Airline no longer operating - ArikAir

YoungTraveller

Hi everyone!

Advice really appreciated - not sure how to go through this at the moment.

On 2nd/3rd Feburary this year my dad used a small travel agent to book flights from LHR to LAG with ArikAir. He was issued with an e-Ticket etc by the travel agent. Around a week or so later, the airline went into receivership and was taken over by Nigeria's government. It's not currently operating flights. (Can't post links unfortunately!)

Anyway we re-booked tickets etc and he flew with BA in the end, my question is how do we go about getting our money back? We've spoke to the travel agents and they've insisted we'll only receive our refund once they receive their refund from the airline. My thoughts are surely our rights are with the travel agent and not the airline, and as such they are supposed to reimburse us and then deal with the airline/their insurance after? Can someone please advise what should happen in this instance

Caz3121

YoungTraveller wrote: »

We've spoke to the travel agents and they've insisted we'll only receive our refund once they receive their refund from the airline.

This is common, they have paid the money over and no longer have your money. They do not know whether they will get the money back from the receivers (I assume you will be one of many creditors)

Did he pay by credit card? has he spoken to the card company?
Does his insurance cover scheduled airline failure?

leylandsunaddict

The agent won't refund until they get a refund. Your contract would be with the airline not the agent. Did his travel insurance cover for supplier failure, or perhaps he paid by credit card?

111KAB

Airline bust generally means no claim as no one to claim against so neither you or the agent have anyone to sue.

YoungTraveller

Ah, essentially we're in a place where its unlikely we'll ever get the money back then unfortunately... Thank you for the advice everyone.

Caz3121

YoungTraveller wrote: »

Ah, essentially we're in a place where its unlikely we'll ever get the money back then unfortunately... Thank you for the advice everyone.

did you not pay by card? did you not have insurance?

Alan_Bowen

If the agent issued the ticket the day it was paid for, there is no obligation to provide financial protection against the agent or the airline's failure. If on the other hand there was a delay in issuing the ticket, the agent should have protected the money under his ATOL licence, assuming you checked they had a licence before booking and they can be responsible for repaying the money, agents have been warned to take out airline failure insurance to be able to do this, and mots of them do. If you name the agent, we might be able to help.