[Ryan N]

http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/...014090,00.html

Airline backdown over bargain flights bungle
From correspondents in Dublin
April 21, 2008 07:47am

IRISH airline Aer Lingus has partially backed down over its refusal to honour an online offer that mistakenly sold business class transatlantic flights for five euros ($8).
The flights would normally have sold for €1775 and the airline said about 300 bookings were involved, with some of those including multiple seats.

In a statement, the former state airline said it was offering the customers involved in the debacle "the option to travel in economy class at the price of their original booking."

It said that after a full investigation "it appears that some customers may have genuinely believed that they were making a booking in economy class."

"It is regrettable that this technical error occurred and Aer Lingus recognises and accepts that customers were upset and inconvenienced. Aer Lingus apologises unreservedly to all customers," the statement said.

It followed a statement by Transport Minister Noel Dempsey that the government, which is still a shareholder in the airline, would not be intervening directly but advising it should "rectify" the situation.

"Aer Lingus made the mistake," Dempsey told RTE state radio.

The National Consumer Agency said it had had "a very productive meeting" with the airline.

"We think Aer Lingus has made a very reasonable offer which will be acceptable to most consumers," said NCA chief executive Ann Fitzgerald.

"However, the NCA would advise consumers that if they do not wish to accept the compensation now on offer from Aer Lingus, they are entitled in our view to take legal action against the company," Fitzgerald said.