Won a free flight but now they want me to pay taxes

Medic994

I won a single return long haul flight last month, and was planning on buying a full price ticket so my partner and I can take a nice holiday with "affordable" airfare.

The certificate issued by the airline for redeeming the flights stated that the "Organiser" would pay all taxes, fuel surcharges etc.

They're now saying that was a typo and I am responsible for the taxes (around 1/3 of the listed cost of the airfare)

They sent me a copy of the original T+C's from the competition which are no longer publicly accessible and were not mentioned at all after being told I had won.

I'm not sure what to do here. They've apologised and offered lounge access as a gesture of goodwill, but the extra cost is fairly significant for us and greatly overshadows any lounge pass fees.

I don't know how much I should try to get them to uphold the terms stated on the actual prize - my gut says there's an argument that the prize T+Cs supercede any from the time of entry, but I don't know if that would hold up legally (and I don't have the energy for anything protracted anyway)

Blulu

No advice, I'm not sure what I would do either. But just want to say - ouch! Not nice. Hope you do get a positive outcome.

Blu XXX

ceetee03

Oh this is tough, they’ve admitted to a typo and the fact they’re offering the lounge as a sorry shows they’re wrong. Surely there’s some way of fighting it? I hope you can manage to fight it, I can’t help with how other than pushing them to honour it  
good luck xxx

brewthebear

A similar issue myself won a flight and hotel to Malaysia. Conde Nast was the holiday sponsor. Malaysia Airlines wanted the tax money which was 700 and summit which totally negated the flight. Conde Nast got in touch with them and they paid 50% so I still had to pay £350, but it was worth it for two of us for a five day holiday.

DullGreyGuy

Its not an uncommon arrangement as the airline agrees to waive their element of the fee as effectively marketing for them but arent willing to pay the taxes just to be named in the competition. 

It ultimately comes down to the T&Cs, you say they arent available online but how about via Google Cache or WayBackWhen machine?

Moneybot

That does suck

Was the competition posted on here?

Often the full T&C are included and it should be in game over.

mjm3346

"They sent me a copy of the original T+C's from the competition"

presumable you entered on the basis of them so knew that tax was payable - the later typo has got you a free lounge offer so you are better off than the original competition prize

Medic994

Thanks all for the replies!

I'm sure I did read the original T+Cs when entering but they'd long gone out of my head, and I progressed with booking the flight based on the terms listed on the voucher

I suppose my dilemma is how much do I labour the point trying to get them to honour the most recent "terms" they presented me with, whether or not it was a typo?

I don't think there's a clear-cut answer, perhaps I just mainly needed an outlet for my thoughts here 😅

Cottersj

Medic994 said:

Thanks all for the replies!

I'm sure I did read the original T+Cs when entering but they'd long gone out of my head, and I progressed with booking the flight based on the terms listed on the voucher

I suppose my dilemma is how much do I labour the point trying to get them to honour the most recent "terms" they presented me with, whether or not it was a typo?

I don't think there's a clear-cut answer, perhaps I just mainly needed an outlet for my thoughts here 😅

If you’re going to book another flight how about asking them to honour the t’s and c’s by knocking the cost of taxes off the other flight?

sully1311

Medic994 said:

I won a single return long haul flight last month, and was planning on buying a full price ticket so my partner and I can take a nice holiday with "affordable" airfare.

The certificate issued by the airline for redeeming the flights stated that the "Organiser" would pay all taxes, fuel surcharges etc.

They're now saying that was a typo and I am responsible for the taxes (around 1/3 of the listed cost of the airfare)

They sent me a copy of the original T+C's from the competition which are no longer publicly accessible and were not mentioned at all after being told I had won.

I'm not sure what to do here. They've apologised and offered lounge access as a gesture of goodwill, but the extra cost is fairly significant for us and greatly overshadows any lounge pass fees.

I don't know how much I should try to get them to uphold the terms stated on the actual prize - my gut says there's an argument that the prize T+Cs supercede any from the time of entry, but I don't know if that would hold up legally (and I don't have the energy for anything protracted anyway)

Which competition was it exactly? Maybe you can try and see if the Ts&Cs page is archived?

Dust_Bunny

Was it Cathay Pacific - Flights to Hong Kong


https://flights.cathaypacific.com/en_GB/offers/world-of-winners.html

• Successful entrants will be responsible for any taxes and surcharges applicable to the ticket.
• Travel blackout period applies.
• Cathay Pacific reserves the right to amend or cancel these terms and conditions at any point during the campaign period.

full terms and conditions here.