Flight Upgrade Scams

thompa124

We booked an Aer Lingus flight from Manchester to Orlando in August, 2022 for near the end of October, 2022. The One-Way Economy Class ticket was 1265 GBP.

Six days before we were due to fly our Economy Class flight was confirmed with a slight change in departure time.

Four days before our flight's departure, I received an invitation to make a bid to upgrade our two seats to Business Class on the flight.

The last time we were upgraded, the staff took pity on this elderly couple because there was a party of young children on the flight and our upgrade was free.

Having no idea what to bid, I made a bid of 20 GBP each. I checked the email carefully, because at first I thought it was a scam.... The button lead to a website PLUSGRADE.COM, but the website advertised they were 'the market leader of upgrade solutions' and named Aer Lingus among other airlines they  worked with to create 'ancillary income', which I took to mean they auctioned off Business Class seats to attract income to the airline and themselves.

We set off on our journey not knowing whether our upgrade bid had been successful but we were quite happy with Economy Class. It was only at the hotel the night before our flight, when I went online and created our Boarding Passes that I read we had them for Business Class.

I must say the trip was marvellous.... food great, service great and entertainment reasonably good.

A day or so after arriving, I checked our credit card, to see a debit of 1546 GBP with the name AER LINGUS aside it. I contacted Aer Lingus through their online chat and they said the payment looked suspicious as there should be more information than just their name. They checked their records and could find sign of the payment taken from our account. They advised calling our bank.

I called Co-operative Bank and they said it did look suspicious as a 1gbp hold had been out on the card to keep it 'open', but there was a reference number on the debit. They asked me to check this reference number with Aer Lingus, which I did and they denied knowledge.

I called the Co-operative Bank with the information and was told they would investigate further - but they 'had one shot' of getting the money back. They appeared convinced the transaction was not legitimate and agreed we had been duped into opening our credit card for a payment hugely different to the one I had authorized.

Of course, the credit card payment has since become due and the bank advised I paid the 1546 GBP.

I have written fraud team several times without answer and to the bank through their online messenger service which responded they were overloaded with cases and would get to ours in due course....

There is no doubt we enjoyed the flight but have a sour taste from being misled about payment.

Looking around the Interent, these scams are rife!

BEWARE!

bagand96

Something has clearly gone wrong here, but I'm not sure it's a scam. The website you mention do work with the airlines, and you travelled in business class so the upgrade element worked. Aer Lingus should be able to track how and when your reservation was changed from Economy to Business. 

Only thing I can think is when I've seen these offers before it invites you to make or bid, but might also say "Or guarantee a business seat now for £xxx". Maybe it's been processed as a firm upgrade. £20 would be extremely unlikely to be a successful bid for a business upgrade. 

Westin

There is normally a minimum upgrade bid as well. It’s not £20.