The Flyglobespan saga goes on..

I was watching, (as you do,) the FGS flight from BHX to MAN which took off almost two hours late. I thought I would have a look at the GLA-SFB flight.
First of all it was not showing on the GLA web site, then it turned up as GSM725A (as opposed to the normal GSM725) but with the scheduled departure time of 14:30.

Well, two hours later it was showing "gate open, then "gate closed" I though hmm, about three hours late departing, not too bad for Globespan [:o)]

Well, it has stayed like that all night, until about an hour ago, when it changed to "scheduled" on the GLA web site and "delayed on the Sanford web site.

Can they beat their record of 39 hours late at the weekend??

They cannot continue like this without effecting their passenger loads surely??

[Pete]

I guess it's part of the problem of having an ageing, limited fleet. If something goes tech (which seems to be a regular thing), there's no replacement, so the aircraft has to sit there until it's fixed.

I seem to remember this plagued Virgin in the early days.

The flight finally took off at 02:30! some 12 hours late. the poor sods at Sanford should be home at 11:40 only a day late.
P.S. what happened to Pixuk, Pete??

Edit:
Just found this on anther forum:
"GSM725A took off 12 hours late (0235 local 11/05/07). Passengers were not offered any sort of accommodation. They were issued with £4 food vouchers.

GCEJM was tech, this was due to complications after a wheel change. The brakes were damaged, thus the wheel would not turn. It took time to source a new brake-unit. Once it was fitted, it was realized that the new part wouldn't work, therefore the A/C would be overweight for landing. As GSM have no other 757 in their fleet, they used GDLCH (737-800). I believe it came in from PMI a few hours before midnight. "

OWWW! 737 over the pond! no IFE, no premium seats!

OMG sounds a complete disaster! The poor people, I know I wouldn't be very happy, with just a £4 voucher! [V]

Originally posted by AlanA

The flight finally took off at 02:30! some 12 hours late.

OWWW! 737 over the pond! no IFE, no premium seats!

An no direct flight either....[V]

According to the Glasgow Airport web site the return flight is coming in via Bangor

[Neil]

If this is what they are like now, I dread to think how they are going to perform during the busy summer period. How GSM can continue like this is shameful, they know what a/c they have available to them but seem to be carrying on regardless[V]

What a shambles...as usual! [V][V][V]

Well, Its arrived in Sanford, but still no info on when its coming back. The poor souls who have been waiting since wednesday night to get home...

They have now scored an even bigger own goal!

Innagural service from GLA-YVR Flight was4 hours delayed.....bad enough I thought. The third YVR-GLA flight was delayed a whooping 26 hours! Third day of service and they had a 26 hour delay.

The problem lies in the fact that they are trying to expand too fast- as we have all said before.

You do not start LH ops with 767's- then decide you can get more money off Air India by leasing the a/c to them.

The timetable/class of services/aircraft have been changed too many times for the airline to know what they are doing. The fleet is being stretched way too much.

They also have way too many destinations- they should have built up at GLA and possibly LPL then expanded. I mean come on, as much as I love my local airport, I cannot believe there is enough demand for two weekly services to Toronto from GSM and Air Transat.

GSM should:
- cancel all remaining LH flights- put people onto Zoom/AC services to Canada. Put people onto other carriers into SFB.
- Wait until the 767's return and then restart reasonable services.
- Operate GLA services and keep one 757 for LPL-JFK. And then go from there.

They clearly have got too big for their boots and become very greedy.

STN to YYZ has been cancelled, looks like another bad weekend for FGS
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Edit by mod to shorten link........ Nick

Do I smell bankruptcy in the near future?

Originally posted by VS075
Do I smell bankruptcy in the near future?

At least after the summer, all these stories are not filling me with confident on GSM with my trip with them in August.

Originally posted by VS075
Do I smell bankruptcy in the near future?

Wouldnt be the first time The Globespan Travel Group have made a once short haul airline bankrupt.

Look at this little beauty:

http://www.skyliner-aviation.de/viewpho ... picid=3780


Somewhere please tell me where the logic is in getting new 763's leasing them to AI then having to lease in 763's from Neos (TUI) to replace the ones you have leased!! Still at least we get to see a different take on the GSM scheme.

Let me just update this abit as I posted earlier that I am due to Flyglobespan in August to JFK and returning from YHM. I was (as you can see its past tense) booked on the 24th Aug LPL-JFK but I have just checked online that my flight has been moved to the 25th as the flight on the 24th does not exist anymore. I have already made all my arrangements for arrival on the 24th with hotel bookings etc. Now where do I stand on this? Their T&C does note the following:-

Changes to Flight Schedules
We reserve the right to amend, introduce stops, cancel or consolidate flights as necessary to achieve the high load factors required to maintain profitability whilst offering low fares. Whilst we will try to avoid making changes, we will of course notify you of any material change where it is practical to do so. In this instance we will contact you via your registered email address if the booking was made on the website. Only if the booking was made through our reservation office will you be notified by post. Therefore it is important to inform us of any changes to these details. Changes made at the last minute for industrial action; operational reasons etc; will only be posted on our website. For these reasons and because it is prudent to do so, you should utilise the reconfirmation link on our website prior to your departure, which allows you to view your booking 'live' in our system. You may also phone our call centre on 08712 710 415 or from outwith the UK +44 131 466 7612, between the hours of 09:00 and 19:00 Mon - Fri, 09:00 and 17:00 on Sat, and 11:00 and 16:00 on Sun. (UK time). Travel Agents may use this method or if the booking was made electronically, via their Viewdata system. Adherence to the above advice is particularly important to those booking far in advance, but in all circumstances is a condition of carriage.

I wish I am flying VS, let this be a lesson to you all [n]:D. I am tempted to cancel all if they let me (without penalty) and rebook onto VS.

Originally posted by sky0000547
Now where do I stand on this?

Well, the EU regulations on Air Passenger Rights should entitle you to a full refund from the operator, which you should claim through your booking source, in the event of an involuntary schedule change which is not acceptable to the passenger.

Most airlines I've dealt with in this situation, admittedly not low-cost carriers, have absolutely no problem refunding the ticket if the schedule change is rejected, and usually very rapidly as well. I've had to reject a schedule change and get a refund twice from Lufthansa and once from VLM, and in both cases, a full refund was recieved within the one week stated in the EU document.

Good luck with Flyglobespan, and if they won't budge, threaten to take them to the small claims court, because the EU Article will most likely prevail against their conditions of carriage.

Regards,
Mike

Thanks Mike, but wandering whether I can also cancel the return leg as it was booked seperately to the outward leg due to departing from different destination. I guess to return leg is not so damaging to the pocket as that would just be losing my deposits.

Originally posted by sky0000547
Thanks Mike, but wandering whether I can also cancel the return leg as it was booked seperately to the outward leg due to departing from different destination. I guess to return leg is not so damaging to the pocket as that would just be losing my deposits.

Different PNRs? Then maybe GSM aren't under any obligation to refund that sector. These low-cost guys really don't miss a trick, do they?

Mike

Originally posted by mike-smashing

Originally posted by sky0000547
Thanks Mike, but wandering whether I can also cancel the return leg as it was booked seperately to the outward leg due to departing from different destination. I guess to return leg is not so damaging to the pocket as that would just be losing my deposits.

Different PNRs? Then maybe GSM aren't under any obligation to refund that sector. These low-cost guys really don't miss a trick, do they?

Mike

Yes under 2 different PNR. Their T&C really leave them on a 'win win' situation as soon as they got your money. Is just like if you don't turn up you lose your flight and money but if they don't turn up then they can screw you over but still keep some of your money. They can do what they like and have nothing to lose.

Not much good things I have heard about Globespan but the lady I just dealt with in their call centre was brilliant. I am getting 100% refund on both legs of my flight even though with 2 different PNR without any fuss. Virgin here I come.

Originally posted by sky0000547
Not much good things I have heard about Globespan but the lady I just dealt with in their call centre was brilliant. I am getting 100% refund on both legs of my flight even though with 2 different PNR without any fuss. Virgin here I come.

Good news, and great that they exceeded expectations and did the right thing.

At the end of the day, if Globespan sort out their operational problems and shortage of planes, you'll be more likely to go back to them in the future because of the actions of the person you dealt with today.

Hope you have better luck with VS!

Mike

They were advertising on the radio today Liverpool to New York direct departing 7 days a week. Maybe the service was only planned to leave twice a week but the are edging there bets as to when it will actually leave Liverpool.

Originally posted by Paul H
They were advertising on the radio today Liverpool to New York direct departing 7 days a week. Maybe the service was only planned to leave twice a week but the are edging there bets as to when it will actually leave Liverpool.

I think they have pulled the Friday service altogether (the one I was supposed to be on). Some of the flights in midweek are operated by Zoom apparently and extra stop to Ireland has been added.

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by sky0000547

Originally posted by Paul H
They were advertising on the radio today Liverpool to New York direct departing 7 days a week. Maybe the service was only planned to leave twice a week but the are edging there bets as to when it will actually leave Liverpool.

I think they have pulled the Friday service altogether (the one I was supposed to be on). Some of the flights in midweek are operated by Zoom apparently and extra stop to Ireland has been added.

Yep! I think that is into Ireland West (Knock) Airport. It has been widely advertised over here