Options Voucher - Re-issue problems/advice
 

Hey Guys

I just found this website as I was in a bit of a pickle and hoping someone might be able to give me a bit of general advise if possible.

Wife and I received an Emirates Options Voucher in June 2012 after being bumped off a DXB-PER flight. No Issues there apart from being bumped off the flight.

In Dec 2012, we used our options voucher to book PER-DXB, DXB-IST, LHR-DXB, DXB-PER. No problems with booking, (just had to pay extra taxes for re-route etc which was fine and happy to pay).

Today, I rang Emirates out of courtesy to advise them that our plans had changed and we will not be able to make the LHR-DXB leg as the wife now wants to visit family (in Baku, AZ).

I did not ask to change the flight to another day, just simply said that we will make our own way to DXB (as Emirates do not fly to Baku).

In short, the call taker advised that there were two options.

The first was re-issue the tickets (minus the LHR-DXB leg) at a cost of $150ea to us, or B) if we failed to show for the LHR-DXB leg they would deem us to be a 'no-show' and automatically cancel the remaining segments of our booking.

Now, fair enough they might able to 'no show' us and cancel the remaining segments but what really stings me is that I object to paying what is essentially an extra $300 administrative fee when there is no real benefit to me.

I dont care what they do with the seats but it seems as if I am paying money for nothing

I might be showing my naivety and would welcome any comments to the contrary but any info or contact points where I can at least plead my case would be appreciated.

Essentially, you wish to take the DXB-PER leg as originally booked just without the LHR-DXB?

I am not familiar with Options Vouchers as I have never been bumped/downgraded... did they inform you of a reissue fee applicable to the 'free' ticket you would receive in compensation for being bumped? What class is the ticket in? Was there a reissue fee applicable to the original ticket?

If it were a revenue ticket you'd end up paying fare difference which could be significant ex DXB... and if it was a reroute e.g. via IST I would understand the fee... but I do have some sympathy as you are on a 'free' ticket and essentially giving them something back, taking nothing new and being charged for the privilege.

On the whole you are probably 'up' on the transaction depending on how you value your time for the bump in the first place. But if I were an EK employee with the authority to waive this fee, I would. The trouble is finding someone with that authority... they are extraordinarily rare in my experience.

Yep is a Y ticket and I'm trying to find the original ticket to we what the re-issue conditions were. Not sure I kept it as didn't think it might be relevant.

And Ok.. it's a only a couple or hundred or so on what is essentially a free ticket...so yes am still up.... but the call centre charmer i spoke with for over an hour got under my skin and wasn't prepared to budge or even discuss. Anyway thought someone might know of an out for me..