Traveltrolley return flight Vietnam airlines stuck waiting for refund

Westin

AndrewMartin71 said:

Hi. I’m also long overdue a refund from Oman Air.  I paid £6,894 in November 2019 to BYOjet for 4 Oman Air business class seats to Bangkok for last Easter.  BYO told me it would take a year, but they’re saying they have no refund from Oman.  Seems I have little choice but to wait as ABTA aren’t getting involved as it was a flight-only booking through an agent.  I can’t believe it’s the edge case not covered by S75 or other regulations.  Nobody tells you this.  

Oman bat you away as non-direct purchase and agent just says nothings happening.   Anyway, anyone got any advice on how I can get this back?  

The reservation and ticket fare conditions will apply.  If a non-refundable, discounted ticket and the flight still operated but you just did not wish to fly, or could not enter Thailand - you sadly might not be due a refund.    Can you explain a little more about the circumstances?

AndrewMartin71

The airline cancelled the flight five days before departure.  By that time the UK advice was not to travel as well, so we didn’t have a choice.  It wasn’t non-refundable.  I got the cash back from AirAsia, Bangkok Airways and even Ryanair for flights that month, all within six months.  

BYOjet have said they’re trying to get Oman to pay them back and will then they will reimburse me.  Not sure it’ll happen or that they’re even chasing, so l this week I thought of something which might help encourage them to resolve it.  Basically, I have said I will use the funds to rebook flights somewhere with them.  That way they have the incentive to close it out as they’ll get the sale and cash to replace this.  A long shot, but fingers crossed.  Getting desperate!

For long haul trips, I’ve often booked flights through agents on Skyscanner. They tend to be cheaper than the airline itself, plus I get to tailor the accommodation how I want separately.  Now I know the pitfalls, I’m paying the price for that flexibility and I think that loophole should be more widely known to stop others falling into the trap.  

Westin

There there are quite a few reports of OmanAir delaying refunds. These two threads on Trip Advisor Air Travel forum might be worth reading.

https://en.tripadvisor.com.hk/ShowTopic-g1-i10702-k13321378-ATTENTION_New_Oman_Air_policy_for_ticket_refund-Air_Travel.html

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i10702-k13302846-o10-Oman_Air_refunds_due_to_COVID_cancellations-Air_Travel.html

Unfortunately BYOjet are not going to refund you until the airline refunds them.

I would recommend you opt for a refund from BYOjet when available rather than tell them you will accept a credit note from them.

AndrewMartin71

Thanks a lot, Westin.  One of those Oman threads has a post from me on it, but the other has someone who has been reimbursed.  I’ll see if I can enlist their help.  

Just to clarify on the BYO point I / you made, I don’t want (and didn’t ask for) a credit.  Just hoping they push Oman, get the refund and then I’ll be in a position to plan a trip (with a hotel as part of the booking) through them.  I agree there’s little to no chance of them doing anything until they get the cash though. 

I’ll keep trying and let you know if I get any luck.  Thanks again