Etihad Flight Cancellations

[davidge]

A friend was using Etihad for the first time over this holiday to fly between the Middle East and TLOS so I've been keeping an eye on the flights.

 

Cancellations and long delays yesterday and today. It 'looks' as if they've decided to merge 3 flights into 2, though it could be a technical issue.

 

Friend is in the air between Udon and BKK at the moment so I don't think he knows yet that the plane he's meant to catch never left Abu Dhabi! Think he's going to have an overnight in Swampy!

 

Don't know if this is a regular thing with Etihad? The flights do seem to get delayed a lot?

 

I'll update on how they treat their passengers when I hear from friend. How an airline deals with passengers during delays says a lot about them, I think.

[gmoule]

The airport in abu dhabi has had to shut recently a feww times due to heavy fog, dont know if this has impacted certain flights, still my favourite airline to travel with

[davidge]

Guess that could explain it. Though FlightStats shows the flight has an on-time record of only 21%

 

Plane was meant to be landing in BKK about now but is showing as expected to Depart Abu Dhabi in about 4 hours!

 

The previous flight today was cancelled altogether so there's no plane in Bangkok at the moment!

[Kerb Krawler]

It will be, I suggest, the 1020 flight from AD to BKK.

This flight, on many occasions, has very few passengers, this info I had given from a Etihad hostess, as there is also a flight at 0820, which takes all the overnight transfers.

The 10pm flight is also quite busy as they take all the evening transfers. The airport its self  is generally quiet during the day.

This avoids people having to work outside during the extreme heat of the summer, which is illegal in the UAE.

 

I would not be surprised at all if they pulled the flight purely because of the economics of the flight, who can stop them and prove otherwise?

[davidge]

The 0910 from AUH was cancelled.

The 1040 is currently showing expected to leave at 2000.

The 2145 is currently showing expected to leave on time.

 

I know you can have delays on any flight, but one of the reasons I always prefer to fly direct even if it's a bit more expensive! Needs to be MUCH cheaper for me to even consider otherwise.

[gmoule]

Im a gold member with etihad and only once had a problem, and that was due to fog closing abu dhabi a few yrs ago, they put me on a thai airways flight instead so ended up direct, for the prices it is a very good airline imo

[baldix]

i never having problem with this company. i take 5 times

[davidge]

At the moment, my friend is waiting to check-in at Swampy.

Etihad are making everyone check-in on time, even though they are telling passengers that departure won't be until 0635.

No offer of refreshments/meal vouchers yet.

The plane hasn't left Abu Dhabi so far.

[SeaEmDee]

another problem with Eithad is the airport they use AUH Abu Dhabi is currently undergoing expansion. Dueibg my last long haul with then in September, we taxied about 25 mins after landing for a ground parking slot (no finger). Had to be bussed to the terminal which took another 20 mins plus. With a transfer time of about 1 hour and 20 mins it doesn't give you much time to dilly dally for the connection. After boarding the connecting flight the taxi time was also a quite long to the runway. I suppose it's a combination of factors, could be technical, weather related and the airport expansion. Never had a problem with Eithad but since that experience I want to wait until the airport expansion has finished before using them again. I have been now using Qatar Airways and their new Airport hub has been great. Always on time, great service, new 787s. (four long haul returns to Germany within a 6 month period).

 

Sent from my SM-N910U using Tapatalk

[davidge]

The 0910 from AUH was cancelled.

The 1040 is currently showing expected to leave at 2000.

The 2145 is currently showing expected to leave on time.

I know you can have delays on any flight, but one of the reasons I always prefer to fly direct even if it's a bit more expensive! Needs to be MUCH cheaper for me to even consider otherwise.

Edit: the 2145 yesterday was also cancelled so huge gap with no flight!

[davidge]

I'll keep on updating.

 

After waiting 90 minutes, check-in was opened.

First they were told they were being sent to a hotel to await further info. Friend argued as has to be in work Monday morning.

They then said they'd book him on Qatar, but not until tomorrow night! Claimed the connections from Abu Dhabi were all full so they couldn't put him on the Etihad flight.

I checked on Skyscanner and there are at least 5 flights a lot earlier than that with Qatar, Emirates and Gulf.

Sounds like he's really being shafted.

 

They've sent most passengers off to a hotel with no idea when they'll be flying. Friend still trying to argue. I've checked direct with the airline websites, and could book him and his family on either Qatar or Emirates leaving BKK in 3 hours with good connections. Also Qatar tomorrow morning. Etihad insisting they can only put him on Qatar tomorrow night. If this is the best he can do, he'll be going straight from the airport to work.

[davidge]

So, despite there being plenty of seats on other airlines, Etihad have simply buggered everybody off to an Airport Hotel. Most have no clue when they are flying out. Guess it's easier and cheaper for them to do this than make alternative arrangements.

 

Told friend he's lucky they put him on Qatar tomorrow night as no-one else has a flight yet!

 

We'll see what happens tomorrow. Really don't think friend will use Etihad again.

[Kerb Krawler]

Sorry to read of your friends woes. The link may explain, for the very little its worth, the root of the problem. Foggy again here this morning although not as bad as the last few days.

'Never let the bastards grind you down'.

 

http://www.msn.com/en-ae/news/national/fog-forces-closure-of-abu-dhabi-international-airport/ar-BBhsX89

 

 

Edited to insert link.

[davidge]

Yes. Fog has caused problems. Airline can't help that. However, how they treat passengers when things like this happen does reflect on the airline.

 

Final update:

 

Friend is still in BKK waiting for the Qatar flight tonight.

Etihad got 2 planes into Bangkok this morning which took most of their passengers out.

He was connecting to Bahrain and Etihad told him all their flights from AUH to BAH were full.

 

They have put all the passengers up in a decent hotel and fed and watered them. If it was simply a matter of the 8 hour delay, or 20 hours for those on the earlier cancelled flight, then you could say they'd done OK.

 

However, they've made friend and family stay for 24 hours. Although the Etihad onward flights are full, there are seats on the 3 Gulf Air flights from AUH to BAH today. They could easily have got those and arrived much earlier.

 

IF they were transferring them to Qatar, there were 2 much earlier flights with them from BKK both of which had seats, as had Emirates. There were good connections and it would have been much better for my friend. No obvious reason why they would insist they stayed 24 hrs rather than out the on the other flights???

 

Also, looking at flights from AUH over the last couple of days, it seems clear that they've 'sacrificed' Bangkok flights whereas others have flown. I'm guessing the passenger numbers were low so they scrapped those flights first. They even cancelled one BKK flight even before the airport was closed.

 

In conclusion, friend won't be flying with Etihad again. If I'm tempted to not fly direct, I won't be considering them either.

[Rainsberger]

Hi Guys

 

You may wish to view a thread i started on 6th April 2014 regarding Etihad Airways and flight delays.

 

www.pattaya-addicts.com/forum/topic/219804-bad-week-for-etihad/?hl=%2Betihad+%2Bairways

 

Nothing seems to have changed then and not aways due to fog.

 

My last trip i was booked on EY408 but at very short notice was booted over to troublesome flight EY404

Was not very happy with this at all and after much running around managed to get myself reinstated to

flight EY408 all this due to late overbooking.

[liston]

Have been delayed by the fog for 4 days now with etihad. Had 4 days in a hotel Golden Tulip in bangkok. Now am waiting in Abu dhabi after another 5hour delay. Was meant to be back home Sunday lunchtime. Looks like Thursday now. Pretty poor communication here in Abu dhabi airport.

Waiting in transfer queue now. Nightmare

[liston]

Their food is shit compared to emirates

[davidge]

Have been delayed by the fog for 4 days now with etihad. Had 4 days in a hotel Golden Tulip in bangkok. Now am waiting in Abu dhabi after another 5hour delay. Was meant to be back home Sunday lunchtime. Looks like Thursday now. Pretty poor communication here in Abu dhabi airport.

Waiting in transfer queue now. Nightmare

Sorry to hear about your experience. Not pleasant to be at the mercy of incompetent airline staff!

Hope you get out of Abu Dhabi soon.

[J1066]

This thread has got me worried now, I'm flying with Etihad for the first time next month, from London with connecting flight from Abu Dhabi at 10.45. 

Hope I dont have the disastrous experience outline in this thread. I know they can't change the weather but their customer service seems really rubbish.