A Dublin pair, alongside their wedding entourage, who are set to travel to Italy via Aer Lingus next weekend, face uncertainty as some guests have received notifications of possible flight cancellations due to the ongoing work-to-rule protest by the airline pilots. Debbie Morone, the bride-to-be, has voiced concerns that she, her fiancé Andy Neary, and their four kids could stand to lose nearly €20,000 if they can’t reach Tuscany in time for their wedding amid the ongoing conflict over salary between the Aer Lingus pilots and management.
She claimed, “We’re average folks who’ve been meticulously planning and saving for this wedding for two years.” Debbie also mentioned that they had chosen to fly with Aer Lingus immediately after the flights were announced in August, with faith in the national carrier to be reliable. But with the ongoing rumours of industrial chaos, the couple’s worry has been progressively escalating.
After the pilots voted in favour of industrial action, Debbie contacted Aer Lingus early this week, where a representative comforted her that if their flight was disrupted, the airline would make arrangements with a partner airline.
However, things took a grim turn on Thursday, as some of the 19 guests, slated to travel along with the couple on June 29th, began receiving cancellation alerts from the airline. This resulted in Debbie promptly contacting Aer Lingus, providing the representative with the booking reference numbers for all guests for that day.
Ms Morone shared her frustration regarding her apprehensive wait for a call from Aer Lingus’s supervisor, after she was initially informed she’d get a callback. Frustratingly, two hours passed devoid of any communication, prompting her to place another call. This tiring endeavour required 77 minutes of waiting before an individual on the other end proposed the possibility of a flight on the prior day, despite admitting chances of cancellation. She responded with gratitude but explained the impracticability of this option as they desperately needed a secure route to Italy.
The issue stems from Aer Lingus’s industrial action set to commence on June 26th, potentially disrupting passengers’ travel plans. Following this, she was informed that other airlines could not be considered, stating that her best option was to continue waiting for the supervisor’s call, unfortunately, this reassurance remained unfulfilled by the stroke of midnight on Thursday.
Ms Morone and her travelling party, anticipated to be more than 70 guests arriving globally, are due to embark on their journey from Rome landing at their wedding destination – a Tuscan villa. She aired her mounting stress levels that have been escalating since the preceding Tuesday. With only a week and plus before her wedding, preparing for her big day was displaced by flight uncertainties and concerns over her travelling guests. She also expressed distress regarding the additional guests expected to arrive post their departure days.
Their guests were expected from Spain, Italy, UAE, the UK and Ireland, heightening the tension as they found it unimaginable to miss their own wedding. Their wedding is scheduled for July 3rd at a villa in Tuscany, with a platter of activities and tours on the cards to engage a group of 75 guests from June 30th.
The day preceding – June 29th, earmarked as the arrival day, included planning of a special menu by a chef to welcome the guests. However, the entire investment becomes worthless and non-refundable if the guests are unable to make it to the venue.
An expenditure exceeding €2k has been made to hire a private bus firm, tasked with shuttling us from Rome to Tuscany on the 29th, and later returning our guests home on July 6th. Whether they would be open to issuing a refund remains uncertain. The situation presents a multitude of variables. The potential losses are tremendous, ranging from €15,000 to €20,000.
As she continues to wait for a response from Aer Lingus, other possibilities are evaluated, including flying with British Airways; another airline within the IAG aviation group.
The plan is to embark on a flight at 20.15 the day prior, heading to London Heathrow. There, we’d overnight at a designated hotel, then depart London on the 29th at 7.05 to catch a flight to Perugia. This option seems workable, assuming Aer Lingus does not proceed with its planned flight.
Unless a reroute can be arranged in a fair and thoughtful manner, no additional expenses will be incurred. We are vehemently opposed to asking our loved ones, who have already generously contributed, to shoulder any further costs for our wedding day.
A representative from Aer Lingus confirmed the company is keenly aware of the distress customers are experiencing. Committing to uphold as many services as possible, she assured that affected customers will receive direct communication detailing the available options.
Furthermore, Aer Lingus has disclosed plans to offer a range of choices to customers who might be affected by the impending industrial action by IALPA, set to begin on June 26th. Individuals booked to travel between June 26th and July 2nd will be allowed to modify their flights free of charge, or cancel entirely and receive a refund or voucher.