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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/25/liverpool-refund-champions-league-final-tickets-fans-cancelled-flights

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Liverpool to refund cup final tickets for fans with cancelled flights Liverpool to refund cup final tickets for fans with cancelled flights
(35 minutes later)
Liverpool have offered full refunds on tickets for the upcoming Champions League final in Ukraine to 650 fans whose flights have been cancelled, as ticket-holders called the travel problems an “absolute joke”. Liverpool have offered full refunds on tickets for the upcoming Champions League final in Ukraine to 650 fans whose flights were cancelled, as ticket-holders called the travel problems an “absolute joke”.
Two flights to Kiev were cancelled by the tour operator Worldchoice Sports on Thursday after Boryspil airport could not allocate landing slots for the planes due to leave the UK on Friday and Saturday. Two flights to Kiev were scrapped by the tour operator Worldchoice Sports on Thursday after Boryspil airport could not allocate landing slots for planes due to leave the UK on Friday and Saturday.
The mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said he was trying to help supporters who faced missing Liverpool’s match against Real Madrid.The mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said he was trying to help supporters who faced missing Liverpool’s match against Real Madrid.
But hours later, a statement on the club website said: “The decision to offer refunds has been made in response to the cancellation of two flights chartered by Widnes-based travel company Worldchoice Sports, leaving about 650 supporters without a flight to Kiev for the Champions League final.”But hours later, a statement on the club website said: “The decision to offer refunds has been made in response to the cancellation of two flights chartered by Widnes-based travel company Worldchoice Sports, leaving about 650 supporters without a flight to Kiev for the Champions League final.”
Anderson said he had been in talks with the mayor of Kiev and the director of the airport in an attempt to find alternative flights. He said he could not promise anything, but was hopeful a solution would be found.Anderson said he had been in talks with the mayor of Kiev and the director of the airport in an attempt to find alternative flights. He said he could not promise anything, but was hopeful a solution would be found.
“With conversations that we’re having with [Liverpool] John Lennon airport, we might be able to have some flights that are available tomorrow and get into Kiev early evening,” he said in a video posted on Twitter.“With conversations that we’re having with [Liverpool] John Lennon airport, we might be able to have some flights that are available tomorrow and get into Kiev early evening,” he said in a video posted on Twitter.
“We’ve had conversations again with the mayor and the director of the airport there. The mayor has assured me that he will lay on transport to take people to the ground, which is about 40 minutes away.”“We’ve had conversations again with the mayor and the director of the airport there. The mayor has assured me that he will lay on transport to take people to the ground, which is about 40 minutes away.”
Further update on #LFC fan flights @LFC pic.twitter.com/xGXcFt0tlbFurther update on #LFC fan flights @LFC pic.twitter.com/xGXcFt0tlb
Raj Soni, manager of Worldchoice Sports, blamed poor organisation in Kiev for the problem. In a statement on its website, the company said: “We have exhausted all avenues to try to get landing slots. We have had them from Liverpool airport and Manchester airport, and we have applied for slots in the correct manner and timeframe with the authorities. To reiterate – this problem is with Kiev.”Raj Soni, manager of Worldchoice Sports, blamed poor organisation in Kiev for the problem. In a statement on its website, the company said: “We have exhausted all avenues to try to get landing slots. We have had them from Liverpool airport and Manchester airport, and we have applied for slots in the correct manner and timeframe with the authorities. To reiterate – this problem is with Kiev.”
Liverpool are expecting more than 20,000 supporters to travel to the Ukrainian capital ahead of the match at Olimpiyskiy stadium.Liverpool are expecting more than 20,000 supporters to travel to the Ukrainian capital ahead of the match at Olimpiyskiy stadium.
On social media, Liverpool fans expressed their disappointment and anger at the lack of information they had received.On social media, Liverpool fans expressed their disappointment and anger at the lack of information they had received.
Just Spoke to @worldchoicespo customer service - 100% blaming Kiev airport. Allocated to many slots to private jets to make more money @Vitaliy_Klychko They also say @mayor_anderson is lying about the additional slots available and is spinning the PR line.0% chance of going😥Just Spoke to @worldchoicespo customer service - 100% blaming Kiev airport. Allocated to many slots to private jets to make more money @Vitaliy_Klychko They also say @mayor_anderson is lying about the additional slots available and is spinning the PR line.0% chance of going😥
So we’ve got a day to get a refund!!!! “Favourable outcome” ❌This whole situation is an absolute joke. Not @LFC fault but is that are left here just get a refund and all swept under the carpet eh? Not good enough on any level by any stakeholders apart from those let down https://t.co/Ex7BAxYjO8So we’ve got a day to get a refund!!!! “Favourable outcome” ❌This whole situation is an absolute joke. Not @LFC fault but is that are left here just get a refund and all swept under the carpet eh? Not good enough on any level by any stakeholders apart from those let down https://t.co/Ex7BAxYjO8
Jason McGimpsey, 43, a financial adviser, said he had been looking forward to the trip of a lifetime, but was told on Thursday that his flight was cancelled.Jason McGimpsey, 43, a financial adviser, said he had been looking forward to the trip of a lifetime, but was told on Thursday that his flight was cancelled.
“Worldchoice Sports had been stalling on giving us e-tickets and exact departure times, and it’s become clear why that was the case. Now, finally they’ve said ‘we’ve cancelled it’,” he said.“Worldchoice Sports had been stalling on giving us e-tickets and exact departure times, and it’s become clear why that was the case. Now, finally they’ve said ‘we’ve cancelled it’,” he said.
“I’ve been offered a refund, but it doesn’t go anywhere near compensating me for what I’ve lost. For various personal reasons, I was unable to go to the finals in Istanbul or Athens. I go to practically all Liverpool games and I haven’t missed a home game in nearly four years.”“I’ve been offered a refund, but it doesn’t go anywhere near compensating me for what I’ve lost. For various personal reasons, I was unable to go to the finals in Istanbul or Athens. I go to practically all Liverpool games and I haven’t missed a home game in nearly four years.”
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