Originally Posted by fin 645

Firstly, I am not blaming the airlines in general nor AC in particular. I am merely trying to point out that passengers may not have any control over the situation. I can only wish that your bookings had to be made in similar circumstances and maybe then finding out how useful (read useless) taking "issue with the party that booked them and made them know there was an issue." will be. I'll admit that I have no idea if the TA is breaking rules except that it's been done this way for ages and AC has never objected nor taken the TA (AMEX) to task.

And what happened when we brought the issue to the attention of an MP? A litany of comments from the MP about the idiocy of government booking procedures. Actually if there is any bright side to this, it's that it usually takes so long to get an approval to book that it's often last minute and only higher end fares are left, and they may in fact provide free seat assignments. What that all costs the taxpayers never seems to matter.