Refund for passenger Air Tax duty for cancelled holiday

supersons1972

Hi, I finally received my refund for my holiday a month ago from my travel insurance (RBS) after myself and my family could not travel due to my son being ill (was booked to go in June 2022). However they are unable to refund the air passenger air tax duty and told me to contact my travel agent to arrange a refund (onthebeach). I contacted them and they eventually advised to claim via the airline (emirates) and provided a link to the form. When I checked the form on the emirates it advised to claim via the travel agent as it was booked with them in the last 24 months. I therefore went back to onthebeach and advised this. Despite me pointing this out to them they came back and insisted I should fill out the emirates form. I did as requested and now emirates has referred me back to onthebeach. Any ideas how to get this resolved quickly would be most welcome?

eskbanker

If you booked via an agent, then they're responsible for refunding you the APD for the unused flights, rather than the airline or the insurer.

Westin

The problem is that OTB will not wish to be involved as it means unpaid work for them.  I suspect this is why you are being given the cold shoulder and referred to the airline.

Emirates need to however refund OTB before OTB can refund you. 

If you have a link to the claim form I would personally complete that and submit to EK.  If no space on the form to add details on where to send the refund then presumable EK will refund to OTB.   At least at that point you can contact OTB and tell them the money is back with them.

Alias_Omega

How did you pay? Chargeback?

onashoestring

You also need to be aware that OTB may charge you an admin fee to recover the ATD for you . This could be more than the ATD you are trying to reclaim . 

Westin

Alias_Omega said:

How did you pay? Chargeback?

How will that work?

CKhalvashi

Westin said:

The problem is that OTB will not wish to be involved as it means unpaid work for them.  I suspect this is why you are being given the cold shoulder and referred to the airline.

Emirates need to however refund OTB before OTB can refund you. 

If you have a link to the claim form I would personally complete that and submit to EK.  If no space on the form to add details on where to send the refund then presumable EK will refund to OTB.   At least at that point you can contact OTB and tell them the money is back with them.

I believe that OTB are one of the agents charging a fee for such work.

Agreed though that OTB won't refund until they've been paid. Depending on the terms of your insurance policy, the additional fee for the work OTB have to do may be able to be submitted as an additional expense on the claim.