Apart from the obvious fear-of-flying-related scenarios, what’s the worst thing that can happen to an airline passenger?
That would be the collapse of the airline, leaving you stranded and out of pocket. And, at the time of writing, that’s what has just happened with the Scandinavian budget carrier Primera.
Following rapid expansion, and just days after it announced new trans-Atlantic routes, the airline with the slogan “fly better” has stopped flying altogether.
Here’s a tweet it sent out announcing its flights had been suspended:
According to the BBC, the 14-year-old carrier with 15 planes, mostly flew Scandinavian passengers to warmer destinations such as Spain, Greece, Italy, Egypt and Turkey , but it also offered discount flights from England to the United States.
Passengers have been stranded at several airports, including Paris, where one Canadian customer said: “Currently my husband and I are in a dumpy motel by the airport trying to frantically scrounge together the funds to pay for another way home.”
Airline collapses are, sadly, not rare. We can expect more, because the industry is very competitive and not all airlines have deep-enough pockets to sustain the type of discounting that is fuelling growth.
In many cases, insurance and industry-sponsored guarantees will mean that passengers may eventually be reimbursed. But that is little help in the moment, when people have to dip into their pockets to pay for hotels and new airfares.
Airline Primera Air and IATA codes PF and 6F have been suspended as of today, October 2nd, 2018. On behalf of Primera Air team, we would like to thank you for your loyalty. On this sad day we are saying Goodbye to all of you.
Primera statement
Also, unlike when a plane breaks down or a flight has to be scheduled, airline staff are not on hand to help, and airport staff are unable, or sometimes unwilling, to help.
If you’re at an airport in a foreign country, my advice would be to try to get home as soon as you can by whatever means available. Hanging around will only add to your expenses and frustration.
In this case, the BBC says that Primera is not a part of the Civil Aviation Authority’s ATOL Protection scheme, which offers compensation in some circumstances, however some people who paid by credit card may get reimbursement. The laws, of course, differ in different jurisdictions.
It’s another reason to have a good insurance policy, and to make sure such eventualities are covered.
