie da faliment agentia de turism de la care ai cumparat biletul nu are posibilitatea de ati restitui banii, in conditiile in care acei bani au fost expediati ulterior platii tale in contul companiei aeriene.
- despre asigurarile de calatorie (care nu-s acelasi lucru cu asigurarile medicale de calatorie!) voi scrie in curand.

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APD is Gordon Brown’s tax on air passengers, which he is doubling from £5 to £10 per passenger from 1st Feb. He claims this is good for the environment.

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Arriving in Warsaw. Going to what I was to call “home” in the next 4 months. A very nice “gate keeper” wished me was there to wish me welcome, and actually I feel the need to say that he is the nicest one from the four gate keepers the school has.

After almost four months it is quite hard to prepare for “the trip back”. I got used with my not-early-morning-breakfasts. I love to have lunch in a communist place, one of those places where are fat ladies that are smiling to me all the time even they do no get a word from what I am saying. I love the food you can buy there. Cheap and good. Ok, not always good because it depends on the “women mood”… you know!

I will miss tram 35 (going down town) and tram 22 (going to the train station).

I will miss Arkadia Shopping Center (Good bless this mall – one tram stop from my house).

I will miss my two “offices”: Wojciech one and the library.

I will miss Piotr – the against everything guy, even against me at a point! (friends know why).

And apart from all this I will miss the people, those people that tried how they could to make my life easier and better. So I’ll try to finish this post till my first tear will appear. I’ll say that this post is for “friendship” and for Wojciech, Viktoria, Mariusz (or professor Mariusz ), Aniska and Maryna. Many thanks to one of the cleaning guys – “the big scarry back haired guy”.

Things that I’ve learned in Poland:
- Never say NO to a Polish that offers you a beer. Never say NO to the same Polish offering you the second beer. Never say NO for the third beer, from the same Polish person … And this is the rule of “who fall first”.

- Never talk to a Polish about how great Russians are.

- Never talk to a Polish about how great Germans are.

- Never name the actual President of the Republic.

- Never talk in another language than Polish because you risk to loose your energy without being understood anyway.

- Never take in a bus or tram without a ticket.

- Avoid McDonalds, KFC and so on cause they are not different that the ones from your country.

- Do not stress yourself with running around stores to buy clothes. You will never find something cheaper that in C&A and H&M. If you really want good shoes go to BATA.

- Never use LOT Polish Airlines services. Aircraft sucks and prices are huge. No …they are extremely huge. No…. they are too huge to be true. Please be kind with your wallet and pay few euros to Wizzair (actually cool airline), SkyEurope, Ryanair and EasyJet.

- If you want to buy books, DVDs… and other stuff go to EMPICK.

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