Flight refund

Gazzahutch

Hi all , In August 2019 I booked a return flight for my daughter with Virgin Australia to Melbourne  for her to go and play cricket for a season and then at the end of the season she flew upto Darwin for a 2 week holiday before flying home , her return flight was in March 2020 but was cancelled due to Corona virus ,my daughter ending up having to stay in Darwin as all flights were cancelled until we could sort out another flight, the travel company we booked with was Travel Councillors and they were brilliant and managed to get her another flight in May but she then had some flu like symptoms so we decided it was safer for her to stay put in Darwin just in case . Virgin Australia were useless and were not helping to try and get her home and we ended up having to buy another flight in June to finally get her home with Singapore Airlines costing me over £800, this was 8 months ago and I’m still waiting for a refund for the return part of her flight with Virgin who are saying that they are not issuing refunds or credits as they went into administration . How is this legal as they’ve taken my money but not provided the service , they won’t tell how much the return part of the flight cost so can’t claim on my credit card . I’ve contacted all the usual avenues and still they are refusing a refund but may be able to offer a credit which is no good for us .Is there anything else I can do .

Gary

eskbanker

You can't claim on your credit card anyway - you're out of time for chargeback and section 75 wouldn't apply for at least two reasons (booked through an intermediary agent and for someone other than the cardholder).

Did she have travel insurance?

Westin

Virgin Australia filed and entered administration.  They subsequently were bought and the scaled down airline is trading but this is a "new" Virgin Australia. I very much doubt you will see any money refunded. Sorry.

macman

Why have you waited so long?

Alan_Bowen

Virgin Australia ceased flying and as confirmed went into administration. The name but not the debts were bought by a US company Bain, and they have begun a minimal flying operation, but they are not responsible for the previous liabilities. The only possible claim is against an insurance policy if your daughter had one

mattyprice4004

Businesses going into administration and leaving outstanding debts is common - it happens all the time. The 'new' Virgin have zero liability to you.

lady1964

I suspect you’ll be out of luck getting anything from VA. We had flights booked with them from Sydney to Hobart return booked for early October. Our flights to Australia were cancelled (all refunded with no quibbles, SIA) so we weren’t in Sydney to take the flights to Hobart. VA offered us a credit to be used by 30/9/20, interesting given our flights were booked for 2-5 October ‘20, clearly that wasn’t going to work. We did a chargeback via my credit card which we got back but 2 months later VA took it back as the flight took place. My CC couldn’t help me any further so we ended up claiming from our travel insurance and after excess, got half of our money back. Infuriating but there was nothing more we could do.

Good luck to you.

Thrugelmir

Gazzahutch said:

her return flight was in March 2020 but was cancelled due to Corona virus ,

Did your daughter attempt to leave before the lockdown was imposed? Was well indicated in advance that it was going to happen. 

sheramber

 but she then had some flu like symptoms so we decided it was safer for her to stay put in Darwin just in case .
It is not the airline's responsibility if she chose not to / was unable  to travel, 
Travel insurance would be the route but she would  probably need medical proof to claim.

Ockerby

I’m sure this a question that has been asked before but I’m a newbie.
In January 2020 booked flights via Gotogate with Royal Air Maroc to go to and from Gambia to meet a friend who was out there. Due to fly on the 17th March and come back on the 30th March. Obviously the flights were cancelled due to Covid 19.
I tried to get a refund from Royal Air Maroc who after 7 months said as I wanted a refund I should contact Gotogate, I have just had an e-mail from Gotogate who advise me because of the Airlines rules they cannot give e a refund.
In between my holiday insurer and my credit card company have both said they cannot help. The amount paid is over £400 which for a retired person as myself is a lot of money.
Can anyone offer any advice as to how to make Gotogate pay me my money for the flights I booked but then were cancelled because of Covid.
I am at my wits end and has certainly put me off booking any holiday.
Thanks for listening and any help would be gratefully accepted.

[Deleted User]

Have you been offered a voucher @Ockerby?