South american airlines

SallyTea

We had to take an earlier flight from Patagonia in Chile to Santiago, chile in order to cut short our trip due to coronavirus. Our original flight was booked when we were in the UK through Opodo and was with LATAM. Opodo washed their hands and referred us to LATAM who has offered a voucher which is no good to us. LATAM actually cancelled the flight (we deliberately waited for them to cancel rather than cancel our ticket). Under these circumstances LATAM owes us a refund. Any advice about how we pursue this and what laws govern LATAM as they are a south american airline and so outside EU. Also what are Opodo's liabilities in this situation? Any advice gratefully received. thanks

Alan_Bowen

A large part of LATAM, they had separate companies operating in a number of South American countries have already declared bankruptcy so the chances of getting money back that way are slim. EU261 does not apply so your only hope is a chargeback on the card you used to pay for the flight. That may be simple or the card processor, who I assume was Opodo, not the airline, may object saying they did everything they could, issued the ticket and paid the airline and therefore are not in breach of contract but I suspect you have little option but to try

SallyTea

Thanks that's in motion. Opodo just passed us on to LATAM. I will never use Opodo again.