Etihad charged me £1600 at the desk to take 3 suitcases to Australia! How can I get my money back?

Emmia

Perhaps (as we're now going round in circles/retreading the same ground) this thread could/should be shut?

Pollycat

Emily_Joy said:

Pollycat said:

You just need to book the ticket that suits you most.
You didn't.
Etihad's rules regarding USA and Canada are irrelevant. 
You were flying to Australia.

I don't think robotically repeating guilt-inflicting "you made a mistake, you assumed, you have not checked properly" is of any help to those who already bought a ticket. 

Maybe it is when the OP continually insists that Etihad are in the wrong.

Their ticket conditions are clear.
Their baggage rules are clear.
Their baggage charges are clear.

When you choose to do business with a company you agree to their T&Cs.
Comparing rules for countries that you are not flying to is like comparing apples and elephants.

Emily_Joy said:

Pollycat said:

You just need to book the ticket that suits you most.
You didn't.
Etihad's rules regarding USA and Canada are irrelevant. 
You were flying to Australia.

I am wondering however, whether it might be cheaper to buy another ticket with extra luggage instead of paying 1600GBP fee? In other words, would it be an option to buy another ticket for the OP's spouse with two extra suitcases, and having the children to fly with 7kg allowance?

It might have been an option at the time.
But that horse has bolted (for the OP).

Emily_Joy said:

Pollycat said:

You just need to book the ticket that suits you most.
You didn't.
Etihad's rules regarding USA and Canada are irrelevant. 
You were flying to Australia.

And yes, I have just come back from a fortnight long trip to Australia where I took cabin bag only with me.

And that is exactly why the basic economy option is there.

Emily_Joy said:

Pollycat said:

You just need to book the ticket that suits you most.
You didn't.
Etihad's rules regarding USA and Canada are irrelevant. 
You were flying to Australia.

Incidentally, I would be interested in knowing why people choose to book with a 3rd party instead of the airline?

Maybe the headline price is what attracts them...
When flying scheduled, I always book direct with the airline.

Nebulous2

Emily_Joy said:

Pollycat said:

You just need to book the ticket that suits you most.
You didn't.
Etihad's rules regarding USA and Canada are irrelevant. 
You were flying to Australia.

I don't think robotically repeating guilt-inflicting "you made a mistake, you assumed, you have not checked properly" is of any help to those who already bought a ticket. 

I am wondering however, whether it might be cheaper to buy another ticket with extra luggage instead of paying 1600GBP fee? In other words, would it be an option to buy another ticket for the OP's spouse with two extra suitcases, and having the children to fly with 7kg allowance?

And yes, I have just come back from a fortnight long trip to Australia where I took cabin bag only with me.

Incidentally, I would be interested in knowing why people choose to book with a 3rd party instead of the airline?

As someone who got caught out during covid:-

1. Third parties are a moderate amount cheaper. 
2. I holidayed a lot - but rarely flew, so not aware of the differences. I saw 'last minute' as an innovative modern company that had made savings by computerising and being more efficient, for instance. 
3. Promotions by third parties. If you have looked at them and registered with them they are good at pushing offers, sometimes attractive offers. 

Even after a torrid time with last minute during covid I went back to them afterwards, as part of my eventual resolution from them was a voucher and I didn't want to lose it. 

That experience was fine - and cheaper than comparable offers elsewhere. 

So when they work they work. Often saving low three figures on a low four figure holiday. But don't make any changes and pray nothing goes wrong. 

Despite that it is booking with the scheduled airline all the way for me now..... 

jimi_man

As has been said, the horse has bolted for the OP - and realistically for anyone who has booked economy basic and hasn’t travelled but needs luggage. It’s like anything in life, you need to book the best ticket for the circumstances. For the sake of £1600 then buy a few clothes there would be the simplest solution and probably the cheapest. 

As an aside, BA also do Economy basic tickets without luggage and if you need to add luggage at the airport it’s £95 a 23kg bag from LHR to SYD which is not excessive. So maybe that level of pricing is unique to Etihad? 

To me, the idea of booking through a travel agent is to act as an intermediary and for them to deal with any issues that arise. So this really should have been part of their information package as it was they who booked the tickets with Etihad. 

hugheskevi

I was in the same situation with a different airline a few years ago due to a travel agent making a booking mistake. One way around it I found was bidding for an upgrade to Premium Economy, as the upgrade included baggage.

I see Etihad offer bid for an upgrade too, so that could possibly be one option for anyone realising they are in this position prior to the flight.

Emily_Joy

jimi_man said:

To me, the idea of booking through a travel agent is to act as an intermediary and for them to deal with any issues that arise.

I have to book via a very specific travel agent when I travel on business and alas they are hopeless with sorting the issues - especially in emergency. I cannot imagine why would it be easier to have a third party to talk to an airline representative on your behalf.

jimi_man

Emily_Joy said:

jimi_man said:

To me, the idea of booking through a travel agent is to act as an intermediary and for them to deal with any issues that arise.

I have to book via a very specific travel agent when I travel on business and alas they are hopeless with sorting the issues - especially in emergency. I cannot imagine why would it be easier to have a third party to talk to an airline representative on your behalf.

I can’t either and I book direct with airlines the vast majority of times. The only TA I use is BA Holidays. 

hugheskevi

I cannot imagine why would it be easier to have a third party to talk to an airline representative on your behalf.

My circumstance was trying to book an internal flight in Peru with Latam airline whilst in Peru. The Spanish version of their website would not accept my international cards for payment, and the English version of the website showed double the price on the Spanish version

Emily_Joy

hugheskevi said:

I cannot imagine why would it be easier to have a third party to talk to an airline representative on your behalf.

My circumstance was trying to book an internal flight in Peru with Latam airline whilst in Peru. The Spanish version of their website would not accept my international cards for payment, and the English version of the website showed double the price on the Spanish version

Oh yeah, now I remember that my flight from Shanghai to Beijing was 50GBP on trip and 250GBP with Hainan directly.. I didn't know it is common.