Fly Dubai is not refunding fully flex flight. Shall I chargeback ?

mrworldwide

Hi

Few weeks ago, a friend of mine requested me to book a fully flexed refundable flight. I checked on Fly Dubai website and booked an expensive but fully refundable flight. Now when I cancelled that flight well before stated 24 hours, flydubai is emailing us that refund will be in the form of vouchers, not in the form of cash refund. We didn’t book an expensive flight to get vouchers. We paid higher price because we wanted to have flexibility. That’s why we paid more. I contacted Fly Dubai customer service and asked them to arrange full cash refund. Fly Dubai’s website should have clearly shown that on booking page. This might have been written somewhere in terms and conditions. If I knew before making booking that they’d offer us vouchers, I’d have never booked with flydubai. I’d have booked with Qatar Airways who offer full cash refund, without asking them.

My question is … should I request a chargeback from my credit card ? My credit card is Barclays card. Forum members , please guide. I’ll be grateful.

Kind regards

SiliconChip

mrworldwide said:

This might have been written somewhere in terms and conditions.

The first thing to do is find out what it does say in the T&Cs, although obviously it would have been better to do that before booking. Once you know that post the relevant sections here and you'll hopefully get some help.

Alderbank

'...a friend requested me to book a flight...'

It's not clear to me who is the beneficiary of the flight you booked. Can you confirm you booked the flight for yourself with your own card?

born_again

mrworldwide said:

Hi

Few weeks ago, a friend of mine requested me to book a fully flexed refundable flight. I checked on Fly Dubai website and booked an expensive but fully refundable flight. Now when I cancelled that flight well before stated 24 hours, flydubai is emailing us that refund will be in the form of vouchers, not in the form of cash refund. We didn’t book an expensive flight to get vouchers. We paid higher price because we wanted to have flexibility. That’s why we paid more. I contacted Fly Dubai customer service and asked them to arrange full cash refund. Fly Dubai’s website should have clearly shown that on booking page. This might have been written somewhere in terms and conditions. If I knew before making booking that they’d offer us vouchers, I’d have never booked with flydubai. I’d have booked with Qatar Airways who offer full cash refund, without asking them.

My question is … should I request a chargeback from my credit card ? My credit card is Barclays card. Forum members , please guide. I’ll be grateful.

Kind regards

You cant chargeback for non receipt of service.
For non receipt of refund you need something in writing stating. Date paid, Amount & last 4 of card.

As you booked for a friend. Then No S75.

JES_F1

On Fly Dubai's Fare Types and Rules web page, one of the rebooking and cancellation rules is, "Cancellation refunds will be issued in the form of flydubai voucher".  I would assume those rules would have been shown at some point during the booking process.

flaneurs_lobster

You are using the phrase "fully flexed", no such term is used on the flydubai website.

A cursory attempt to book a flight there shows that all refunds (even those where business class is selected) are issued as vouchers. It's not buried in t&cs elsewhere, it's right on the booking page where you choose class of travel. 

Don't think a chargeback will work, presumably you chose flydubai on price - there's a reason why they're cheaper. 

mrworldwide

Alderbank said:

'...a friend requested me to book a flight...'

It's not clear to me who is the beneficiary of the flight you booked. Can you confirm you booked the flight for yourself with your own card?

Flight booked for my friend, using my credit card. 

mrworldwide

SiliconChip said:

mrworldwide said:

This might have been written somewhere in terms and conditions.

The first thing to do is find out what it does say in the T&Cs, although obviously it would have been better to do that before booking. Once you know that post the relevant sections here and you'll hopefully get some help.

SiliconChip said:

mrworldwide said:

This might have been written somewhere in terms and conditions.

The first thing to do is find out what it does say in the T&Cs, although obviously it would have been better to do that before booking. Once you know that post the relevant sections here and you'll hopefully get some help.

In terms and conditions, they did mention that refunds will be in the form of vouchers. 

Ayr_Rage

@mrworldwide you have your answer, no chargeback or S75 rights, you'll just have to find a Fly Dubai route that take your fancy.

Caz3121

mrworldwide said:

 Fly Dubai’s website should have clearly shown that on booking page. This might have been written somewhere in terms and conditions. If I knew before making booking that they’d offer us vouchers, I’d have never booked with flydubai. 

where it shows the different fare types offered when you are selecting your flight there is a hyperlink beside cancellation called 'penalties apply' this shows the 'More than 24 hours before departure. 0% penalty' and also 'Any applicable refunds will be issued in the form of a flydubai voucher'

the question I would have now is whether the voucher will be issued in the name of the passenger or the person who paid. If the former and your friend has already reimbursed you for the flight then it is now their voucher and you are not out of pocket.

mrworldwide

Caz3121 said:

mrworldwide said:

 Fly Dubai’s website should have clearly shown that on booking page. This might have been written somewhere in terms and conditions. If I knew before making booking that they’d offer us vouchers, I’d have never booked with flydubai. 

where it shows the different fare types offered when you are selecting your flight there is a hyperlink beside cancellation called 'penalties apply' this shows the 'More than 24 hours before departure. 0% penalty' and also 'Any applicable refunds will be issued in the form of a flydubai voucher'

the question I would have now is whether the voucher will be issued in the name of the passenger or the person who paid. If the former and your friend has already reimbursed you for the flight then it is now their voucher and you are not out of pocket.

No my friend didnt reimburse me. Fly Dubai has initially issued voucher in friend's name because ... she's the one who was supposed to be traveling. However, Fly Dubai has informed me that I can get that voucher transferred in my name. Problem is ... in next one year, I am not traveling. Voucher is valid till next year january.

So in this case, my best option is to ask my friend to reimburse me. If she doesnt, then I'll get voucher and use if I need in next one year. Although I have no travel plans. I learnt an expensive lesson. Should not have bought for friend using my own credit card.