[samk]

Earlier this year I booked a return flight with Etihad from Dublin to Auckland. Before I was due to fly my Grandmother in New Zealand became very sick so I needed to fly back sooner. I attempted to contact the agent (Budget Air) and Etihad to change my ticket but neither could be contacted or provide a timely solution. So I bought a one way ticket to New Zealand with Singapore Air. I assumed my return flight would still be valid. I have paid for it, I dont want anything on this to change, but because I missed the outbound flight I am considered flying out of sequence'.

Fortunately because I returned earlier than planned I was able to see and talk to my Grandmother before she died.

I contacted Etihad who asked for proof of my relationship and the death certificate (not yet available as this is all very recent, but I provided other documentation). After 3 weeks I received a phone call at 2.19am on my local number (I asked the caller if he new what time it was and he checked and confirmed this!). To be told that as a grandchild I am not immediate family and therefore not welcome to any compassion whatsoever!

My flight is scheduled for 15th March, 2016. Its the outbound leg of my original ticket that I have paid for, but apparently I cannot be on it because I wanted to see my Grandma before I died. Thanks Etihad

ps I'm enjoying the spam mail you are sending me offering me opportunities to upgrade my flight.

The industry recognizes that unforeseen circumstances do occur and has made arrangements to accommodate passengers in such cases. Should passengers be required to change any aspect of their transportation due to force majeure, they must contact their carrier as soon as possible and airlines will use reasonable efforts to transport passengers to their next stopover or final destination, without recalculation of the fare. For example, imagine a passenger living in a small town near Naples, Italy and travelling from Naples to London via Rome. Due to a transport strike in the area, he is unable to reach Naples airport. He has informed the carrier and managed to arrange a car to Rome in time to make his connecting flight. In such a case, airlines will make every effort to accommodate the passenger in Rome without recalculating the fare.