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Airline U-turn on £4 US tickets Airline U-turn on £4 US tickets
(about 1 hour later)
Irish airline Aer Lingus has agreed to honour £4 flights to the US that it mistakenly sold to about 100 customers on its website. Irish airline Aer Lingus has agreed to honour £4 (five-euro) flights to the US that it mistakenly sold to about 100 customers on its website.
The company had refused to accept the bookings on business class flights, normally valued at £1,433 each way.The company had refused to accept the bookings on business class flights, normally valued at £1,433 each way.
On Friday, bosses said they would give customers who booked the seats the chance of flying economy class at the price advertised.On Friday, bosses said they would give customers who booked the seats the chance of flying economy class at the price advertised.
An Aer Lingus spokeswoman apologised for the "technical error".An Aer Lingus spokeswoman apologised for the "technical error".
The airline is contacting those affected.The airline is contacting those affected.
"Following a full investigation of the booking error undertaken yesterday evening by the company, it appears that some customers may have genuinely believed that they were making a booking in economy class," she said."Following a full investigation of the booking error undertaken yesterday evening by the company, it appears that some customers may have genuinely believed that they were making a booking in economy class," she said.
"It is regrettable that this technical error occurred and Aer Lingus recognises and accepts that customers were upset and inconvenienced.""It is regrettable that this technical error occurred and Aer Lingus recognises and accepts that customers were upset and inconvenienced."
The 90 minute glitch on the booking website was estimated to have cost the airline - part owned by the Irish government - about £790,000.The 90 minute glitch on the booking website was estimated to have cost the airline - part owned by the Irish government - about £790,000.
Earlier Noel Dempsey, Transport Minister, had encouraged the airline to rectify the mistake.Earlier Noel Dempsey, Transport Minister, had encouraged the airline to rectify the mistake.
"They are a private company, we are a shareholder but we don't interfere in the day to day running of the company," he said."They are a private company, we are a shareholder but we don't interfere in the day to day running of the company," he said.
"It has caused a great deal of controversy, they made a mistake and they should rectify the mistake.""It has caused a great deal of controversy, they made a mistake and they should rectify the mistake."
The Consumers' Association of Ireland had insisted binding contracts were made and that customers were due compensation.The Consumers' Association of Ireland had insisted binding contracts were made and that customers were due compensation.
Ann Fitzgerald, chief executive of the National Consumer Agency (NCA), said she welcomed Aer Lingus's decision to "treat consumers fairly" but insisted legal action was still an option.Ann Fitzgerald, chief executive of the National Consumer Agency (NCA), said she welcomed Aer Lingus's decision to "treat consumers fairly" but insisted legal action was still an option.
"We think Aer Lingus has made a very reasonable offer which will be acceptable to most consumers," she said."We think Aer Lingus has made a very reasonable offer which will be acceptable to most consumers," she said.
"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.""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."