For Burj refunds, go to Dubai
Eugene Harnan
- Last Updated: February 08. 2010 11:07PM UAE / February 8. 2010 7:07PM GMT
DUBAI // Tourists continued to be turned away from the Burj Khalifa yesterday. Many wondered when authorities would explain why the tower’s observation deck was closed, and when it might reopen.
Disappointed tourists who had booked online were told yesterday they could receive a refund only in person.
Saleem Adam, 36, a lawyer based in Abu Dhabi, had booked tickets for himself and friends visiting from Canada.
“I called the helpline and was advised that they do not know when the tower would reopen,” Mr Adam said. “I asked whether it would be before Friday and they said they didn’t know.”
So he asked for a refund.
“I was advised that I’d have to come to the counter in Dubai to get a refund,” he recounted. “I explained that I lived in Abu Dhabi and that the money was collected online from my credit card, so it should not be onerous to refund the money back now. I was told several times that to get a refund I’d have to appear in person.”
Some visitors were told by staff at the 828-metre attraction that it would reopen next Sunday and that visitors had the option to rebook their visits or be issued “an immediate refund”.
The Burj Khalifa’s operator, Emaar, did not confirm that the tower would open next Sunday, nor did it shed more light on the reasons for the sudden closure.
On Sunday the viewing area on the 124th floor of the world’s tallest tower was shut to the public until further notice, little more than a month after it opened, due to problems with the power supply, according to a statement.
Will Soons, 79, from Holland, wondered if he will have another chance, at his age, to get inside the tower. “It was the main thing we wanted to do here,” he said.
He has now booked a night’s stay at the Burj al Arab instead.
eharnan@thenational.ae
Please log in to post a comment
See also
Other UAE stories
Top stories
- Central Bank to monitor remittances sent to Iran
- Gillard secures majority in Australian parliament
- In vacant lots and car parks around the UAE, cricketers enjoy the simple pleasure of sport
- Tributes pour in for pilots of UPS flight
- Google hopes Arabic content can boost ad revenue
- Natascha's stolen childhood
- Safety fears for high-rise cleaners
Most popular stories
- Tributes pour in for pilots of UPS flight
- Two-day Eid holiday for private sector
- Natascha's stolen childhood
- Driver killed as passenger clings to life after Al Ain crash
- Marriage process made easier for Dubai's happy couples
- In vacant lots and car parks around the UAE, cricketers enjoy the simple pleasure of sport
- Gillard secures majority in Australian parliament
- Google hopes Arabic content can boost ad revenue
- Central Bank to monitor remittances sent to Iran
- Safety fears for high-rise cleaners
Added: 02/09/10 05:25:00 PM
Another example of an attempt to be "world class" gone wrong. If they want to be recognized as a great international tourist attraction, they are going to have to work on their customer service. Telling people they have to get a refund in person when they booked online is just wrong any way you look at it. I won't be booking a trip now.
Donald Glass, Abu Dhabi
Added: 02/09/10 12:14:00 PM
Why do you only pick on that one and only negative incident that happened in the Burj and never praise all the good things about this Burj. Trains, metros, buildings and bridges worldwide get damage, catch fires and collapse. These kind of accidents are uncontrollable sometimes. The Burj wasn't built in 1 night; it took it years to finish, so of course they won't be able to fix an error in a week or less. Be reasonable!
hind al hammadi, Dubai
Added: 02/09/10 08:00:00 AM
Waiting for the authorities to tell you what happened won't do us any good.
Elevator problems is the reason why they closed the observation deck. people got stuck just before the 124th floor and white smoke was seen coming out of the elevator doors. Come on Eugene, this is all over the news! I'm no engineer but i can construe that this was either brake or cable related.
Moving on, the reason why they don't do refunds by transfer is simply because they don't want you to have your money back. A collective lawsuit can be filed and won very easily, but is it worth it? no.
They might argue that they're trying to avoid transfer charges, but that would be ridiculous. Big companies are always exempted of paying transfer charges.
So let's just say it like it is, they're just making it inconvenient for us to get our money back. And that lawyer you mentioned in the article.... I'll remember not to ever refer to him!!
E A, AD
Added: 02/09/10 07:40:00 AM
They closed the deck because of electrical/mechanical problems. Eugene i can't believe you don't know about that, it's all over the news!
The elevator got stuck just before the 124th floor
They won't do transfer refunds because they don't want you to have your money back, so they make it as least convenient for you as possible. One could argue that they want to avoid transfer charges, but a big company like that... they don't pay transfer charges
E A, AD
Added: 02/09/10 04:51:00 AM
How can a world class attraction not provide a date for reopening? It's a responsible business practice to provide such critical information... if they don't, they'll appear to not know what they're doing, especially so soon after opening.
And to blame the closure on a high number of tourists is laughable. Wasn't the goal of building such a bold tower to put Dubai even more squarely on the world map, and draw thousands to the emirate, and up the tower?!
M C, Abu Dhabi