EVA Airlines - a warning

[Siam Sam]

This is my experience. Take from it what you want. You'll probably think "well you were just unlucky" or "I've never had a problem with EVA before" but I just want to share my experience to warn others. I too have flown with EVA before and thought they are a great airline but after this experience my trust in them as an airline has been completely shattered and I will never fly with them again. I'm currently sat in the Crowne Plaza hotel outside Terminal 4 of Heathrow and it's more than 40 hours since I was initially scheduled to fly. Here's my story. I had a 2120 flight booked on Tuesday the 22nd with EVA air. I got to the airport at 1730 and went straight through security with no problem. I had something to eat and a few beers so everything was going well. I went to the departure gate about 2000. The flight was initially delayed for half an hour. Then another half hour. Then another. Then another. Finally, just after midnight we were told the flight was cancelled until the next day and we would be taken to a hotel. Apparently it was cancelled due to a technical fault but that was all we were told and they wouldn't elaborate. The organisation was appalling. Only two people who I don't even think worked for EVA air were left to get us on the coaches to take us to the hotel. People were wondering around the airport (that was now closed) not knowing where to go until eventually we were all rounded up and put on coaches to be taken to h otels. Mine was a no frills hotel in Hounslow which I eventually checked in to at 0200. I debated going home as I live quite near but given the poor organisation and the fact we weren't given a definitive flight time for the next day I felt I should stick around. My bag was still on the plane so I had no change of clothes or a toothbrush which meant I had to walk up the shop in the morning in the freezing cold with only a T shirt on. I didn't think I'd need a coat or sweater as I should be in Thailand by now. At this point I'm trying to see the funny side of it. At 1230 we were taken to the airport and went through security again with the boarding cards we'd been given the previous day. I had a few beers and went to the departure gate where we were told at about 1530 that we wouldn't be getting on this plane and we would have to go back through border control and collect our bags. Regrettably I lost my temper and got threatened with security if I didn't calm down which I eventually did and then apologised. Once more we were told it was a technical problem and nobody from EVA air came to speak to us to tell us anything. Then we were told by airport staff we should check in again once we got our bags back as we would be flying at 1800. It was just beyond the joke by now. I went back through security for the second time that day. I debated booking another flight now that I had my bag back but I trusted them to finally get things resolved so I went to the departure gate. We eventually got on the plane at about 2000 and I thought my ordeal was over, until unbelievably at about 2130 we were told that we wouldn't be flying and the flight had been cancelled again. This time we were told it was due to time slots but by this point I couldn't believe a word they were telling us. I'd also gone past the point of being angry and was just drained of energy and desperate to get to Thailand. Some people were crying and some people lost their patience and started venting their anger. Yet again, nobody from EVA air around to tell us what was going on or how we would get to the h otels they'd booked for us. I decided that enough was enough and I booked another flight for today with Thai Airways at 2135. I'm not really a superstitious man but I agreed with the missus in that it seemed like it was a sign not to get on an EVA airplane as I certainly didn't feel safe or comfortable flying with them now. I was taken to the Crowne Plaza hotel outside Terminal 4 which is a nice hotel, the one good bit of luck I've had since this whole debacle started. I've had a good sleep, plenty to eat and I feel refreshed now. I've lost two nights in Bangkok which after almost two years since I've been there means I'm gutted but I'm trying to remain upbeat about things and not to let it get me down, soon I'll be on the way to terminal 2 to fly out with Thai Airways and finally start my holiday. Obviously I will never fly with EVA air again as the way they have treated me has been appaling and my trust in them as an airline has been completely obliterated. The least they can do is reimburse me the cost of the flight but considering eveything that has happened I am going to want more compensation than that.

Edited January 24, 2019 by Siam Sam

[Johny333]

What a story. I never had problems with EVA and I have flown more than 20 times from A´dam to BKK with them. Only 1 time I had a few hours delay due to engine problems with China Airlines. Next week I will be flying KLM first time to BKK in about 30 years. I think you just had bad luck.

[Rocky Rockstar]

It’s shit but you should be due a full refund

 

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/holiday-cancellations-and-compensation/if-your-flights-delayed-or-cancelled/

[kansuwan]

Wow!  :angry:   Sympathy for you and your fellow-travellers. Let us know how you get on with the reimbursement.

[battenburg_army]

So sorry to hear about this experience. It’s every traveller’s worst nightmare, particularly when your time on holiday in Thailand is so precious.

 

Well done for making alternative plans and getting over there. Hopefully now you can make up for lost time and really enjoy it. Good luck with the reimbursement claim too.

[Siam Sam]

Cheers for the well wishes guys. I had an absolute tear up in Nana Plaza last night and bar fined three girls. Two short times from Billboard and a long time from Twister. I spent 18k baht but had one of the best nights of my life.

[battenburg_army]

I had an absolute tear up in Nana Plaza last night and bar fined three girls. Two short times from Billboard and a long time from Twister. I spent 18k baht but had one of the best nights of my life.

Hahaha :) Ok, it’s safe to say you made up for lost time! Awesome.

[Tom Tit]

This is my experience... considering eveything that has happened I am going to want more compensation than that.

 

Crikey, what a fucking nightmare. :(  I once had a connecting flight to Thailand unceremoniously cancelled in (I think it was) Taipei, and had to stay inside the fucking airport getting more and more pissed off and grottier for 36 hours waiting for them to fix the plane. Nightmare. I went mad once I finally got to Bangkok. 24/7 mayhem: boozing and banging from dusk to dawn. Oh dear oh dear oh dear...

 

Go for it big style now you're there, mate. :D Oh... Three bar fines on your first night!  :o I see you are doing exactly that.  B)

 

Good work. Happy endings.

 

Trust you get some hefty compensation of those EVA pricks, damages too. Can't see how they could not have to cough up major dosh. Let us know.

 

Have fun.

 

Tom Tit  :blink:

Edited January 28, 2019 by Tom Tit

[hky117]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. There is an app called Air Help which is supposed to help getting compensation from Airlines for these types of issues. I have not personally had to use it (knock wood) but my coworker recommended it to me at one point.  Best of luck and enjoy the rest of your holiday.

[kevker]

It's funny how one bad experience (and admittedly, yours is bloody awful) will put you off an airline. It's not always that there's a problem, ut it's how it is dealt with that makes the difference. One of the reasons I will never fly westjet to Canada again, when a 9 hour flight actually took 16 hours, which I could put up with, but not when they offered £20 in vouchers as compensation.

[null]

I will always avoid Air India or British Airways to anywhere.