Just 11 minutes after publishing a cautiously optimistic post on the Aeroplan/SWISS First Class award issue, the other shoe dropped…Aeroplan is throwing in the towel.
Here’s the update from Aeroplan–
A small number of first class bookings were made using Aeroplan miles on SWISS; those bookings should not have been possible, as we know SWISS policy does not make its first class seats available to Star Alliance partners. Those bookings were subsequently cancelled, though not by Aeroplan. However, we and our partner Air Canada are working to quickly assist our affected members in line with our regular process. Over the next few days, our agents will be contacting each member to personally arrange first or business class redemptions on another Star Alliance carrier or to reinstate miles free of charge. We apologize for the inconvenience that this has caused, and will work with Air Canada and SWISS to ensure that our members do not encounter similar issues in the future.
Needless to say, I am extremely disappointed. The response is not exactly surprising, but nevertheless painful to read.
Tomorrow we’ll break down why this response is simply unacceptable.
I’ll also offer a detailed guide on how to file a DOT complaint…something I am seriously considering, among other action.
Stay tuned. We will not accept this decision…at least I won’t.
Again, hold off on contacting Aeroplan for now if your ticket has been cancelled. Aeroplan is reportedly refunding/redepositing some tickets without permission.
Matt, I haven’t read the terms and conditions of aero plan at all. I’m assuming your suit would be for breach of contract if you can get into court (absent any arbitration agreements, etc)? Seems like a lot of work for a minor result, at least in my opinion.
remeber people: Whatever Aeroplan or any other company make you “agree to” in their terms and conditions is not enforcable as long is it is not challenged in court
I still haven’t been contacted by Aeroplan, but assuming I will, I’d like to know what to expect other than whatever space I can find on expertflyer. Does Aeroplan have any leverage to get partners to open up Business/First Class space (that isnt available to public)?
As for compensation, does cancelling award tickets (which haven’t yet been flown) fit into the category of EU261?
What is the reason to hold of on contacting Aeroplan still? Curious your thought process on that.
I was going to call and see what they can do for me and see if i can apply some pressure.
I was called by Aeroplan (I wasn’t able to answer the phone at the time) but I just got an email with a new itinerary booked into Business (not First) for dates near my original booking (off by 5 days). Wonder how to proceed from here.
@Justin That is laugh out loud funny. How can they arbitrarily confirm you on another flight days away from your original dates of travel
Can you please give me the email address for ET BKK station manager? is that
bkkapt@ethiopianairlines.com? He wrote it on a piece of paper to me, but I lost it during transit. I am trying to contact them because I want to change the inbound for YYZ BKK.
Thank you.
@David I had to do a double take to make sure I wasn’t crazy but I was booked EWR-ZUR July 27 in O and now I’m booked on July 22 in I. Aeroplan did say they’d be willing to fully refund the miles but I’d want to go back to AMEX since I sent 140k MR to them to be sitting up in O.
in this case, against whom is the DOT complaint filed, AP or Swiss or both? Swiss unilaterally cancel the tickets but it took AP at least a week to notify affected passengers.
You can’t file a DOT complaint against AP, only AC and/or SWISS. From what I’ve read this morning the DOT has taken at least two complaints, one filed against AC and one filed against SWISS, and expanded them to include both carriers in both cases.
Meow Matthew! In your infinite (read: law school) wisdom, can you walk us thru your arguments?
My understanding is that an airline can cancel / change your itinerary with impunity (well, at least without special damages lol). As everyone says on FT: you’re buying transport from A to B. Not a lieflat, mainline, scenic detour, etc. So what claims will you bring forth?
Will walk though these arguments tomorrow.
Sorry – Cant*
eu261 complaint as well since all of these flights presumably go through Switzerland.
I don’t believe EU261 applies in this case.
grasping at straws… before this kid was all IM GONNA SUE AIRCANADA/AEROPLAN, now you’ve changed your stance to “seriously consider filing a DOT complaint”.
file the lawsuit bruh. dont turtle
I never said I would file a lawsuit immediately if Aeroplan cancelled the ticket. A lawsuit is always a last resort.
You made it quite clear what you were going to do, Matthew:
“DEAR AEROPLAN, IF YOU CANCEL MY SWISS FIRST CLASS TICKETS, I WILL SUE YOU”
They canceled it. Now sue.
Otherwise, you’re just another click-baiting troll who pretends to be a “thought leader”.
Shame on you.
My ticket is still showing intact in Aeroplan. It would be premature to sue before Aeroplan contacts me and we go over individualized options…but keep on trolling loser.
lololol – look at you Matthew, you’re already walking back your petulant WAAAA! IF AP CANCELS I’M GOING TO SUE!!!111 post.
You won’t do squat here. You know you have no recourse. It was a mistake. You know it, we all know it. Your “public profile” only serves to HURT your claims.
Go ahead and sue, though. AP will dig up all sorts of info about how someone in your position would have reasonable grounds to know this was an error, and that’s that.
Your childish ranting is embarrassing.
You should take the last line of your rant to heart, amigo.
In my case, I didn’t know it was a mistake. I came across all the blog posts after I found and changed an existing Aeroplan booking. I called in and changed through an Aeroplan rep who’s job it is to know. I acted in complete good faith. I paid the extra miles and fees and relied exclusively on the expertise of the Aeroplan agent to do the right thing. Now not only has my Swiss ticket been cancelled, my previous reservation is gone too. I’m sitting here with around $20k in non-refundable vacation reservations and no flight.
Your beef is with Aeroplan. I doubt Swiss will be to bothered tbh.
Well, you tried to take the high road.
What gave it away; the “IF YOU CANCEL, I WILL SUE YOU” headline?
No, actually I wrote a pretty critical comment on that post. See for yourself. I was referring to his follow up post backing down a bit rather than starting with threats. That would allow the party at fault to honor the tickets without appearing to do so as a result of threats.
Loser.
Dear Matthew,
Thanks for all your work on this and similar issues. I’ve just had a business award ticket, after I had a ticket number and all, cancelled by Swiss. (Booked with United.) Both say it is the others’ fault, of course. Does your long experience in this leave you with any advice? (United did book me on their metal, though much inferior routing and schedule for my purposes; I’d prefer restoration of original.) thanks!
Unfortunately, when dealing with SWISS you never find they open up space by request. But Keep the United itinerary for now and there is a good chance that SWISS will open about a week prior to departure.