Virgin Atlantic found GUILTY!!!

A bit of a cryptic title I know.. VS and BA have been found guilty by Nigerian Senate for "exploiting" pax.. I wonder if they clicked on a link in an email regarding a deposed princeling

Article here: http://allafrica.com/stories/2012110707 ... ?viewall=1

An interesting little read.. I wonder if VS and BA will do what Lufthansa have and simply not pay

They do make an interesting (and valid :w ) point about the Fuel Surcharges being a 'scam' though.

[mitchja]

Not the first time this has happened and it won't be the last either.

I think usually what the airlines do is threaten to pull all their services.

[Darren Wheeler]

$100m for Virgin is not exactly small change. Considering VS lost £80m last year, if pushed the only real option they have is to pull out of Lagos as it will cease to be economically viable. Danegeld seems to fit quite well.

Still, a handy pair of slots get freed up.

The Nigerian Senators are all a bunch of wind bags and talk a lot of rubbish instead of doing what they were "elected" to do - legislate. (I can be un-PC about this because I'm Nigerian). They wouldn't want the airlines to pull out. There will be high level negotions, the airlines will pay a "reduced fine" and all will be well.

I doubt that even the airlines would want to pull out. I have rarely been on empty 651 or 652 and even where loads are light in economy, PE and UC are full. The few times I've been on BA, it's been the same

[Darren Wheeler]

Trouble is, once you pay up, even if it's only 10% of it the original total, it just encourages them to view you as a cash cow and next thing you'll be 'fined' anything that can be thought up.

Trouble is, once you pay up, even if it's only 10% of it the original total, it just encourages them to view you as a cash cow and next thing you'll be 'fined' anything that can be thought up.

I know what you mean Darren. For a while, they picked on the mobile phone operators, but in fairness, it produced results as they reduced some of their excess charges and had to refund the money by giving call credits to customers.

If it works the same way with the airlines, they may as a compromise reduce the fuel surcharge (or more likely integrate it into the base fare) and make a few more rewards available for FFs.

If it works the same way with the airlines, they may as a compromise reduce the fuel surcharge (or more likely integrate it into the base fare) and make a few more rewards available for FFs.

Huh, would this not involve VS coming up with 2 different ways to price it's flights? I fear that their booking system would be unable to cope with any variance on this level

Interesting thoughts though on the senators talking a lot of rubbish. No doubt attempting to prove to those that put them in power that they are actually doing something "for the good of the country" ..... now where have I heard that before ii)

The article does talk about a national air carrier.. i.e a flagged one. Likely? If so BA and VS may see their revenue from the route begin to drop anyway, why pay the fine if the deck is stacked against you in the first place ?| Is that wrong and unethical... probably, but as Darren says 100million is not exactly loose change to VS at the moment.

8D

[Scrooge]

Trouble is, once you pay up, even if it's only 10% of it the original total, it just encourages them to view you as a cash cow and next thing you'll be 'fined' anything that can be thought up.

I know what you mean Darren. For a while, they picked on the mobile phone operators, but in fairness, it produced results as they reduced some of their excess charges and had to refund the money by giving call credits to customers.

If it works the same way with the airlines, they may as a compromise reduce the fuel surcharge (or more likely integrate it into the base fare) and make a few more rewards available for FFs.

For that to happen there would no reward flights to Nigeria...ever.