BMI Baby charge for check-in after online system wasn't working

[Bids]

Hi,

I've just flown black from Edinburgh this evening on the 2155 flight to Birmingham. At about 1800 we tried to check in online only to be told that "we could not be checked in at this time and that we should come to the check-in desk at the airport". No matter we thought, and got on with some more festival stuff.

On arrival at the airport we were told that we would have to pay £6 each to check in. We replied that the online system was not working and had directed us to come to the check-in desk. We were then told that they could not waive the £6 fee without a print out showing that the website was not working. There was nothing (that I noticed) on the website telling us we should do this!

After arguing with the check-in operator, her supervisor and the BMI Baby reservations line, we gave in and paid (we had to get home after all). We will try and get the £12 back from BMI Baby, but I won't hold my breath. We were two among many who had to pay, the girl on the "paying" desk commented that she could do these payments in her sleep.

Two things:

(1) Has anyone come across this scam before? Did you get your money back (and compensation)?

(2) If anyone else has a problem when trying to check in online, take a printout of the "failure" web page with you to the airport!

Cheers,

Bids

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[Bids]

This is the exact text of the message you get if you can't check in online:

"unfortunately we are unable to process your web check-in request. Please arrive at the bmibaby check-in desk (no later than 30 minutes prior to departure) where our staff will be happy to check you in."

That's it - nothing else!

[Gogivit]

I once booked a flight with BMI and was told my card payment was not accepted (plenty of funds) however this was advised to me via a BMI caller! I tried again to give my card details on the phone but to no avail! I then said I would not bother booking the flights.

Four weeks later my bank statement showed they did get paid!! during the on-line booking.

I contacted customer services and spoke to a very nice lady who refunded my ticket costs.

I suggest you contact BMI customer services for refund in relation to the wrong advice you received.

[BmibabySucks]

It's not exactly what happened to me, but I thought they would try also to pin me with this, and now with your posts, I'm sure of it. I couldn't check in using their online checking in, but I couldn't also VIEW or manage my bookings online, this was more than 24 hours before my flight, and I wasn't able to change my booking. I tried to call their customer service line when I knew I was going to miss the flight, and they charged me over €40 euros for waiting five minutes on hold!!!! Not even getting to TALK to their customer service agents. Has anybody else experienced this?? I was appalled, horrified, and stranded!! After spending an extra two days in Portugal and being charged €8/minute to wait on hold, I tried to get on the next Manchester flight. Bmibaby flight desk gave me the FULL RUN AROUND once again! I wasn't on the list and so I couldn't get on the flight. Even though I tried calling them and had to pay over €40 for a call that went nowhere! I've written them, sending reported post, which they received more than two weeks ago, and have received no reply. I finally made it back to Scotland by buying another ticket through another airline out of Madrid. It was horrible and dismissive, the way they treated me. I not only lost the money from the flight itself, but also, was made to pay for essentially the cost of another flight, through waiting on holds, which lasted more than 5 minutes a piece. Their Website says nothing of the charges for a call from Lisbon (their own flight destination!) and they have not offered me any compensation for this, not even REPLIED to my letter, their PO box being the only way of contacting them listed on their website. Be damned if I try to call that customer service number again. My advice is: DO NOT FLY BMIBABY!!!