So we're checking in at the airport...

[lostcarpark]

Had a fabulous weekend in London. We did far too much shopping and had to buy an extra bag to bring it all home. Damn sales!

Then we get to the airport and queue up for the check-in desk. We go through the usual, "did you pack these bags yourself?", etc. Then the guy asks if we'd like £300 and a free hotel room for the night, and our choice of flights the next day, as the plane is severely overbooked. We think about it for a moment and decide "sounds like a good deal". So we take our bags back off the conveyor and over to the booking desk where they organise it all. We then get on the bus to the hotel, Le Meridian, which is very nice. We had a very nice meal, also paid for by the airline, though we did have to shell out for the bottle of wine. And spent the rest of the evening relaxing and watching television. The next day I call the office and tell them I won't make it in till later...

Oh, and if anyone's bored, here's a cute little online game.

Comments

[davesangel.livejournal.com]

That was really decent of the airline. When we were waiting (4 hours delay) to fly to Bristol, en route to Glastonbury, another flight was overbooked and they offered 50 pounds or 100 worth of travel vouchers if you flew later that day instead. Pity they didn't think to do the same for us, as most people on the plane missed their coach from Bristol. Instead, we got 4 pounds worth of luncheon voucers. Cheapskates...

[lostcarpark.livejournal.com]

I think we must have built up enough good airline karma or something. The airlines know that a certain percentage of passengers won't show up for a flight, so presumably it pays more to compensate passengers when too many show up than to fly with empty seats. I think Ryanair are the only airline that never overbook.