Letters to the Editor
Air Bookings Michael Hubble John Bull's Schooldays Doris Davy,
Public-school Boy
Value for Money E. S. Turner Kensington Public Library Sir Edward Maufe, RA Bank Rate and Confidence R. I. Easton The Papacy and Politics R. L. Travers The Church of England and Divorce
Rev. W. I. S, Weir
*The Ring' G. H. Bosworth Pills and Potions R. I., Hayhurst, MPS Braces in Hong Kong 'Sansculotte' AIR BOOKINGS SIR,-1 had hoped that a recent experience I had at Le Bourget was an isolated one. Unfortunately, the letters of Mr. Butler and Mr. Bacon tend to disprove this.
At the risk of being thought churlish I should like briefly to repeat what happened to me, because I think it is slightly different from what we have already read. I had booked for an 8 a.m. BEA flight from Paris to London (the booking had been made a fortnight before). Instead of going to the Aerogare to check in I went to the airport direct and had my ticket stamped at 7.10. Well in time, one might have thought, but in the middle of a cup of very good coffee which I badly needed at that hour I heard my almost unrecognisable name being called for over the loudspeaker. At 7.25 I had my ticket returned with the alarming news that there would be no room for me on the eight o'clock flight. I demanded to see the passenger list and saw my name half-way down it. By this time five other intrepid passengers who had, like me, gone straight to Le Bourget were similarly placed, including one American business- man who was first on the list!
After the noise had died down we learnt that ffty-seven passengers (the full load for a Viking) bad mustered at the Gare des Invalides at 6.40 a.m., and as they had checked in before us (which was a fact) they had priority over the seats. Room would be made for those stranded on the 10 a.m. aeroplane and that was that.
During the two-hour wait we were eventually given breakfast and on the plane itself a dinner was offered. At London Airport a car was arranged after quite a wait to take us to Gloucester Road Terminal.
I use the word 'churlish' in writing this letter, because I have already written to BEA and have received an extremely courteous letter and a partial refund on my ticket in return.
The explanation seems to be that owing to the world-wide basis of booking on international airlines great difficulty arises in ensuring that no more than a certain number of seats is sold for any particular flight. Further to this, it is virtually impossible to say who booked before whom, and passenger lists, although they are still kept, are not reliable and are no longer used for checking-off purposes. At places where travellers may join at the town terminal the particulars are signalled to the control room at the airport, where the aircraft trim is worked out and
the documentation completed. It follows that the last person to check in will almost invariably be One of those reporting at the airport itself.
I would suggest, firstly, that the public is made aware of these facts; secondly, that proper passenger lists are reintroduced, even if it means extending the reporting period beyond its present thirty minutes; and, thirdly, to would-be passengers—if there is an air terminal use it t —Yours faithfully, MICHAEL HUBBLE 29 Gloucester Square, W2
Previous page
