A TUI-owned airline is being sued by a passenger for allegedly serving sparkling wine instead of the promised glass of champagne on a flight to Cuba.
Toronto-based Sunwing, part of the Sunwing Travel Group in which TUI Travel took a 49% stake in 2009, has dismissed the lawsuit as 'petty and frivlous'.
However, lawyers engaged by passenger Daniel MacDuff, who lives in Quebec, claim about 1,600 other plaintiffs have come forward to join his lawsuit.
MacDuff is claiming they were misled by a Sunwing advert for 'champagne vacations', with complementary 'champagne service', when in fact it served an alternative sparkling wine, which was not from the Champagne region of France.
The class action seeks compensation for the monetary difference between the actual wine served and a glass of champagne, as well as punitive damages.
In an emailed statement, Sunwing said the terms 'champagne vacations' and 'champagne service' were used 'to denote a level of service in reference to the entire hospitality package' and not to describe the in-flight beverages.
The company has since removed the reference to champagne in its advertising.
"It's not about the pettiness of champagne versus sparkling wine," lawyer Sebastien Paquette said. "It's the consumer message behind it."
Courtesy of Travelmole
Would you have thought Champagne vacations & service included actual champagne?
Well people often expect Champagne at Lambrini prices !!! I'm quite happy with a good Cava or Prosecco which in my opinion is often just as good as Champagne at a fraction of the price . I've also tried some English Sparkling Wine and can recommend Chapel Down from the Tenterden vineyard in Kent which is available in most supermarkets although it's not actually that cheap in price .
Most marketing blurb is more descriptive rather than what it literally says it is , but champagne service does imply champagne being served , whilst a champagne vacation would imply a visit to a region in France rather than Cuba to me . It is a poor choice of word to describe an actual product that Sunwing are selling and I think they are right to remove the advertising , but raising a claim does feel petty to me .
Most marketing blurb is more descriptive rather than what it literally says it is , but champagne service does imply champagne being served , whilst a champagne vacation would imply a visit to a region in France rather than Cuba to me . It is a poor choice of word to describe an actual product that Sunwing are selling and I think they are right to remove the advertising , but raising a claim does feel petty to me .
No surprise to me , in this "compensation" ridden culture we live in !
Is he really suing just because he didn't get served champagne though? I think he is making a point. If you advertise it, you should get it. Too often letters of complaint are just ignored or given a standard reply.
When you advertise something it has to be decent, legal, honest and truthful. Champagne the drink has a legal definiation and in the public eye it is a luxury item, something the TO alludes to
Sunwing said the terms 'champagne vacations' and 'champagne service' were used 'to denote a level of service in reference to the entire
hospitality package'
as the lawyer says -
"It's the consumer message behind it."
Sunwing said the terms 'champagne vacations' and 'champagne service' were used 'to denote a level of service in reference to the entire
hospitality package'
as the lawyer says -
"It's the consumer message behind it."
Post a Reply
Please sign in or register an account to reply to this post.
Similar Topics
- enlish owned restaurant puerto rico
-
Greek hotel sues British couple for 'fake' holiday sickness claim
Posted by Glynis HT Admin in Travel News
-
paying tax on property owned in sunny beach bulgaria
Posted by tina reilly in EX-Pats and Owners Abroad
-
Champagne
Posted by BrenLiz in Goa Discussion Forum
-
Champagne-Ardenne
Posted by newbutt1 in France and Channel Hopping Discussion