Budget Air Inflexible

hugonellie

I was wondering if anyone could help me out....I booked a set of return flights (3 flights there and 3 back x 2 passengers) to Bali from Newcastle via Budget Air In October - to fly in May this year, return June - unfortunately my partner can now no longer join me due to a job change and them not allowing the 3 weeks time off. My friend is offering to join me instead and is willing to pay the admin fees, but that's looking like its not possible.

I've emailed Budget Air (after sitting on hold for 20 mins on the phone) who have come back and simply refused any kind of passenger change or refund.

The first part of the flight was Newcastle >> Heathrow with British Airways which I think might be causing the problem, as I have since read they refuse any kind of admin change - certainly not passenger transfer. I can however get my friend to Heathrow if needed...the next flights are all Malaysian Airways - can they be changed? or is there a better way to get around this or is it simply not possible? It would be a shame to loose out on £650 (if I go myself) or £1300 if no one goes

I realise she can just simply buy another ticket, but then we'd not be sitting next to each other or anything. I paid on my credit card if that helps any. I guess I am kinda looking for a loop hole when one probably doesn't exist.

Have I just learnt a very harsh lesson in cheap airlines? Thanks to anyone in advance that can help :beer:

jackieblack

I'm guessing you bought non-flexible/non-refundable tickets? So you're bound by the fare rules of the type of ticket that you've bought. Airlines do offer flexible/refundable tickets are available but are usually much more expensive.

Btw, buying tickets together is no guarantee you'd be seated together, just as buying a separate ticket doesn't necessarily mean you couldn't sit together

hugonellie

Yeah I believe so

I've just gone through my Terms & Conditions and it looks like I have. I guess I am just going to have to chalk it up to a stupidly expensive mistake

agrinnall

Have you tried going direct to Malaysian to ask them if they will accept a passenger change on their flights?

And did you take out travel insurance as soon as you'd booked the flights? Some policies may cover inability to travel due to change of work circumstances.

leylandsunaddict

The agent applies the airlines rules. They don't make the rules. Even fully flex tickets don't usually allow a name change. Your fare rules will tell you.

Is the flight to Heathrow on the same ticket as your flight with Malaysian from Heathrow? If so, if a passenger misses a leg then all their flights on that ticket will automatically be cancelled when they no show.

Booking together doesn't mean you'd be seated together anyway.

hugonellie

I have travel insurance with natwest as part of my account - and reading through that unless someone dies (heaven forbid), one of us gets made redundant (lets hope not!) or my dog requires life changing surgery (I'd rather lose the money) then it doesn't look possible

I know with Thompsons a name change is rather cheap, as I have took a friends place in a previous holiday. I thought this would be similar, actually I didn't think this would happen but hey ho.

If the lead passenger is a no show, can the remaining passenger still go?

Caz3121

It does tend to be the LCCs the allow name changes, some, like for package trips are cheap, others like Easyjet and Ryanair usually charge high fees meaning it cheaper to buy new ticket.
The traditional full service airlines tend not to allow any name changes (even for a fee) they will offer name 'corrections' in case of typo but not changes.
In this case it is nothing your agent has done wrong and you would have the same response had you booked direct with the airlines

For flights you are fine with not all passengers checking in

jackieblack

T&C re change of passenger on a package holiday are very different to when just booking flights

Voyager2002

hugonellie wrote: »

I - unfortunately my partner can now no longer join me due to a job change and them not allowing the 3 weeks time off.

I hope that the employer will bear the cost of their inflexibility.

bigadaj

Voyager2002 wrote: »

I hope that the employer will bear the cost of their inflexibility.

Why should they?

We don't know the full circumstances but unless the employee notified this prior to commencement then they would have no duty to, many employment policies state that employees have no right to holiday periods exceeding two weeks at a time.

hugonellie

Thanks for everyone's help - never mind, I realised it was just going to be on the off chance that I could actually do something about it....seriously considering just going on my own now!