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Aer Lingus cancel cheap online flights
A COMPUTER glitch by Aer Lingus this week afforded over 100 customers across the country to book flights to the US for just €5, but the airline has cancelled them.
One Limerick girl who couldn't believe her luck after logging on their website to book flights was Chloe Liddy Judge, from Ballinacurra, who booked return tickets for her whole family to fly to Boston from Shannon this August for a total of €900 for five people.
But the "real cost" of a return trip to Boston from Shannon this summer for the whole family would cost in the region of €3,280, or €656 per person, including taxes and charges.
Ms Liddy Judge said she has been now left in the dark by the airline about whether her original fare still stands or if it has been cancelled.
"I rang Aer Lingus and asked to speak to a manager but was told 'No manager will speak to you ever.' I literally have no idea what they are going to do now. I guess it all boils down to whether they want good publicity or not," she told the Limerick Leader.
She said no one from Aer Lingus has made an attempt to contact her about the debacle, since she booked the flights this Wednesday.
"I am definitely hoping to hear from them today. We were all really looking forward to it, as we have family there. I booked accommodation after ringing the National Consumer Agency who thought it was safe to book," she said.
Aer Lingus have apologised for the error and said that following legal advice they have decided not to compensate the customers.
In emails to customers, Aer Lingus said: "Due to a technical error in our reservation system for a brief period a small number of bookings were priced incorrectly. This email is to notify you of cancellation of your booking and to advise no funds will be deducted from your account."
It is estimated that some 100 customers booked flights at knock-down prices between 7.30am and 9am on Wednesday, when promotional fares on its transatlantic route were accidentally loaded onto the website.
However, Dermott Jewell of the Consumers' Association has said that "realistically Aer Lingus is going to have to do something to abide by the bookings and to help the customers."
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Weather for Limerick
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South east
