Fuel Surcharge Refund??

arel

Hi all,

I bought a round-the-world flight with Virgin Atlantic in August 2008 for a trip at Xmas. Taxes including fuel surcharges added up to £380.

Now I find that surcharges are being reduced by V.A.
Does that mean I am entitled to a fuel surcharge refund?

After all I do remember some airlines trying to collect additional surcharges when the oil price went up so I would think I can get a refund....

Thoughts?

Andrew.

fifeken

Once you've paid and been ticketed, that's normally it. They can't ask you for more and you won't get anything back. If the surcharge had increased would you have offerred to pay the extra?

arel

fifeken wrote: »

Once you've paid and been ticketed, that's normally it. They can't ask you for more and you won't get anything back. If the surcharge had increased would you have offerred to pay the extra?

Yes I can understand that, but I think I recall an incident when an airline did force customers to pay an additional charge or they wouldnt be allowed on the plane.:eek:

lfc321

fifeken wrote: »

Once you've paid and been ticketed, that's normally it. They can't ask you for more and you won't get anything back. If the surcharge had increased would you have offerred to pay the extra?

Not true. I've had to pay increased fuel surcharges at the airport before being allowed to check-in.

mad_rich

arel wrote: »

Yes I can understand that, but I think I recall an incident when an airline did force customers to pay an additional charge or they wouldnt be allowed on the plane.:eek:

You might be thinking of the increase in Air Passenger Duty, which is a government tax, a couple of years ago. The airlines are entitled to demand the extra APD (although some chose to absorb it).

You might like to look at how much it will cost to cancel your ticket and rebook with the lower fuel charge.

discoinferno_99

lfc321 wrote: »

Not true. I've had to pay increased fuel surcharges at the airport before being allowed to check-in.

Then you were mislead or ripped off. APD was applied at the airport for some airlines when the government changed the policy on this, but as mad_rich says, that is the only charge that would be enforceable after a contract of carriage is agreed via the sale of a ticket.

arel

discoinferno_99 wrote: »

Then you were mislead or ripped off. APD was applied at the airport for some airlines when the government changed the policy on this, but as mad_rich says, that is the only charge that would be enforceable after a contract of carriage is agreed via the sale of a ticket.

Interestingly the Virgin Atlantic Conditions of Carriage states:

4.2 Taxes, fees and charges

Applicable taxes, fees and charges imposed by government or other authority, or by the operator of an airport, shall be payable by you. When you purchase your Ticket, you will be advised of taxes, fees and charges not included in the fare, most of which will normally be shown separately on the Ticket. The taxes, fees and charges imposed on air travel are constantly changing and can be imposed after the date of issue of your Ticket. If there is an increase in a tax, fee or charge shown on the Ticket, you will be obliged to pay it. Likewise, if a new tax, fee or charge is imposed even after the date of issue of your Ticket, you will be obliged to pay it. Similarly, in the event any taxes, fees or charges which you have paid to us at the time of issue of your Ticket are abolished or reduced such that they no longer apply to you, or a lesser amount is due, you will be entitled to claim a refund.


Anyone thinks it covers reduced fuel surcharges??

lfc321

discoinferno_99 wrote: »

Then you were mislead or ripped off. APD was applied at the airport for some airlines when the government changed the policy on this, but as mad_rich says, that is the only charge that would be enforceable after a contract of carriage is agreed via the sale of a ticket.

Sorry, you're right: it was APD. Misremembered it.

airportdude

I feel sure that when the news broke yesterday it said that BA and Virgin were reducing their fuel surcharges but only for economy and premium economy passengers and for new bookings only, customers that already had bookings would not be entitled to a refund.

Think it was on the BBC news so there maybe something within the news section of their website.

pedgepuk

Yes well, I've been looking at flights to NYC for the last week and can only see that the price of flights haven't dropped even with the reduction in fuel surcharges.

As an example, BA quoted me the cheapest fare for mid November @ £324 inc tax/fees (£156 fuel surcharge) a week ago. Today (after the decrease) it's still the same price but the fuel surcharge has been reduced to £136.

So what they have done is reduce the fuel surcharge but increased the air fare.

Was hoping to fly for £250 but that will probably never happen in the foreseable future if ever...

Lisa_Lou

I've just checked and the charges are now about £50 cheaper per person now than when we booked and the flight prices haven't gone up!!!