Ryanair’s attempt to mock British Airways for landing a flight in Scotland rather than Germany has backfired badly – after Twitter users hit back with posts mocking its customer service.
The Irish-based airline tweeted its premium rival yesterday with an image of Geography For Dummies and the message, ‘Hey, we have a present for you.’
However, Twitter users quickly hit back with examples of its controversial treatment of passengers, with one posting a copy of Customer Service For Dummies.
The Irish-based airline tweeted its premium rival yesterday with an image of Geography For Dummies and the message, ‘Hey, we have a present for you’
However, Twitter users quickly hit back with examples of its controversial treatment of passengers, with one posting a copy of Customer Service For Dummies
BA3271, operated by WDL, set off from London City airport at 7.47am yesterday and was supposed to head east to Dusseldorf in Germany – but it ended up in Edinburgh instead. The pilot said he was given a flight plan that directed him to the Scottish capital and he touched down there at 9am.
Replying to Ryanair’s post, Wayne Kavanagh poked fun at the budget airline’s reputation for charging their passengers additional fees, which at one stage extended to plans for £1 charge for using the toilet.
‘How much are you charging British Airways for that book because you’re not giving it away for free,’ he quipped.
Others criticised Ryanair for flying ‘close by’ to major cities rather than the main airport.
‘Coming from an airline that flies ‘close by’ to major destinations, I wouldn’t ‘take the moral high ground,’ one user tweeted.
Another critic pointed out that Ryanair had itself landed passengers at the wrong airport by mistake several years ago.
In March 2016, an Airbus A320 operated by Eirjet on behalf of the budget airline left from Liverpool bound for the City of Derry – but ended up at a military airbase five miles away.
The incident, which caused amusement among passengers, was confirmed by Ryanair, which said it was down to a ‘pilot error’.
Replying to Ryanair’s post, Wayne Kavanagh poked fun at the budget airline’s reputation for charging their passengers additional fees, which at one stage extended to plans for £1 charge for using the toilet
Pot, kettle? How Ryanair sent a flight to the wrong airport by mistake in 2016
Ryanair might have poked fun at British Airways for flying to the wrong country yesterday… but it turns out the budget airline has some history of its own.
In March 2016, an Airbus A320 operated by Eirjet on behalf of the budget airline left from Liverpool bound for the City of Derry… only to end up at a military airbase five miles away.
The City of Derry Airport, where a Ryanair flight was meant to go in March 2016… but it went to a military landing strip five miles ago instead
The incident was confirmed by Ryanair, which said it was down to a ‘pilot error’, and put on a bus for the stranded passengers.
One of those onboard said the incident caused amusement among the passengers.
He added to The BBC: ‘The pilot apologised and said: ‘We may have arrived at the wrong airport’.
‘Everyone started laughing and thought it was a joke, then I saw for myself when I looked out and saw Army officers everywhere.’
A British Airways staff member called Lolly replied to Ryanair’s tweet yesterday by saying: ‘Now, now. No one is perfect.’
Ryanair hit back: ‘True, Lolly! Even we wouldn’t flog Edinburgh as Germany #DusseldorfNorth.’
Passengers on board yesterday’s BA service only realised they were at the wrong destination after the plane landed and a ‘welcome to Edinburgh’ announcement was made.
Some on board took to Twitter to complain about the very unexpected diversion.
One passenger, called Son Tran, tweeted BA to ask: ‘Can you please explain how can my morning flight taking off from LCY to Düsseldorf land in Edinburgh?
‘While an interesting concept, I don’t think anyone on board has signed up for this mystery travel lottery… #BA3271.’
British Airways passengers on board a leased WDL Aviation-operated flight from London City Airport to Dusseldorf ended up in Edinburgh after the pilot of the aircraft was given the wrong flight plan
Mr Tran then followed up his first tweet with more information about the flight: ‘This feels like an honest mistake rather than a diversion. The crew was convinced of the Edinburgh flight path from the get-go…’
Another passenger, Chris McGrillen, added: ‘The first announcement the crew made about the destination was as we were coming in to land. Boarding passes weren’t checked.
‘Given this flight is operated by a third party (WDL) BA clearly needs to specify best practices (a ‘Welcome to your flight to Edinburgh’) for 3rd parties.’
Several of the passengers who were on board the plane took to Twitter to complain about the unexpected diversion
After the unplanned stop in Scotland, the plane refuelled and set off from Edinburgh at 10.30am on its second attempt to reach Düsseldorf.
Amused Twitter user Irwell Johnson commented in support of BA introducing ‘mystery’ plane tickets as a permanent feature: ‘I think it would be fab if you could buy a mystery lottery plane ticket.
‘A weekend return, hand luggage only. You only find out where you’re going when you get there. cool.’
Others worried that couldn’t count on their planned flights to Edinburgh reaching the destination.
Tamsin Birch tweeted: ‘Flying BA to Edinburgh at the weekend. REALLY want to go to Edinburgh. I’m sure Düsseldorf is lovely and all, but Edinburgh is where I wish to be.’
A view of the unique geography of Edinburgh with seven golf courses visible to pilots on the approach to the airport
The view on the approach to Dusseldorf Airport near to the Rhine River, notably different to Edinburgh (above)
British Airways told MailOnline Travel: ‘We are working with WDL Aviation, who operated this flight on behalf of British Airways, to establish why the incorrect flight plan was filed.
‘We have apologised to customers for this interruption to their journey and will be contacting them all individually.’
A spokesman for WDL Aviation added: ‘We are working closely with the authorities to investigate how the obviously unfortunate mix-up of flight schedules could occur.
After the unplanned stop in Scotland, the plane refuelled and set off from Edinburgh, pictured, at 10.30am on its second attempt to reach Düsseldorf
‘At no time has the safety of passengers been compromised. We flew the five passengers on the flight with number BA3271 to Düsseldorf after the involuntary stopover in Edinburgh.’
Meanwhile a spokesperson for Edinburgh Airport said: ‘We’re a welcoming airport that is always happy to greet visitors from all over the world to our fantastic city, but this was a surprise for us as well as them!
‘We were happy to work with the various teams across the airport to help make the trip to Edinburgh a pleasurable, albeit short, one.’
The five passengers on BA3271 eventually landed safely in Dusseldorf, pictured