Refund for cancelled flight - whom should I be chasing?

piesforall

Several months ago, we booked flights from London to Tbilisi for the Easter holidays. We were due to fly on 6 April with Georgian Airlines. We booked via Opodo.

We're obviously not going anywhere next month. Even before the FCO travel advisory, before Georgia introduced a 14-day quarantine for all arrivals, Georgian Airlines cancelled our flight. Helpfully, neither Opodo nor the airline informed us of this, but when I check on the airline's website, our flight no longer exists.

I believe that we're entitled to a refund. 

Opodo says that we need to contact the airline. The airline is offering a voucher that can be used on their website before the end of 2020 (completely worthless to us), but is refusing to refund. The insurance company (Alpha travel insurance) says that I need to chase Opodo. I'm going around in circles.

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

[Deleted User]

Opodo sold you the flight, so will need to provide the refund.

If you paid by credit card, you also have section 75 rights.

Caz3121

Opodo are the airline's customer. They need to request the refund from the airline, when received they will deduct their fees and pass the remainder to you.
read the main MSE article - https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights/
under "What if my flight or hotel is cancelled?" the information you need is there

piesforall

Deleted_User said:

Opodo sold you the flight, so will need to provide the refund.

If you paid by credit card, you also have section 75 rights.

Thanks. I will chase Opodo again.

Unfortunately, I paid with a debit card. There was a fee to pay with a credit card. On this occasion, I wish I had paid it.

PeskyBlunder

I've a feeling that section 75 won't apply in this case (even if you had used a credit card). The MSE article says:

"Goods/services bought via intermediaries – travel agents,
group-buying sites, PayPal etc

You're unlikely to be covered when payments are made to a company
that isn't the one providing you with the product or service. In
these cases, the credit card company usually says it didn't have a
direct relationship with the supplier, so isn't equally liable.

If you stand your ground, it's possible to argue that the indirect
relationship constitutes an arrangement to pay. The Court of Appeal
decided this was acceptable in 2006, but it's unlikely to be an
easy task."

I'm in the same boat and came here to do a bit more research - we were due to fly to Lisbon this coming Monday, but I *suspect* the flight is going to be cancelled though nobody has informed us yet. I booked through Expedia but I've got more interesting things to be doing rather than trying to get through to their customer services. I'm just going to wait until Monday and see what happens.

savygirl

I tried calling Easy jet today - no response as flight cancelled on us and do not want a voucher (their link says you can get a refund but it doesn’t actually offer one in reality which is against the law!).... my advice ...Don’t waste any more of your precious time - DO CHARGE BACK. ( If debit card. ) We did today and our bank did it instantly- money in my account already.  You must ensure that flight cancelled first.  If no luck write to the head office (recorded delivery) and say you want a refund within 30 days or you will take them to the small claims court otherwise.

macman

OP, on what date was your flight cancelled? Did they give 14 days notice?

Alan_Bowen

Macman, your mention of the 14 day notice suggests you might be about to mention the right to claim compensation if flights are cancelled within 14 days of departure? For your information, the EU Commission made it clear back on 18th March that although EU261 obliges airlines to offer refunds (although vouchers can be offered they do not have to be accepted by the customer) it was their view in view of COVID19, there is no obligation to offer any compensation even if the cancellation was within 14 days as these are exceptional times.

macman

Thank you for clarifying that point, which I was not aware of.

Life__Goes__On

macman said:

Thank you for clarifying that point, which I was not aware of.

Always helpful if you post, you read the replies.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/77263785/#Comment_77263785
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/77263825/#Comment_77263825