Vice Ganda went viral on social media after suddenly criticizing Philippine Airlines (PAL) after complaining about the inconvenience they experienced due to an overbooking issue on the flight he booked.
On October 25, Vice, who was on his way back to the Philippines, called out PAL, claiming that he had lost his original flight because it was fully booked already, even if he also bought a ticket for the said schedule.
“GRABE KA @flyPAL!!! Grabeng pangaabala at perwisyo ang dinulot mo sa masaya sanang trip na ito!!! Bakit kayo ganyan??? Ilang beses nyo kaming pinaranas ng overbooking sa puntong di nakasakay ang kasama namin. Ngayon ako naman ang nawalan ng upuan!” said Vice.
PAL quickly addressed the complaint published by Vice, who is known as one of the top celebrity endorsers in the Philippines.
The airline apologized several times to Vice and explained that they quickly investigated the incident and even allowed the comedian to fly on his original flight.
“Hi, Vice. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you experienced during your flight from Bangkok to Manila. Please be assured that we are actively investigating the issue and are in close coordination with our team in Bangkok. We are committed to providing you with assistance and updates as soon as they become available. If you require any immediate assistance, please let us know. Thank you for your patience and understanding,” PAL wrote.
Hi, Vice. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you experienced during your flight from Bangkok to Manila. Please be assured that we are actively investigating the issue and are in close coordination with our team in Bangkok. We are committed to providing you with…
— Philippine Airlines (@flyPAL) October 24, 2023
PAL then denied that an overbooking incident happened and explained that they only made two business class seats unavailable due to ‘safety reasons.’
They also revealed that they offered Vice to downgrade to economy class, but the comedian refused.
“First and foremost, we want to clarify that the flight was not overbooked, and we operate with the utmost commitment to safety. During pre-flight safety checks, two business class seats were identified as unserviceable due to safety concerns, rendering them unfit for passenger use,” PAL said.
“As a result, you were among the passengers offered a seat downgrade to economy class, a decision made to ensure safety and the operational integrity of the flight.
“We acknowledge that this may have been inconvenient and we extend our sincere apologies for any discomfort you experienced. We have received an update that eventually, two alternative passengers were identified and agreed to accept the downgrade offer, allowing you to return to your originally booked business class seats. We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this situation,” they also said.
However, Vice claimed that it was one of the PAL staff who told him that the flight was ‘overbooked’ already.
“Hindi yan ang sinabi sakin sa counter! Ang sabi ng staff “THE FLIGHT WAS OVERBOOKED AND MY SEAT WAS GIVEN TO ANOTHER PASSENGER”. MAG BATO BATO PICK NA LANG KAYO NG STAFF SA COUNTER KUNG SINO SA INYO ANG PAL-PAK! YUNG PANALO LIBRE KO NG ROUND TRIP TICKET VIA CATHAY PACIFIC!” he said.
Hindi yan ang sinabi sakin sa counter! Ang sabi ng staff
“THE FLIGHT WAS OVERBOOKED AND MY SEAT WAS GIVEN TO ANOTHER PASSENGER”. MAG BATO BATO PICK NA LANG KAYO NG STAFF SA COUNTER KUNG SINO SA INYO ANG PAL-PAK! YUNG PANALO LIBRE KO NG ROUND TRIP TICKET VIA CATHAY PACIFIC! https://t.co/fg8O9H2D26— jose marie viceral (@vicegandako) October 24, 2023