Akward One for you all!?!?! help :(

nigpay1

Ok so we are getting married in Banff on 1 Aug 2012. We booked flights along with 7 other people. Everything is paid for.

Two of the people who are going (my future wife's sister and her boyfriend) have since split up and due to the expensive flights we wondered if there was any way to claim back any money.

I have spoken to Canadian Affairs who we booked with and they have said that all their flights are totally non-refundable, especially at this late stage.

The only other thing I though of was whether he bought travel insurance and could claim through that but I don't think he bought any.

Can anything be done?! We are talking £1000+
thanks
nigel

19lottie82

I very much doubt it. It's not the airlines fault that they have split up. They have effectively made the decision "not to go" to the wedding. Ditto with the travel insurance.

Incapuppy

This would not be covered by travel insurance even if it had already been purchased.

Presumably your future wife's sister is still wishing to travel?

It should be possible to apply for a refund of taxes on any unused flights subject to admin fees.

NB: do I understand that you paid for the flights? If so, I would ask the ex to reimburse you for out of pocket expenses but I wouldn't hold my breath.

peachyprice

Are you able to change names on the ticket. Perhaps your future SIL could bring a friend instead of the ex, rather than lose the money altogether.

jpsartre

Tickets from Canadian Affair are non-transferable as far as I can tell, as indeed they are with most airlines.

nigpay1

we have paid for the fare. We asked for a nominal £300 from each guest which he has paid to be fair to him but it just mean a wasted ticket + transfers + meals etc.etc.

If the tickets are non transferable (ie. we can't change the name) presumably after we tell Canadian Affair that he isn't travelling they will then resell the ticket? So, effectively making twice the money on the same ticket?!

jpsartre

nigpay1 wrote: »

If the tickets are non transferable (ie. we can't change the name) presumably after we tell Canadian Affair that he isn't travelling they will then resell the ticket? So, effectively making twice the money on the same ticket?!

Does it matter? I don't know what their policy is but I'd say they'd be stupid not to try and resell the seat.

nigpay1

Well yes, they aren't happy to refund or transfer the ticket therefore keeping MY money but are happy to take a second sum of money for the same ticket. Commercial ticket touting?!

Incapuppy

nigpay1 wrote: »

Well yes, they aren't happy to refund or transfer the ticket therefore keeping MY money but are happy to take a second sum of money for the same ticket. Commercial ticket touting?!

Ermmmm, standard airline practice the world over I would have thought!

Careful now, you'll be using the words 'scam' and 'rip-off' soon!

jpsartre

nigpay1 wrote: »

Well yes, they aren't happy to refund or transfer the ticket therefore keeping MY money but are happy to take a second sum of money for the same ticket.

I don't see the problem. It helps keep the average ticket price down for everyone. If you want flexibility in your ticket there are plenty of options.

Doshwaster

nigpay1 wrote: »

Well yes, they aren't happy to refund or transfer the ticket therefore keeping MY money but are happy to take a second sum of money for the same ticket. Commercial ticket touting?!

Totally standard practice in the airline industry. Why shouldn't they sell the seat again? If you ran a hotel and someone cancelled a non-refundable booking then you wouldn't refuse another booking.

If you object to the policy then just don't tell them that person isn't travelling and they'll only find out when he's fails to check in.

If people want totally flexible ticketing policies then they would have to accept much higher prices. Airline (and hotels) can offer much cheaper non-refundable non-changeable rates precisely because some people fail to show