What happens to a TA ticket if the TA goes bust?
Oct 17, 2018, 2:45 am
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: BG
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What happens to a TA ticket if the TA goes bust?
I have a flight to NBO on 28 October with BA booked through Omega travel. Tried contacting Omega today and found out that they had their ATOL licence revoked on 3 September. I cant see if the company is in adminstration or not but they arent answering phones or replying to emails. I called the BA line today to see if they could take ownership of the ticket so I could make a change, but they couldnt. What worried me was that I was told that the ticket was on hold and that they couldnt say if id be able to fly or not. For now, it looks like I can but was told, anything can happen between now and then.
For now, as the ticket looks like its still flyable, I cant do anything but just wait and see..I was under the impression that once the e-ticket was issued i'd be ok to fly regardless but that wasnt the advice I was given. Is there anything I can do here, other than just wait and keep my fingers crossed?
BTW ticket was issued before 3 September when they did have an ATOL licence
For now, as the ticket looks like its still flyable, I cant do anything but just wait and see..I was under the impression that once the e-ticket was issued i'd be ok to fly regardless but that wasnt the advice I was given. Is there anything I can do here, other than just wait and keep my fingers crossed?
BTW ticket was issued before 3 September when they did have an ATOL licence
Oct 17, 2018, 2:56 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,769
Did Omega issue you with an ATOL certificate when you booked? They have for all mine in the past.
Assuming so, and if the company is insolvent and your ticket has not been issued or is cancelled, you will get your money back in full from ATOL. You will not however be entitled to replacement flights, assuming you have not yet flown outbound.
Note, if a ticket is sold with ATOL protection it can still in theory be cancelled post-issue if unpaid by the agent. A ticket should not be sold without ATOL protection if the airline has the right to cancel it if the agent fails to pay.
Assuming so, and if the company is insolvent and your ticket has not been issued or is cancelled, you will get your money back in full from ATOL. You will not however be entitled to replacement flights, assuming you have not yet flown outbound.
Note, if a ticket is sold with ATOL protection it can still in theory be cancelled post-issue if unpaid by the agent. A ticket should not be sold without ATOL protection if the airline has the right to cancel it if the agent fails to pay.
Oct 17, 2018, 4:23 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Posts: 618
You need to find out from BA if the Agent has paid for the ticket or not.
If the Agent has paid for the ticket your'e golden - if not then you're in trouble. If the ticket is not paid for it depends on if you paid for it with a credit card or not, whether it has ATOL or not. First line of defense is ATOL if not you will need to rely on Section 75 if you paid on a CC as the CC is jointly liable.
I had a similar issue that the agent I booked for a CX ticket when bust but thankfully they had paid up so I was able to fly.
If the Agent has paid for the ticket your'e golden - if not then you're in trouble. If the ticket is not paid for it depends on if you paid for it with a credit card or not, whether it has ATOL or not. First line of defense is ATOL if not you will need to rely on Section 75 if you paid on a CC as the CC is jointly liable.
I had a similar issue that the agent I booked for a CX ticket when bust but thankfully they had paid up so I was able to fly.
Oct 17, 2018, 4:33 am
#4
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You need to find out from BA if the Agent has paid for the ticket or not.
If the Agent has paid for the ticket your'e golden - if not then you're in trouble. If the ticket is not paid for it depends on if you paid for it with a credit card or not, whether it has ATOL or not. First line of defense is ATOL if not you will need to rely on Section 75 if you paid on a CC as the CC is jointly liable.
I had a similar issue that the agent I booked for a CX ticket when bust but thankfully they had paid up so I was able to fly.
If the Agent has paid for the ticket your'e golden - if not then you're in trouble. If the ticket is not paid for it depends on if you paid for it with a credit card or not, whether it has ATOL or not. First line of defense is ATOL if not you will need to rely on Section 75 if you paid on a CC as the CC is jointly liable.
I had a similar issue that the agent I booked for a CX ticket when bust but thankfully they had paid up so I was able to fly.
Oct 17, 2018, 4:57 am
#6
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Oct 17, 2018, 5:43 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2018
Programs: BA Gold
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I booked a BA-operated TATL issued on AA stock on March 2 with Omega.
Due to a schedule change, I called AA and after explaining the situation, they checked to confirm the ticket was paid for.
They (reluctantly) took control of the ticket, made the necessary changes and re-issued it.
It sounds like you already have an e-ticket issued. I could be wrong, but I thought an e-ticket only gets issued after the agency has paid.
Due to a schedule change, I called AA and after explaining the situation, they checked to confirm the ticket was paid for.
They (reluctantly) took control of the ticket, made the necessary changes and re-issued it.
It sounds like you already have an e-ticket issued. I could be wrong, but I thought an e-ticket only gets issued after the agency has paid.
Oct 17, 2018, 5:46 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: SAS Eurobonus - Blue / Emirates Skywards - Blue
Posts: 618
I booked a BA-operated TATL issued on AA stock on March 2 with Omega.
Due to a schedule change, I called AA and after explaining the situation, they checked to confirm the ticket was paid for.
They (reluctantly) took control of the ticket, made the necessary changes and re-issued it.
It sounds like you already have an e-ticket issued. I could be wrong, but I thought an e-ticket only gets issued after the agency has paid.
Due to a schedule change, I called AA and after explaining the situation, they checked to confirm the ticket was paid for.
They (reluctantly) took control of the ticket, made the necessary changes and re-issued it.
It sounds like you already have an e-ticket issued. I could be wrong, but I thought an e-ticket only gets issued after the agency has paid.
Look what happened with Tripsta.
Oct 17, 2018, 5:48 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2006
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It sounds like you need to persist with BA and get to someone further up the chain of command.
If all else fails the fact that it was paid for with a Visa CC and if you don't have an ATOL then Section 75 comes in to play.
If all else fails the fact that it was paid for with a Visa CC and if you don't have an ATOL then Section 75 comes in to play.
Oct 17, 2018, 6:05 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,659
The advice we had in the contact centres was that Omega travel still have control of their own bookings, regarding changes or cancellations. We havent received any information on whether tickets remain valid or not. And there isnt any way to check if the travel agent ‘paid’ or not in the bookings.
Oct 17, 2018, 6:21 am
#11
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Oct 17, 2018, 6:25 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2006
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But the OP stated he was charged by Omega Travel so its subject to the murky world of Agent billing.
Does anyone with TA experience know how far behind BA bills TA's ? It might help the OP to establish if the ticket has been paid for or not.
Oct 17, 2018, 6:33 am
#13
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OP needs to persist with BA. Go up the "chain of command" if necessary. Front line agents are trained to simply tell callers to deal with their TA on TA-issued tickets.
I would also call your CC issuer. They track the financial health of merchant vendors very closely and you will not be the only customer with a problem (or non-problem).
I would also call your CC issuer. They track the financial health of merchant vendors very closely and you will not be the only customer with a problem (or non-problem).
Oct 17, 2018, 6:35 am
#14
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The advice we had in the contact centres was that Omega travel still have control of their own bookings, regarding changes or cancellations. We havent received any information on whether tickets remain valid or not. And there isnt any way to check if the travel agent ‘paid’ or not in the bookings.
Oct 17, 2018, 6:45 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
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If we issue a ticket - its billed via Bank Settlement Plan (BSP) part of IATA. We pay IATA every 14 days (some agents are weekly or daily)
Omega have had there IATA licence suspended as well - Which means they cant issue or change any existing tickets - Source here. - https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/7191...nce-suspended/
You need to find out if an Eticket has been issued.... Its possible Omega have taken payment and not issued the ticket.
Omega have had there IATA licence suspended as well - Which means they cant issue or change any existing tickets - Source here. - https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/7191...nce-suspended/
You need to find out if an Eticket has been issued.... Its possible Omega have taken payment and not issued the ticket.