Budgetair Section 75 vs insurance

JamesMLawson

Hi all, I'm sure someone will have asked this question somewhere but I can't find an answer. As others have posted we have return flights to Canada (due to depart tomorrow) and travel advice is still in place advising against visiting. Compounding that we're supposed to fly with WestJet who have suspended all flights. Because we booked with BudgetAir WestJet won't deal with me and I haven't even received a cancellation e-mail (flight is definitely cancelled as it doesn't show up on any boards). I've done what others have and tried contacting BudgetAir to which I have only received a response when I've chased through SkyScanner. BudgetAir had asked do I want a refund or do I want credit to which I've replied I want a refund, no response in over a week. I've since lodged a Section 75 claim with my credit card company which will take up to 45 days to be processed and there is no guarantee that will go through either. My question is do I pursue a claim with my insurance or wait out the Section 75? Also is there a time limit on how long you can wait out before lodging an insurance claim on a cancelled flight? I do begrudge going through the insurance because it means that BudgetAir will keep hold of the money and I'll likely be slammed with higher premiums in the future.
Safe to say I'll never be going near BudgetAir or SkyScanner again after this.

eskbanker

There is no defined timescale for section 75 claims but in any case it'll be rejected as the use of an agent as a fourth party breaks the required debtor-creditor-supplier chain.  Your insurance won't pay out unless or until you've exhausted the other avenues to reclaim your losses, so you should continue to pursue BudgetAir first and then look at chargeback via your card company if that doesn't work - theoretically you should be refunded for cancelled flights within seven days but realistically refund timescales are measured in months at the moment, so you'll need to be more patient....

Alan_Bowen

I wouldn't touch 80% of those advertising on Skyscanner, they advertise there because you would never book with them otherwise. Budgetair is based in the Netherlands, which may be an issue but Westjet is refunding, it was the first of the Canadian Airlines to do so and if you had booked directly with the airline you would have your refund by now, but you didn't so regrettably you are stuck with the reality. Insurers are reluctant to help unless you have tried everything before you make the claim, it won't affect your next premium, it's not like a house or car insurance, there is no "no claims bonus!"
Having said all that, a week since saying you would like a refund is completely unrealistic, airlines refund twice a month but only after the request has been made so I wouldn't expect to see a refund much before the end of August, Virgin Atlantic appears to be proud to only taking 120 days!

missile

I would suggest you take a screen shot(s) as evidence that the flight was cancelled.