Booking Flights Online by Credit Card

andyman_4

Hello

I've been searching through the Forums looking for confirmation that using your credit card to book a flight online gives you protection if the airline goes bust.

This is the case with flights we booked with Air Polonia.

Is it best to try and get the money back of Air Polonia (unlikely success) or to go straight to the credit card company?

Reaper

Try both. However a recent ruling means credit cards are no longer obliged to cover you for purchases abroad. Since the airline is Polish it might be considered a foreign transaction (if you bought the tickets direct).

If so it is up to the credit card companies whether they choose to cover you. Nationwide will, I don't know the policies of the others.

Reaper

I just looked on their web site and I notice Sky Europe have said they will honour your tickets:

We regret to inform you that from Sunday 5 December 2004, all our flights are suspended and tickets are not on sale at the moment. We inform you that SkyEurope Airlines has agreed to carry our passengers for free (excluding airport taxes and charges) on its network. You may use this option by rebooking on https://www.skyeurope.com

andyman_4

Yes, this is good of Sky Europe.

They are only honouring flights up to 26th March. Our flight is after that period so i'm contacting Air Polonia to see what the plan is for travellers after Easter.

Free tranfers are subject to Taxes and charges - which are quite expensive (around £21 tax) when travelling to Poland in comparison to UK airports.

Would be best to get a refund and use Easyjet, who have kept their taxes well down.

Thanks for your help.

Its only £37 but is bad when Air Polonia were selling tickets and having people turning up for flights right up until the announcement.

realaledrinker

Isn't there a £100 minimum spend anyway below which the credit card company isn't liable?

Reaper

Yes, that's all they have to cover, but in practice the good ones will cover smaller amounts too. I claimed for a £5 DVD I didn't get when the company went bust. Nationwide paid up.

andyman_4

The transaction was for 3 of us - so the total came to £110.48

I will let you know what happens

andyman_4

Just to let everyone know that the claim was passed from the Ulster Bank to Visa.

Latest statement shows a full refund + £2 interest.

Just glad the site didn't accept my switch card.

zcaprd7

Well done - always worth a pester IMHO.