Airline Pre-Booked Seat Refund

born_again

In many way the keeping of the £700 is nice money earner for the airline, as they could sell the refunded tickets, but also then take another £700 for the seats if the new flyers book their seats 🤷‍♀️

Surely this term could be taken as unfair. Just the same a hotel not refunding a cancelled booking & then reselling the room?

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81873583#Comment_81873583

I think the point is that it's clearly unfair in the loose vernacular sense of the word, but the question is really whether it's actionably unfair, in the context of any consumer protection legislation applicable to the contract - if it was governed by UK law then there wouldn't be too much difficulty in making the case.

Wilmst3r

So do you think I should continue to chase this or right it off a lesson learnt?

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81873898#Comment_81873898

There's nothing to lose by writing them a letter, giving it your best shot.

QrizB

Just a thought, but (unless I've missed it) no-one has mentioned the possibility of claiming on your travel insurance yet.

Did you have insurance? Have you looked to see if this is covered?

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81874237#Comment_81874237

Given this was for 9 people, would they each not need to claim on their own if it was possible, & could be less than any excess?

Op should not be £700 down, as they should have had the money for seat bookings from other 8 people, at booking point 🤷‍♀️

Aylesbury_Duck

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81874417#Comment_81874417

Maybe all eight are OP's dependants, but yes, I agree with the point.

Wilmst3r

Hi,

Thanks for all the help and opinions, I think I will send a letter of intent as I feel the T&C's aren't clear and the actual seats were cancelled way back in October and the flight isn't until April, so they are just keeping free cash.

Does anyone have a letter of intent template I can use?

Many Thanks

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81896354#Comment_81896354

I think you're meaning Letter Before Claim (sometimes Letter Before Action) rather than Letter of Intent, which is generally used as a precursor to a commercial contract? If you search on those former terms, you'll find plenty of templates, but given the complexity of the discussion over the past seven pages, the (case-specific) strength of your argument is far more important than the generic topping and tailing around that.

Wilmst3r

Yes sorry that what I meant, not done this before so yes Letter Before Claim is what im after. Hopefully its the right way to proceed.