Airlines

Man flies alone on Jet2 flight for $162, calls experience “surreal”

Man flies alone on Jet2 flight for Rs 13,000, calls experience "surreal"

A UK guy was astonished when he discovered that he was the only traveler on his Jet2 travel from Portugal to Northern Ireland. Paul Wilkinson, 65, was on his way to visit his family, but when he noticed that there was no line at the airport entrance, he became apprehensive.

He asked if the aircraft had been delayed or canceled, but was told he was the only person on board and was being treated as a “VIP guest” by the stewards. Wilkinson described the experience as “surreal” and “like his own private jet,” saying that at first, he assumed they were making fun of him but soon realized he had the entire plane to himself.

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The flight attendants referred to him as “King Paul” and gave him special access to a safety presentation, letting him pick his own seat and have a conversation with the captain prior to takeoff.

Wilkinson also passed through passport control without incident and promptly retrieved his luggage at the end of the three-hour trip. The passport check employees were surprised to see him as he was the only passenger to leave the aircraft. They were surprised, but they cheerfully processed his paperwork.

He paid only $162 for the entire trip (about Rs. 13,000), which is nothing compared to the price of a private plane, which he was informed goes for about £28,000. Jet2 also offered their perspective on the unusual circumstances, adding that they were thrilled to host Paul Wilkinson and that he had the opportunity to enjoy their renowned VIP service.

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Airlines

Federal Court Imposes $100M Fine on Qantas for “Ghost Flights” Scandal

In a major ruling, the Federal Court has confirmed a hefty A$100 million penalty against Qantas for its involvement in the “ghost flights” scandal. As reported by FlightGlobal.

The court found that Qantas misled consumers by offering and selling tickets for flights that the airline had already decided to cancel. Adding to the controversy, Qantas failed to promptly notify ticket holders about these cancellations.

The penalty follows Qantas’ admission of violating the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The airline agreed with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on the penalty amount, aiming to deter Qantas and other businesses from similar breaches in the future.

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The ACCC emphasized that this substantial fine sends a clear message: misleading customers will lead to serious consequences, regardless of a company’s size. In addition to the penalty, Qantas has committed to paying approximately A$20 million to affected passengers who unknowingly purchased tickets for canceled flights.

This compensation comes on top of any refunds or alternative flight arrangements already provided. ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb praised the penalty, underscoring the importance of robust compliance programs red energy qantas in large corporations like Qantas.

She pointed out that Qantas has since made changes to its operating and scheduling procedures to prevent similar issues in the future.