Air Belgium: What Did I Get Myself Into?

Air Belgium: What Did I Get Myself Into?

33

Yesterday I wrote about how Air Belgium just pushed back their launch by over a month. The airline was supposed to begin flying between Charleroi and Hong Kong as of April 30, though they now pushed that back to June. This seems to be because they didn’t get permission to overfly Russian airspace (minor details), and also because they just didn’t sell enough seats to make it worthwhile.

My assumption all along has been that Air Belgium’s management does indeed intend to operate an airline, even if the business model is questionable. This is in contrast to some other 30 year old startup “airlines” that clearly don’t intend to ever fly.

What I really can’t wrap my head around is how amateur this airline is, especially given that it’s run by people with experience in the industry. Back when I first tried to book my ticket, their online form wasn’t even set up correctly to accept US credit cards.

Now they’ve informed me that my flight is canceled. The email they sent me yesterday said that their “team will call [me] as of tomorrow to explain these proposals and discuss which one [I] prefer.”

If I knew they’d call me today then I’d just wait, but “as of tomorrow” sounds to me like they might call me tomorrow… or the day after… or maybe after the weekend… or something. Today is Thursday, tomorrow is Friday, and then it’s the weekend, and I suspect this is a Monday through Friday operation.

So I wanted to reach out to the airline to discuss options, since I need to make plans, as I’m set to leave in a couple of days.

First I looked through the email they sent me, figuring there would be a phone number or something there. After all, I’ve just been informed that my flight in a matter of days has been canceled. Nope, there wasn’t one.

Then I went to Air Belgium’s website looking for a customer service phone number. They don’t have one of those either.

Then I tried to send a message through Air Belgium’s online “contact us” form. After submitting it, I received a message saying “unable to send email,” and to “contact the site administrator if problem persists.”

Fortunately they list an email address on their website — [email protected]. When I sent an email there, I got the following message, basically telling me to not expect a response:

Many thanks for your email and interest.
Due to the very high number and variety of messages being received on [email protected], we’re unable to provide a timely process and response. We apologise for the inconvenience.
If your message is about employment opportunity and applications, please apply solely on the job posting through airbelgium.com.
If your message is about other types of inquiries, we will do our utmost to respond but bear in mind that this may take some time.
Thanks a lot for your understanding.

So an airline cancels their flights just a few days before they’re set to launch, and they don’t even give customers a way to contact them?

Well this should be a fun adventure! I feel like this is my La Compagnie experience from a few years ago all over again.

This all makes me wonder even more what kind of an alternative flight they’ll offer me. Cathay Pacific business class from Brussels to Hong Kong seems like the most appropriate alternative, though I’m starting to think that maybe they’ll rebook me on Pegasus Airlines to Istanbul, then Nile Air to Cairo, and then Lufthansa Cargo to Hong Kong? 😉

On another note, initially the airline was supposed to operate 4x weekly flight. Now they’ve pushed back the inaugural to June, though it looks like they’ll only offer 2x weekly flights for the month, as flights two days per week are listed as “sold out.”

Conversations (33)
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  1. Bim Guest

    Noticed you'd been quoted in the South China Morning Post today about Air Belgium, Lucky!

  2. Myles Guest

    So sorry for you! It is up to you..when you have not got the patience anymore than do get a chargeback for your money..no need to wait until you have become a martyr..such a huge disappointment this airline!

  3. Garrett Guest

    @Mitch is that really your last name? (O_O)

  4. M Guest

    First of all thank you for trying it. I appreciate your good will and spirit for adventure..I would not wait very long for a response..and the best thing is to charge back if you feel they have crossed the line of your patience..

  5. William Guest

    “Ah, but life is like that! It does not permit you to arrange and order it as you will. It will not permit you to escape emotion, to live by the intellect and by reason! You cannot say, 'I will feel so much and no more.' Life... whatever else it is, is not reasonable." - Hercule Poirot

  6. Claus Guest

    Lucky, thanks for taking this one for the team! Keep us posted how it develops!

  7. Morgan Guest

    Lucky you could get from Kiev to London and just change it and go KBP – London or just go from BRU – London and then Fly QF9 new 787 LHR – PER then PER – SIN – HKG on SQ’s new 787-10 Dreamliner (as they fly the 787-10 to Perth) to meet up with your Hong Kong Airlines flights back to the US.

  8. Ben Hughes Guest

    Just cut your losses and Amex chargeback it. Not even worth your time trying to rectify.

  9. Lumma Guest

    @foppe I think your sarcasm detector isn't working

  10. Foppe Guest

    Not getting Russian overflyingpermits a minor detail? I don’t think so! These permits are key to make this route profitable. Avoiding Russian airspace would mean a seriously longer flighttime, using lots of extra fuel especially on the Westbound sector. It’s an A340-300 after all...

  11. Steve Member

    Too bad Lucky missed it. The tickets were only 25-50 euros...

    https://www.airbelgium.com/en/flytogether

  12. Mark G. Member

    And the credit card issue wasn't a red flag for you? I'm sorry but tying a blindfold around your head, walking off a cliff and then getting upset at the cliff is kinda crazy. You gambled and lost. I'd call the credit card company instead to see if they can reverse the transaction. I think you're also kidding yourself about them booking you on another flight.

  13. Steve Member

    Well at least they flew somewhere...

    http://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air-belgium/trip-report-first-test-flight-before-starting-hong-kong-operations/

  14. Steve Member

    Aman, great suggestion...

    Contact presse
    LVTPR
    Karolien Cloots, Nicolas Boulart
    [email protected]
    +32 (0)2 474 17 40
    +32 (0)478 78 18 54

  15. Aman Guest

    Contact their PR department (assuming they have one). They should do some serious damage control.

  16. Steve Member

    Why not use the contact info I left in comments on your earlier post? These were for real people.

    Contact info…
    Oliver Corvilain
    32.10234560
    [email protected]
    or…
    Jean-yves Corbisier
    32.42497777

    I'll admit these guys sound like clowns, but you do have the information to get in touch with them.

  17. dominic Guest

    I believe you are eligible for the EU 261/2004 compensation?

  18. Drew Guest

    this has BALTIA written all over it...oi vey

  19. Steven M Guest

    "What I really can’t wrap my head around is how amateur this airline is"

    Welcome to Belgium. Have a nice day.

  20. CS Guest

    Amateurs are those who book them after so many commenters warned you not to and then getting angry when exactly that happened what all commenters thought would happen: a mess.

    1. lucky OMAAT

      @ CS -- I'm not angry at all. Of course I wish them success, but when stuff like this happens it also makes for a great story, which I appreciate as someone who writes about this stuff. I imagine someone with a set schedule who actually needed to get somewhere would be much angrier.

  21. DCJoe Guest

    I would stop faffing around with them and just initiate a chargeback on my credit card.

  22. Evan Gold

    Are we sure this isn't Air Belgium:A BALTIA airline?

  23. SBS Gold

    Next Tuesday is May 1st - this could be a very long weekend in Belgium.

  24. Jimmy Guest

    @European Son

    Chargeback works with debit cards as well

  25. European Son Guest

    Lucky, it sounds like you are going to end up using chargeback on your CC for this one. I doubt you'll see the money any other way.

    Live and learn but it could be worse. Some poor suckers may even have bought their tickets with debit cards.

  26. Abe Guest

    Lucky oh lucky... you knew going in that this airline is run by some amateurs , I mean look at their model, and you’re story about the credit card, so I wouldn’t say this is shocking to me.
    Like you said sorta like la compagenie, home you find a check in this time !

  27. Jimmy Guest

    Nie them on Facebook via private message. They answered mine in a matter of minutes. Good luck!

  28. Debit Guest

    You are living some interesting live now. A good story like this or ten stories about showers in the sky in guild plated cabins. Which is more interesting?

  29. anon Guest

    You'd think with Russian "investors" they could get access to Russian "airspace"

  30. Endre Diamond

    Just a hunch but is the airline owned by Russian “investors “?

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

Bim Guest

Noticed you'd been quoted in the South China Morning Post today about Air Belgium, Lucky!

0
Myles Guest

So sorry for you! It is up to you..when you have not got the patience anymore than do get a chargeback for your money..no need to wait until you have become a martyr..such a huge disappointment this airline!

0
Garrett Guest

@Mitch is that really your last name? (O_O)

0
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