01/08/09, 03:08:43 UTC

  e-mail this article

Aer Lingus may use crews from abroad

belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Aer Lingus is continuing to draw up contingency plans to help the thousands of airline passengers, including many from Ulster, affected by next week's planned pilot strike.

One of the measures being considered by Aer Lingus is using aircraft and crews from abroad, which could help ensure that many holiday-makers will still be able to fly off as scheduled.

It is understood the Irish airline is in negotiation with British Airways and KLM to see if passengers can be accommodated during the two-day strike next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Aer Lingus is also allowing passengers affected by the strike to change their flight free of charge - but the fee for a new flight at this peak time is likely to be considerably higher than the total paid by people who booked flights in advance.

Any passengers who have overpaid are advised to send their booking details to the Aer Lingus Customer Contact Centre, Ground Floor, Head Office Building Dublin Airport and mark the envelope Strike Disruption.

The airline said: "Disrupted passengers who have flight reservations for these dates can change their itinerary dates for free, there will be no charge for any fare differences incurred and no change fee applied to the booking. These passengers can also change the destination of their original booking and no change fee will be applied to the booking. The change booking fee and any fare difference will be waived (where appropriate) from the 'Price' page of the change process."

Refunds are also available.

However passengers will not be reimbursed for additional expenses. This means anyone who has to stay an extra night overseas because of the strike will not be refunded the money for a hotel. Similarly, if passengers miss a connecting flight with another airline because of the strike they are not reimbursed for their financial loss.

Passengers who want to change a booking should use the Aer Lingus website www.aerlingus.com or call the helpline 0870 876 2020.

Alternatively, passengers can re-book flights to European destinations through budget airlines operating out of Belfast. But again this will be at passengers' personal cost.

Updates will be posted on the Aer Lingus website.

 Printable Version  | published Aug 17, 2007