tribeca
Jun 9, 09, 2:31 pm
Hi all,
New to the forum and in desperate need of advice/help. I bought a roundtrip ticket from NYC-FCO on Sunday with Alitalia (first time flyer on that airline) via Expedia and was planning on buying the Europe Pass after deciding on which stops I wanted to make. After speaking with Delta, they said they could not book the pass since my carrier is Alitalia and I would have to book it with them. o.k. fine, before I call Alitalia, I call Air France to arrange the Europe Pass for a friend who had a RT ticket on AF. No problems in booking the itinerary there, they knew what I was talking about and got the flights booked.
I then call Alitalia and after speaking with several agents, I got to one who was willing to speak with me about the Europe Pass as no one knew anything about it and said they didn't sell it. I had to explain to the agent what the EP was and directed her to the SkyTeam website. I said that is not true they don't sell it because it's a SkyTeam product. Then, after reading the website, they tried to tell me it was only for award travel fare. I said that is not true, that in addition for paid RT fare, you can also book it with award travel. I then pointed out that I had just booked the EP with AF and had no problems doing that for my friend, so why couldn't I just book it with Alitalia? I was put on hold, and then they tell me that now the EP can only be done with a travel agency. I disgreed with them and told them that is not true as both Delta and AF were willing to book the ticket direct on their lines had I only had my RT ticket issued by them.
After being put on hold for another while, I am told that they (Alitalia) no longer sell the EP! That they discontinued selling that pass 2 years ago!! How can that be, I said, as ST's website continues listing them as a ST member and makes mention that they are one of the providers of the pass! I also point out that even on Alitalia's English and Italian website (http://corporate.alitalia.com/en/group/skyteam.htm) it lists that they still sell the pass.
I said that the only reason I bought the RT ticket with Alitalia was that I thought I could purchase the EP through them and be on my way on an excellent vacation. Otherwise, I would have booked my ticket to FCO with a different carrier (such as Delta) and been able to book the EP through them. I said that I didn't think it was right that they list false and misleading information on their websites if they claim not to be selling that pass anymore. And what is more the EP that I booked for my friend through AF, all the flights are being done on Alitalia.
They said that pretty much the only thing they can do is update the website and that they are investigating the issue with the EP and I would need to call back tomorrow to get an update. I don't know what to do - Delta told me that Alitalia was the only ST member who required booking of the EP within 72 hours of the RT ticket. I even told Alitalia that information, and even said that I was willing to call back a ST member to find out how they book the EP so that Alitalia would be able to process my ticket. They said it wasn't a matter of booking the ticket, but that they don't sell it anymore.
If what Alitalia claims is true, how can I cancel my reservation with them and get a refund on the RT ticket as it is almost akin to false advertising that I bought it? What was supposed to be an amazing 2 week Mediterranean beach tour is proving to be a nightmare!!
Thanks in advance for your help!
New to the forum and in desperate need of advice/help. I bought a roundtrip ticket from NYC-FCO on Sunday with Alitalia (first time flyer on that airline) via Expedia and was planning on buying the Europe Pass after deciding on which stops I wanted to make. After speaking with Delta, they said they could not book the pass since my carrier is Alitalia and I would have to book it with them. o.k. fine, before I call Alitalia, I call Air France to arrange the Europe Pass for a friend who had a RT ticket on AF. No problems in booking the itinerary there, they knew what I was talking about and got the flights booked.
I then call Alitalia and after speaking with several agents, I got to one who was willing to speak with me about the Europe Pass as no one knew anything about it and said they didn't sell it. I had to explain to the agent what the EP was and directed her to the SkyTeam website. I said that is not true they don't sell it because it's a SkyTeam product. Then, after reading the website, they tried to tell me it was only for award travel fare. I said that is not true, that in addition for paid RT fare, you can also book it with award travel. I then pointed out that I had just booked the EP with AF and had no problems doing that for my friend, so why couldn't I just book it with Alitalia? I was put on hold, and then they tell me that now the EP can only be done with a travel agency. I disgreed with them and told them that is not true as both Delta and AF were willing to book the ticket direct on their lines had I only had my RT ticket issued by them.
After being put on hold for another while, I am told that they (Alitalia) no longer sell the EP! That they discontinued selling that pass 2 years ago!! How can that be, I said, as ST's website continues listing them as a ST member and makes mention that they are one of the providers of the pass! I also point out that even on Alitalia's English and Italian website (http://corporate.alitalia.com/en/group/skyteam.htm) it lists that they still sell the pass.
I said that the only reason I bought the RT ticket with Alitalia was that I thought I could purchase the EP through them and be on my way on an excellent vacation. Otherwise, I would have booked my ticket to FCO with a different carrier (such as Delta) and been able to book the EP through them. I said that I didn't think it was right that they list false and misleading information on their websites if they claim not to be selling that pass anymore. And what is more the EP that I booked for my friend through AF, all the flights are being done on Alitalia.
They said that pretty much the only thing they can do is update the website and that they are investigating the issue with the EP and I would need to call back tomorrow to get an update. I don't know what to do - Delta told me that Alitalia was the only ST member who required booking of the EP within 72 hours of the RT ticket. I even told Alitalia that information, and even said that I was willing to call back a ST member to find out how they book the EP so that Alitalia would be able to process my ticket. They said it wasn't a matter of booking the ticket, but that they don't sell it anymore.
If what Alitalia claims is true, how can I cancel my reservation with them and get a refund on the RT ticket as it is almost akin to false advertising that I bought it? What was supposed to be an amazing 2 week Mediterranean beach tour is proving to be a nightmare!!
Thanks in advance for your help!