Entitled to Flight Refund??

debbbie33

Hi, I am very new to this posting lark, but I am very concerned, hence Im asking you folks out there for any advice you can give me.
We booked flights to Vancouver in February this year, we paid in full on a credit card. We have/had friends out there, ufortunately they have hit hard times and need to come home as soon as they can, they moved out there last year. We, me my hubby and 4 kids were heading out to visit them in September, so its only flights we have booked at a cost of approx £3000. I was going to take out travel insurance nearer the time so that we were covered for medical bills if needed whilst out there. Anyway, no insurance.... Friends called last night to say they were in a bad way and need to come home, so I put wheels into motion and sent an email as requested by Canadian Affair to cancel, received one back within minutes to say as we bought the instant pay tickets, they are non refundable. Last night I could live with losing £600 thinking that was the deposit amount, now transpires we are going to lose the lot. Have got in touch with credit card company and now awaiting a claim form from them, within seven days!! Am just a bit worried now that we have lost the lot and wondered if anyone has had the same thing happen and did it have a decent outcome or do you lose all your money?? Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

callum9999

debbbie33 wrote: »

Hi, I am very new to this posting lark, but I am very concerned, hence Im asking you folks out there for any advice you can give me.
We booked flights to Vancouver in February this year, we paid in full on a credit card. We have/had friends out there, ufortunately they have hit hard times and need to come home as soon as they can, they moved out there last year. We, me my hubby and 4 kids were heading out to visit them in September, so its only flights we have booked at a cost of approx £3000. I was going to take out travel insurance nearer the time so that we were covered for medical bills if needed whilst out there. Anyway, no insurance.... Friends called last night to say they were in a bad way and need to come home, so I put wheels into motion and sent an email as requested by Canadian Affair to cancel, received one back within minutes to say as we bought the instant pay tickets, they are non refundable. Last night I could live with losing £600 thinking that was the deposit amount, now transpires we are going to lose the lot. Have got in touch with credit card company and now awaiting a claim form from them, within seven days!! Am just a bit worried now that we have lost the lot and wondered if anyone has had the same thing happen and did it have a decent outcome or do you lose all your money?? Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

You have to refer to the conditions imposed on your ticket when you bought them. From a 20 second browse of their site (so I'm not 100% certain, though the condition "No changes or refunds are permitted on Instant Purchase bookings" seems pretty conclusive) it looks like your tickets are refundable at all so no, you'll lose everything. Nor will the credit card company claim anything back for you as Canadian Affair have done nothing wrong. I highly doubt travel insurance would have covered that anyway.

Can you not cut your losses and go but stay in a hotel?

Bob_the_Saver

Sorry to say neither the Insurance nor Credit card will help if you choose not to travel. Having friends who are skint is not covered by travel insurance or section 75 (credit card)

Agree with callum9999, book a hotel or other place to stay and make the most of it.

debbbie33

Yes have paid flights in full just short of three grand on a credit card, we have four kids and the only way we could afford to visit Canada was by having friends out there, so now they have to come back to the uk we have no one out there. Did have a look this morning at accommodation out there but would have to throw more money at the problem ie another grand, so not planning on that. I thought as our friends were effectively bust it might count as we have no accommodation now. Aah well lesson learned, even insurance wouldn't cover you think so don't feel so stupid for not getting it sooner. Thank you anyway, just have to cut our losses this time, sore one but hey, we have the tent, so camping it is this year then......

Bob_the_Saver

debbbie33 wrote: »

Yes have paid flights in full just short of three grand on a credit card, we have four kids and the only way we could afford to visit Canada was by having friends out there, so now they have to come back to the uk we have no one out there. Did have a look this morning at accommodation out there but would have to throw more money at the problem ie another grand, so not planning on that. I thought as our friends were effectively bust it might count as we have no accommodation now. Aah well lesson learned, even insurance wouldn't cover you think so don't feel so stupid for not getting it sooner. Thank you anyway, just have to cut our losses this time, sore one but hey, we have the tent, so camping it is this year then......

Just a tiny crumb of comfort, at least you have not lost the cost of insurance you couldn't use as well. Don't forget to claim your flight taxes back although an admin charge will no doubt bite in to this. You don't have to do this right now so maybe some time to think. If you've nothing (more) to lose
something just might turn up.

debbbie33

Thank you, any idea where to start to claim back taxes? Will credit card company do that or will we do it?

Bob_the_Saver

debbbie33 wrote: »

Thank you, any idea where to start to claim back taxes? Will credit card company do that or will we do it?

Through the people you booked with. Don't forget this is the taxes not everything shown as taxes and charges.

fifeken

debbbie33 wrote: »

. . . we have the tent, so camping it is this year then......

Then take the tent to Canada and camp there.

debbbie33

Thank you, have just added up all the airport taxes, although these are classed as airport taxes and charges. The total comes in at £2001 minus their hefty admin charge I can't imagine us getting back any less tHan half back. Pretty crap but never mind. Can't believe it has happened tbh, still in shock really and having to tell the kids was bad, at the end of the day our friends are in a very serious predicament so we are the lucky ones, doesn't feel much like it but rather this than them getting into serious problems trying to stay out there just for us. Thank you for all your help and advice, am heading to bed now as I didn't sleep at all well last night and hubby is off tonight as he didn't sleep at all today, terrible thing worry! Thank you again, will get in touch tomoro with Canadian affair.

callum9999

debbbie33 wrote: »

Thank you, have just added up all the airport taxes, although these are classed as airport taxes and charges. The total comes in at £2001 minus their hefty admin charge I can't imagine us getting back any less tHan half back. Pretty crap but never mind. Can't believe it has happened tbh, still in shock really and having to tell the kids was bad, at the end of the day our friends are in a very serious predicament so we are the lucky ones, doesn't feel much like it but rather this than them getting into serious problems trying to stay out there just for us. Thank you for all your help and advice, am heading to bed now as I didn't sleep at all well last night and hubby is off tonight as he didn't sleep at all today, terrible thing worry! Thank you again, will get in touch tomoro with Canadian affair.

As someone above said, why can't you take the tent to Canada? A quick search shows you can pitch a tent for a week for less than £70.

I just don't understand why you'd spend so much on flights then just write it all off instead of spending a minimal amount more?

Unfortunately the taxes aren't £2001 - It looks like it will be roughly £650 minus whatever their admin fee is. Though from a quick search it looks like they don't refund taxes full stop - you really should just go anyway.

Voyager2002

Maybe your friends know someone who could help: see if they can ask around?