Non Refundable Question / Help Needed
 

Hi All,

I purchased a non-refundable ticket for our Nanny to fly with us LAX-KOA in August (6 months ago). She just advised me that she will not be coming with us and we need to find a replacement. I called Delta and they said even though I paid for the ticket, the ticket belongs to her and I can not use the credit to book someone else. She also advised that the Nanny can not use the ticket to allow someone else to fly (like her replacement Nanny).

I have never had to do this before but I know it can't be an uncommon situation. Is this true and/or can anyone give me some advice on what to do?

Thanks,

Jeff

P.S. Do I have any ticket insurance for this through Amex Centurion?

Be prepared for the "if you wanted refundable, you should have purchased refundable" snarky remarks to come...

I think you are stuck. How is your current relationship with this nanny? Are you splitting on good terms?

You might offer to "sell" her the certificate from the refund less change fee at a discount and at least get some money back that way. Of course she probably could refuse and use the certificate whether you like it or not, since DL says that it is hers. But she'd have to know how to do that. She'd have to know that the certificate was hers. You could spite her and just let the thing expire. You'd lose all your money but she would not be able to use it, either.

Does she have a SM number? If not, it might be very difficult for her to find it and use it, if she even realizes that it exists, unless you provide her with the needed numbers.

I can't tell you whether AMEX is going to cover you in any way since I am not a holder of the Black Card (well, not THAT black card, anyway)...have you tried calling? Even if they did cover you somehow, there probably would still be a certificate floating around out there.

Unfortunately, there is nothing to be done in this situation. Since it was a non-refundable ticket, the only outcome is that a credit for the unused ticket value less a $200 change fee is usable by your nanny and your nanny alone. I have NEVER heard of DL transferring/changing the name(s) on a ticket unless it was because of a obvious misspelling.

The only silver lining to this is that if you choose to bring her along with you in the future, you will be able to apply this certificate if she has not already used it herself.

Travel Insurance through AMEX Centurion is an additional product that you would have had to already purchase, likely at the time of ticketing.

P.S. There is also a small chance that the ticket you purchased is completely non-changeable and non-refundable and the value is completely lost, but that depends on the fare rules of the ticket and it fairly uncommon.

Not sure about that. Lots of cards offer at least some basic form of travel insurance for travel purchased with that card.

Thanks guys. I appreciate the responses. She really let us down on this after promising to live up to it. For now our relationship is still ok because I haven't let her know how I feel about her leaving us high and dry. Trying to stay cool until I have all my facts in. (No way I am telling her she has a credit out there if she ends up with one). I called Amex, no free insurance with Centurion for something like this.

You are most definately out of luck---unless there is an upcoming schedule change that would meet the criteria to get a complete refund. Only way I see you getting anything out of this.

I assume the OP has checked the fare rules carefully to verify that it is a nonrefundable ticket and not one that's partially refundable after paying a fee.

If you're taking a replacement nanny, maybe she can borrow the original nanny's photo ID and use the original ticket?

:eek:

:-: I'm not condoning this, nor have I ever done anything similar! :-:

You may want to try writing to their executive support team. The postal address is around here somewhere. You'll usually get a response within 7-10 days, even by email if you list an address.

The actual executive team likely has a bunch of nannies in their homes, and so their support staffs might be inclined to bend some rules for you.

Also, if you're a Centurion holder, you're probably a, what, Platinum member? That might cut through some red tape via the executive support team as well.

Although always a possibility, I personally wouldn't waste your time. Change of an individual's plans is hardly an extenuating circumstance. Also, if I were on the receiving end of the letter, I would take nanny to mean affluent and send back a polite "No"

If you're bringing along a replacement nanny, you could always try this resourceful, yet very risky, approach. But it's definitely not for the faint at heart.

Have you been smoking something? :) There is exactly ZERO chance of them giving on this issue. This is exactly where they make a lot of money. Sell a ticket and no one ever uses. Happens a lot when people quit or get fired from their job.

Is the kid an infant-in-arms? If so I might say the nanny is not going but the kid is and ask about putting the ticket in the kids name.

If this is true, is there a method of capturing any credits when paying for future bookings for third parties if the booking is later cancelled? I know that when I cancel a flight booked through my employer's travel agency, any credit would be sent back to my employer, not me. (Just planning ahead in case my SO bolts :D)

Sorry if I'm hijacking this thread a bit, but I can't seem to find an answer to this question:

On a non-refundable ticket, if Delta makes a scheduling change, is that a legitimate "out" that will net you a complete refund if you don't agree to the new flight times? Or, will Delta say fine, don't go, we'll issue you a credit, but no refund. :confused:

Thanks.