[ROY V MATHEW]

This is with regard to the problem I had to face at the Beijing airport with regard to the cancellation of flight CA 1287 on 31st July, 2013.

I and Secretary to Government -Tourism, India were on our way to Dunhuang for attending the UNWTO meeting. I had booked the ticket through Singapore Airlines in spite of several other available airlines, believing in the legendary hospitality and service standards of you. We were traveling business class from Trivandrum to Beijing and then to Dunhaung. As you are aware we had been flying for the last 12 hours and we were looking forward to get connected to the final destination and preparing ourselves for the meetings and the presentation scheduled for next day.

Upon the arrival at Beijing and after taking hold of the luggage, there was an indication that the flight is getting delayed by 40 minutes. We went to the check in counter but was told that the check in is going to get delayed. We were hunting for the Singapore airlines staff and we asked at the airport counter but was shooed away saying that they don’t know anything. Surprisingly neither Singapore Airlines nor Air China Airlines staff was in sight who was supposed to carry us to Dunhuang. We were left stranded and after some time the flight was also cancelled. There was a huge stampede at a counter and we went there only to be told that this flight was cancelled. And the guy at the counter was clueless on the next available connection or any other arrangements (of course, he was really hassled and was at his wits end as every other guy in the crowd was shouting at him). After an hour or so (till then we were waiting by the side), when the crowd subsided we went again and asked for connections or hotel. The response was not at all positive.

After hunting high and low at the Beijing airport (with poor signage in English) we found out the Tourism information counter who cheated us by pushing us to a supposedly 5 star hotel called '100% perfect Beijing hotel'. We were told that it’s only a 5 minutes drive from the airport. It took more than 20 minutes to reach the hotel, which was completely unclean, bad & stinking toilets, no food at the restaurant, non english speaking staff and the hotel situated in the middle of nowhere. The officer at the counter promptly collected the advance money and hence we were trapped in the hotel for the night. "100% Perfect Hotel" which happened to be imperfect” in all aspects; the 100% Perfect Hotel turned out to be a Perfect Nightmare!


I am really taken aback by how an international carrier like Singapore Airlines and Air China Airlines and the supposedly world renowned Beijing airport along with the tourism authorities can behave in such an irresponsible way

[ameliasarah]

Beijing Capital International Airport lets you know if your flights delayed or cancelled and gives you the tools needed to quickly find an alternate flight and rebook all in one place.