Flight to…where?
Going to Granada… or Maybe Grenada Instead
Geography can be difficult, especially when the names of so many locations are pronounced very similarly. However, when you are going to be traveling to a location, it really does pay to do your homework. You need to know more than just all of the wonderful things that you can expect to see and do when you are on vacation. You also need to make sure that you know how to get there and that your plane ticket is correct.
The Dentist and the Wrong Side of the World
While in London, Edward Gamson, a dentist from the United States, wanted to visit the city of Granada. This is a historic and beautiful city in Spain that has gorgeous architecture and a rich culture. It would only be a two-hour trip by plane, so he booked his ticket on British Airways for what he hoped would be a great adventure. He was really looking forward to visiting the Alhambra Palace.
However, Dr. Gamson made a bit of a mistake. Instead of booking that two-hour flight to Spain, he instead booked a flight that would take nine hours and would take him all the way to a country in the Caribbean called Grenada. It’s not entirely his fault though, as he said he went through a booking agent at British Airways that he told he wanted to go to Granada, Spain.
When the mix-up was discovered, British Airways offered him and the companion he was traveling with $376, as well as 50,000 miles. Gamson was not happy with this offer, though, and he said that the overall cost was more than $34,000 when including hotels, tours, and trains. Gamson then decided that he was going to sue the airline for his troubles.
Other Incidents of the Granada/Grenada Mix-up
If you think this was a one-time isolated incident of someone who didn’t realize the difference between Granada and Grenada, you would be wrong. In fact, it has happened several times in the past. In fact, the crew from British Airways told the passenger that it had happened to someone a week before, as well.
It also happened to a woman who thought she was going to Granada in 2013. When she spoke to a passenger next to her about being excited to visit Spain, the passenger told her that the plane wouldn’t take her there. The woman did say that the ticket indeed said Grenada, and that the departure and arrival times were very different. She chalked it up to a time difference. Imagine her surprise.
While going to the Caribbean doesn’t seem like it’s all that bad, if you are expecting to visit Spain, it is going to be quite a shock. The moral of this story is that no matter where you decide to travel, always double check the ticket and the spelling, and maybe consult a map just to be sure! This is true even if you are going through a booking agent. Anyone can make mistakes.