An elderly couple from Alderley Edge who found themselves stranded in Abu Dhabi whilst flying home to Manchester from Australia have been told by their airline, Etihad, that they will have to look after themselves as best they can until air services to the UK resume.
And with no end presently in sight to the volcanic ash problem disrupting international flights, Roger Norton (66) and his wife, Jan (65), could be in for a very expensive stay, especially as the rate for extending their booking at the Abu Dhabi Intercontinental Hotel has more than doubled since they arrived there on Saturday from Brisbane for a 3-day stopover which they had arranged themselves.
“To begin with Etihad were very sympathetic and encouraged us to believe that they would pay for any additional accommodation when the Manchester flight was cancelled, “said Mr Norton, a retired journalist and PR consultant, and regular contributor to alderleyedge.com. “However, last night we were told that we would not be compensated and would have to make our own arrangements.
“Yet Etihad's chief executive, James Hogan, has been widely quoted in the UAE press as saying that Etihad would continue to do everything possible to minimise the impact on passengers and that its priority right now was its customers.
“One of the most infuriating things is that we could easily have remained behind with our daughter in Australia until the problem was over but we were told by Etihad to make our way to Brisbane airport on Saturday as scheduled for the return flight to Manchester via Abu Dhabi. I therefore believe they have a legal, if not a moral obligation, to look after us.
“Neither my wife or I enjoy the best of health and the whole thing is proving very stressful as well as expensive. With no end in sight, I am just not sure how long our funds will last out.”
He said that after changing its mind about providing them with free accommodation, Etihad initially claimed this was because the couple were not in transit and then said that it was because they had booked their accommodation directly rather than through the airline.
“I think they are just clutching at straws, “ he added. “It is an appalling way to treat people and makes a mockery of their chief executive's public assurances.”
Photo courtesy of Simon_sees' photostream on Flickr.
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Must be hell having to stay in Abu Dhabi longer than expected :-(
It's a great relief because it would have cost us £350 a night to remain at the Intercontinental.