Booked flights from Birmingham Alabama instead of Birmigham UK - Cannot cancel

saveapenny

saveapenny wrote: »

I have just had a thought ( it doesnt happen often) after you try the groveling ask how much it would be to change your ticket to a flexiable one were route changes are permited providing the same airline routes from BHX-MCO you should be able to do it.
I have changed tickets before when the cost of the new route was higher for no charge but that was in the days of helpful travel agents ...worth a shot

this might be a good place for advice too https://www.flyertalk.com

+ which airline is it?

dmg24

Some useful advice given, and I would definitely support those that suggest contacting the US people direct, they have a much better attitude to customer service than those in the UK.

Does the airline in question fly from the UK? If not from BHX, would you be willing to fly from a different UK airport if they would meet you halfway?

As a last resort, if you want to post the dates of travel we could all have a search around for the best deal on flights for you? x

Sam_Bee

Skyrat,

This might help you understand an issue you have re: calling back the same day.

Once a ticket is physically issued (printed etc) the ticket conditions come into force (i.e. no cancellations / changes / refunds / etc). However, airlines allow agencies to cancel the ticket the same day at no cost.

So Expedia could have cancelled your ticket the same day at no cost to them, and therefore you. Unfortunately you booked at 11.00pm, and actually couldn't have cancelled (and the ticket was probably issued the next day anyway).

But it's an oft repeated mantra about cancelling on the same day - it's not due to Expedia's regulations.

What airline did you actually book in the end?

sky_rat

The airline the tickets are booked with on Expedia is Delta Airlines operated by Freedom Airlines.

The plane is an Embraer RJ145 (small 39 seater).

BHM to MCO Flight No. 6083

MCO to BHM Flight No. 5978

We have not booked flights yet and the cheapest we can find is £1000 in total.

dmg24, thanks for your offer to look for flights - thats very kind of you.

Below are the dates and times we are due to pick up the hire car at Orlando airport:

Pick up: Sat 6-Oct-2007 18:00
Drop off: Sat 20-Oct-2007 17:00

Obviously it will be difficult or impossible to arrive at these exact times.

So I will probably have to arrange a taxi or arrange something with the car hire company.

But arriving and departing on those dates is the important bit.

We live in Milton Keynes and have family up in the Midlands (Stafford / Wovlerhampton).

Thats why we were going to fly from Birmingham because our family could have taken us to the airport and back.

However, all that matters now is a cheap flight -preferably a direct route.

I dont think Birmingham UK (BHX) does internation flights to the USA.

Living in Milton Keynes means London Airports are probably our best option.

Luton or Gatwick, if not then Heathrow.

2 Adults and 1 infant travelling on lap (who will be aged 1 year and 6 months in October).

milkydrink

As of yet you have only paid the deposit, £309?

IF they won't assist you in this mistake do you have to pay them the rest?

What can they do? Would they take you to court? Would a judge have sympathy with your plight?

I don't know the answers to any of the above, I've never not paid for the reat of my holiday. But I was always under the impression that if you didn't pay you would just lose your deposit?

While I understand no-one wants to lose £309, it's a lot better than losing £1,700!!!

But I do think writing to all the powers that be is a good idea.

But are you also saying that the £1,700 price was for a US based holiday & you can't afford that holiday at all if they want the "proper" price?
If thats the case I think you will have to loose the £309, because even if they would agree to amendments, I don't think you have much hope in getting it at less than the book price.

Good Luck & I hope you get it sorted.

sky_rat

The terms and conditions say that if you cancel the holiday you still have to pay the full amount.

They say that because the airlines are scheduled (or charted, cant remember which) that its not possible to cancel a holiday.

But thats just the flights.

Surely you would be able to cancel the accomodation and car hire ?

I dont know what happens if I refuse to pay the remaining amount and just loose the deposit of £309?

Never done anything like that before myself.

sky_rat

NEWS FLASH !!!!

Fingers crossed we "MAY" be getting somewhere.

My girlfriend has rang Expedia asking to speak to someone to make a complaint.

That seemed to be the magic word... 'complaint'

They put her through to someone who was alot more helpful.

They have tried to ring the airline to try and get our money back.

Unfortunately the people she needed to speak to at the airline werent there today.

So the woman at Expedia has left notes about our problem and someone at Expedia will contact the airline on Tuesday to try and get a full refund of the flight.

We can then use that £300 to put towards the correct flights.

My girlfriend gives me enough !!!!!! so she was probably the best person to ring Expedia and make a complaint !

Whether or not we do get a refund is yet to be seen.

But at least Expedia are now trying.

They even gave details of how to make a complaint to the first person I spoke to at Expedia for not being more helpful !

Ill keep you posted how things go.

MarkyMarkD

sky_rat wrote: »

"You say that you are "worried sick" - don't be. The worst that can happen is that you've paid £1,700 and not got a holiday. But you were happy to spend that £1,700, so the world's not going to end."

Thats a stupid comment.

Thats like saying "oh well you spent £150k on a house, so loosing £150k is no big deal"

I have never spent anything like £1700 on a holiday before.

This wasnt just a holiday, it was to see if we would like to emigrate out there.

Normally our holidays consist of a cheap flight to spain for £80 with Ryan Air and cheap accomodation.

So £1700 is a big deal... its a very big deal.

Especially when you are the only person working and have to support yourself, your girlfriend and a child.

Maybe you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth and have one of those jobs which pay lots of money for doing fcuk all, so £1700 and nothing to show for it is no big deal to you.

I realise things could be worse and at least I have my health and my family.

I am not about to top myself over this !

But it is a big problem and a worry and all I wanted was some advice.

With respect, sky_rat, it's not a stupid comment. What's stupid is booking flights from the wrong airport.

My point was that all you've lost is a £1,700 holiday. You haven't lost (as you agree yourself) your health, your family, or anything that actually matters. Nobody's life is going to come to an end because they don't have a holiday which they have paid for - and which they were willing to pay for. So saying that you are "worried sick" is either exaggeration or you getting things out of proportion.

Making irrelevant comments about me like

Maybe you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth and have one of those jobs which pay lots of money for doing fcuk all, so £1700 and nothing to show for it is no big deal to you

does yourself a dis-service. I work hard for the amount of money I earn; I have NEVER spent £1,700 on a holiday and probably never would. And if I did spent £500 on a holiday, let alone £1,700, I would be extremely fed up with myself if I c**cked it up. But I wouldn't "worry myself sick" because that's just pointless.

The fact that this was a pre-emigration research trip is news to me, as you just said it was a holiday in your original post.

You can follow other people's advice and write grovelling letters to Expedia and the airline. But, as I said before, neither of them has done anything wrong and I would predict that you won't get anywhere. You might save yourself a bit more "worrying yourself sick" by not bothering to hold out false hope.

You state that you "might" have just entered "BHM" instead of Birmingham. Frankly, I find that unbelievable. Nobody just enters the wrong airline code unless they've used it before. If I fly from Birmingham (which I do all the time) I would enter "BHX" or maybe "Birmingham" but not "BHM" or any other incorrect three-letter airport code!

As for your last post, the fact that you are now complaining about Expedia's behaviour is appalling. They DID NOT DO ANYTHING WRONG! You c**cked up, not them.

milkydrink

If I post a question & people take the time to respond in any way (unless to be nasty) I hit the thanks button.
Loads of people here have tried to offer you advice or support and you have thanked but a couple.
I find that rude, personally.

MarkyMarkD

sky_rat wrote: »

I dont know what happens if I refuse to pay the remaining amount and just loose the deposit of £309?

If you do what you propose (with any contract, not just a holiday one) then the other party can sue you for the unpaid total amount as you would have breached the contract.