NI NOEL ABUEL
Bunsod ng dumaraming kaso ng overbooking at online booking glitches ay nakatakdang imbestigahan ng Senado ang Cebu Pacific.
Ayon kay Senador Nancy Binay, maraming reklamo na ang natatanggap ng opisina nito laban sa Cebu Pacific na nakaranas ng masamang karanasan sa pagkaka-offload nang walang anumang sapat na dahilan.
“For a family with kids in tow who have a confirmed booking; who are already at the airport at least four hours ahead of time; giving up sleep; negotiating the traffic; and enduring the long queues, only to be denied boarding and sent back home—that, for me, is unacceptable,” giit ni Binay.
Ayon pa dito, kailangang kumilos ang gobyerno na tiyakin ang transparency sa pagsasagawa ng overbooking ng mga airlines, at mahigpit na implementasyon ng Air Passenger Bill of Rights.
Sa ilalim ng Air Passenger Bill of Rights, pinapahintulutan ang mga air carriers na mag-overbook sa ilang flights, at ito rin ay nagsasaad na ang pag-offload ay dapat gawin sa isang bolutaryong paraan.
“It states that whenever a flight is overbooked, the air carrier shall announce that the flight is overbooked, and that it is looking for volunteers willing to give up their seats in exchange for air carrier compensation,” ayon sa Section 10.1.b ng DOTC-DTI Joint Administrative Order No. 1.
“Sa dami ng mga reklamo ng mga pasahero, maiisip mo agad na parang napaka-hassle mag-travel sa Pilipinas lalung-lalo na kapag peak seasons. Siguro, during peak periods like Holy Week, Christmas season and during summer, we can implement a ban on overbooking in domestic and international flights—and should there be ‘no-show’ passengers—airlines can be transparent and offer the available seats to ‘chance passengers’ just like the usual practice. We have to uphold public convenience and service. Amid the prevailing public outrage against Cebu Pacific, we have to check if local airlines do observe the 5% allowable overbooking set by CAB,” giit pa ni Binay.
Ang overbooking ay sinasadyang kasanayan sa industry-wide business practice kung saan ang mga airlines ay pinapayagan na magbenta ng 10 porsiyento ng mas maraming tiket kaysa sa dami ng bilang ng upuan sa partikular na biyahe.
Mula sa pamantayan ng industriya na 10 porsiyento, ang Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) ay nagtakda ng 5 porsiyento na pinapayagang mag-overbook upang magamit at maiwasan ang bakanteng upuan sa eroplano.
“Overbooking and offloading have always been a never-ending talking point with Cebu Pacific, not to mention the online booking nightmares, and a number of very public meltdowns under its wings. Travelling in the Philippines has become incredibly frustrating. It’s no longer a pleasant experience. Sobrang dami na actually ng mga issue sa atin dito sa Pilipinas which have not only inconvenienced local and foreign passengers but have also drove away tourists. Any bad experience just wipes out the nice memories of a good holiday and a great time in the Philippines,” ayon pa kay Binay.
Maliban sa masamang airline experiences, ang mga pasahero ay kailangang harapin ang technical- and personnel-driven fiascos na kadalasan ay mahabang pila, mga flight delays at kanselasyon, ground traffic, lost luggage, mobile app glitches, unnecessary security checks, mahabang panayam sa Bureau of Immigration, usapin sa airport operation at iba pa.
“We understand what budget travelling is like, and the promos that go with it. Whether or not you paid ‘piso’ or the regular fare, it’s not about the price. It’s actually the case of the airline being truthful, upfront and transparent to its customers and passengers. Hindi ‘yung kung anu-anong dahilan ang sasabihin sa pasehero at basta na lamang iiwanan sa ere,” ayon pa kay Binay.
OnlineBalita news 