Airline Pre-Booked Seat Refund

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81871229#Comment_81871229

I think the claim would be for more than just £700, given a 6 hour flight. OP will be wanting the whole ticket booking back, which for 9 people at a guess is going to be in the thousands. So airline just rolling over may not happen, given they have done nothing wrong.

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81871405#Comment_81871405

It's Emirates, so unlikely to be governed by UK laws, although their main Ts & Cs seem to lack the usual clear statement about legal jurisdiction and instead feature numerous references to 'applicable law' (which perhaps favours the interpretation that it's not always UAE law that applies?).

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81870718#Comment_81870718

(Second quoted post removed by Forum Team)

Irrelevant, it's money paid to reserve particular seats. No need for rudeness.

QrizB

I think the claim would be for more than just £700, given a 6 hour flight. OP will be wanting the whole ticket booking back

As I understand it from the opening post, the flight ticket costs are protected by ATOL. It's only the seat booking fees that are in danger.

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81871415#Comment_81871415

I am not sure that the claim against Emirates would be for the full flight booking value.

The OP booked the flights as part of a package holiday through an Agent that has now ceased trading. Industry protection - ATOL / ABTA - may refund the associated costs. Prior to ceasing trading, the Agent cancelled the booking with Emirates and received a credit back.

In a separate contract, the OP paid the £700 to reserve seats on the flights for 9 people each way.

AIUI, if the OP were to issue LBC and Small Claims route against Emirates, they could only claim the value of the direct contract with Emirates. I don't see how Emirates could be on the hook to also refund the OP the value of the flight booking, which appears to have already been refunded by Emirates to the Agent.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81871414#Comment_81871414

Yeap I agree (and to clarify my post was solely in relation to the £700 seat reservation fee 🙂 ).

If ATOL won’t cover the flights then that’s something to take up with the agent (assuming there is anything left) but I think OP was only asking about the reservation fees.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81871435#Comment_81871435

Too lazy to check but a lot of these big international companies offer to cover under the applicable law of where the customer is based. 🙂

Wilmst3r

Hi,

Thank you all for comments and suggestions, the airline are stating as per their T&C's pre booked seats are non refundable or transferable.

In this instance and action by a third party (Travel Agent) has caused my pre booked seats to be cancelled. My argument as it stands -

I haven't cancelled the flight tickets or the pre booked seats.

The T&C's refer to "You" cancelling or changing the booking would mean no refund, not "You or any third party".

When I booked the pre booked seats I received an email acknowledgment of my booking outlining the seats booked and confirmed payment amount.

When the Travel Agent cancelled and refunded my flight tickets, somehow this caused my pre booked seats to be cancelled, I did not receive any communication that this had happened.

If the above happen surely this would be an internal airline process that cancelled my pre booked seats so would be then deemed as the airline cancelled the booking unless they have prove that I cancelled?

I understand that the onus probably stems from the Travel Agents actions, however they have gone and this type of booking isn't covered by ATOL

In my eyes there are 2 contracts here and the one between myself and the Airline has allowed to be cancelled without my knowledge causing me financial loss.

I think the Airline are using their vague T&C's to their advantage.

Renfrewman

YOUR agent…the people you are/were contracted with to act on your behalf have though.

Wilmst3r

Are they?

They had nothing to do with the Pre Booked Seats, it was direct between myself and the Airline.