Philippine Airlines is under fire once again after It’s Showtime host Vice Ganda aired her frustrations about experiencing delays with her flight. The incident occurred on the evening of October 24, 2023, when Vice was on her way home to Manila from Bangkok, Thailand.
LOOK: Vice Ganda Calls Out Philippine Airlines for Delayed and “Overbooked” Flight
“GRABE KA @flyPAL!!! Grabeng pangaabala at perwisyo ang dinulot mo sa masaya sanang trip na ito!!! Bakit kayo ganyan??? Ilang beses nyo kaming pinaranas ng overbooking sa puntong 'di nakasakay ang kasama namin. Ngayon ako naman ang nawalan ng upuan!” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
After receiving several posts from the comedian, Philippine Airlines replied with its apology and an explanation of what occurred, denying that the flight was overbooked. “Hi, Vice. We deeply regret the recent incident during your recent flight with us and would like to offer a clear explanation of the situation,” the message began.
“First and foremost, we want to clarify that the flight was not overbooked, and we operate with the utmost commitment to safety. During pre-flight safety checks, two business class seats were identified as unserviceable due to safety concerns, rendering them unfit for passenger use,” explained the airline.
They continued to explain that as a result, Vice was among the passengers offered a seat downgrade to economy class. It was a “decision made to ensure safety and the operational integrity of the flight,” the airline company said.
Vice, clearly frustrated, replied, “Hindi yan ang sinabi sakin sa counter! Ang sabi ng staff ‘THE FLIGHT WAS OVERBOOKED AND MY SEAT WAS GIVEN TO ANOTHER PASSENGER.’ MAG BATO BATO PICK NA LANG KAYO NG STAFF SA COUNTER KUNG SINO SA INYO ANG PAL-PAK! YUNG PANALO LIBRE KO NG ROUND TRIP TICKET VIA CATHAY PACIFIC!”
After Vice’s tweets became viral, netizens couldn’t help but air out their frustrations toward the airline as well.
Netizens Air Out Their Own Frustrations Towards PAL After Vice Ganda's Viral Tweets
“Manahimik kayu di lang si Vice, ako din naka experience [during] my last trip sa Pinas!!! Imagine naka [check in] na ako. Ni-rebook niyo 'yung flight from 2:25pm to [6:45pm], 'tas na delay again, [naging] 8pm!!! Then 'nung pabalik na [ako] same thing happened, na delay uli ng [dalawang] beses!” one user wrote.
“..yes!!!! haba ng sagot ni PAL @flyPAL! Ahahahahahahh!!! Pero nung kame, deadma! Ahahahaahahh!!!! Auto reply ang [na-receive]! Matagal ng ugali nila yan na mag-overbooked kahit local. Ako nga pupunta lang ng Zamboanga for a conference, na-elbow din ako eh! Kalerks!!!” wrote another.
On the Philippine Airlines Conditions of Contract provided on their website, it states that:
“Certain flights of Carrier may be overbooked. There is no absolute guarantee therefore that a seat will always be available on a flight for which a passenger has a confirmed reservation. When a flight is overbooked, Carrier's personnel shall ask for volunteers willing to give up their confirmed reservations in exchange for reward offered by Carrier. In case there are not enough volunteers, confirmed passengers who are denied boarding may be entitled to compensatory payment in accordance with Carrier's Tariffs.”
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