Getting charged for a stopover
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: Skywards (Gold), Star Alliance (Gold), Turkish Airlines (Elite +)
Posts: 68
If you need to do it, pay it and then, after the ticket is completed, take it up with your card issuer (bank) and whatever you have locally for trading standards (you haven't provided a location so don't know where you are). Fighting now won't net you anything and fighting while you the ticket is "live" risks stranding you somewhere.
#17
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,278
Within Saver there are 4 groups - N, Q, L and T. I wonder if perhaps there was no availablity within the fare group of the original ticket, meaning a change of booking code and the associated price difference?
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: Skywards (Gold), Star Alliance (Gold), Turkish Airlines (Elite +)
Posts: 68
I have an interesting update. I called my credit card company today to ask about this situation.
On 4 separate phone calls Emirates had refused to change my flight unless I paid the unfair stopover fee. They had told me that flights were available within my fare class. Despite the fact they eventually wavered this unfair charge I was told incorrect information and the delay ended up in my chosen flights selling out and me having to travel a day earlier. My credit card provider has recommended me to dispute the cost of the whole flight. They were in breach of contract in what they did.
First off I have to ask Emirates for a refund. If they refuse my credit card provider will open a dispute.
I am going to follow this advice.
On 4 separate phone calls Emirates had refused to change my flight unless I paid the unfair stopover fee. They had told me that flights were available within my fare class. Despite the fact they eventually wavered this unfair charge I was told incorrect information and the delay ended up in my chosen flights selling out and me having to travel a day earlier. My credit card provider has recommended me to dispute the cost of the whole flight. They were in breach of contract in what they did.
First off I have to ask Emirates for a refund. If they refuse my credit card provider will open a dispute.
I am going to follow this advice.
#19
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
I have an interesting update. I called my credit card company today to ask about this situation.
On 4 separate phone calls Emirates had refused to change my flight unless I paid the unfair stopover fee. They had told me that flights were available within my fare class. Despite the fact they eventually wavered this unfair charge I was told incorrect information and the delay ended up in my chosen flights selling out and me having to travel a day earlier. My credit card provider has recommended me to dispute the cost of the whole flight. They were in breach of contract in what they did.
First off I have to ask Emirates for a refund. If they refuse my credit card provider will open a dispute.
I am going to follow this advice.
On 4 separate phone calls Emirates had refused to change my flight unless I paid the unfair stopover fee. They had told me that flights were available within my fare class. Despite the fact they eventually wavered this unfair charge I was told incorrect information and the delay ended up in my chosen flights selling out and me having to travel a day earlier. My credit card provider has recommended me to dispute the cost of the whole flight. They were in breach of contract in what they did.
First off I have to ask Emirates for a refund. If they refuse my credit card provider will open a dispute.
I am going to follow this advice.
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: Skywards (Gold), Star Alliance (Gold), Turkish Airlines (Elite +)
Posts: 68
I think that's unethical and it saddens me to see how American credit cards allow consumers to do this. You travelled didn't you? Do you genuinely believe you are owed the entire trip for free just because of that inconvenience? I'm not saying EK is in the right and shouldn't offer some gesture of goodwill, though I don't see that happening. But a dispute of the full amount feels like theft and/or fraud to me (even though it likely doesn't meet the technical definitions thereof)
I travelled, but I had to go a day early because by the time I had sorted out the mess they had created they had sold out of the fare class on my chosen date and I incurred additional expenses as a result. They caused massive inconvenience and stress. It is not unethical to take action when a company is in breach of contract. I was more inclined to spend 400 on a new flight with another airline than to let them cheat me of 100.
I've emailed them and asked if they would like to call me and put things right because my only other option is taking this action.
5 separate agents all gave wrong information and I felt like they had me over a barrel.
No I don't believe I am owed the trip for free. I can't dispute a partial amount with my credit card.
All I want is fair treatment, but sadly this has not been offered at any point and I've had enough dealings with Emirates to understand they are unlikely to fix the problem.
Even you don't see Emirates offering a gesture of goodwill. Herein lies the problem. If Emirates showed concern for their customers and showed even any inclination to put things right when their staff mess up I wouldn't be in this dilemna.
But I'm not willing to have them cause this stress and expense to me and not even attempt to put it right when their agents were in breach of my fare rules so I will take this course of action unless they offer an alternative.
Judge me if you want, but you're not qualified.
Last edited by Alisonnoonan; Mar 18, 2019 at 12:25 pm Reason: typo
#22
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
It's not an American credit card.
I travelled, but I had to go a day early because by the time I had sorted out the mess they had created they had sold out of the fare class on my chosen date and I incurred additional expenses as a result. They caused massive inconvenience and stress. It is not unethical to take action when a company is in breach of contract. I was more inclined to spend 400 on a new flight with another airline than to let them cheat me of 100.
I've emailed them and asked if they would like to call me and put things right because my only other option is taking this action.
5 separate agents all gave wrong information and I felt like they had me over a barrel.
No I don't believe I am owed the trip for free. I can't dispute a partial amount with my credit card.
All I want is fair treatment, but sadly this has not been offered at any point and I've had enough dealings with Emirates to understand they are unlikely to fix the problem.
Even you don't see Emirates offering a gesture of goodwill. Herein lies the problem. If Emirates showed concern for their customers and showed even any inclination to put things right when their staff mess up I wouldn't be in this dilemna.
But I'm not willing to have them cause this stress and expense to me and not even attempt to put it right when their agents were in breach of my fare rules so I will take this course of action unless they offer an alternative.
Judge me if you want, but you're not qualified.
I travelled, but I had to go a day early because by the time I had sorted out the mess they had created they had sold out of the fare class on my chosen date and I incurred additional expenses as a result. They caused massive inconvenience and stress. It is not unethical to take action when a company is in breach of contract. I was more inclined to spend 400 on a new flight with another airline than to let them cheat me of 100.
I've emailed them and asked if they would like to call me and put things right because my only other option is taking this action.
5 separate agents all gave wrong information and I felt like they had me over a barrel.
No I don't believe I am owed the trip for free. I can't dispute a partial amount with my credit card.
All I want is fair treatment, but sadly this has not been offered at any point and I've had enough dealings with Emirates to understand they are unlikely to fix the problem.
Even you don't see Emirates offering a gesture of goodwill. Herein lies the problem. If Emirates showed concern for their customers and showed even any inclination to put things right when their staff mess up I wouldn't be in this dilemna.
But I'm not willing to have them cause this stress and expense to me and not even attempt to put it right when their agents were in breach of my fare rules so I will take this course of action unless they offer an alternative.
Judge me if you want, but you're not qualified.
#23
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 866
I have an interesting update. I called my credit card company today to ask about this situation.
On 4 separate phone calls Emirates had refused to change my flight unless I paid the unfair stopover fee. They had told me that flights were available within my fare class. Despite the fact they eventually wavered this unfair charge I was told incorrect information and the delay ended up in my chosen flights selling out and me having to travel a day earlier. My credit card provider has recommended me to dispute the cost of the whole flight. They were in breach of contract in what they did.
First off I have to ask Emirates for a refund. If they refuse my credit card provider will open a dispute.
I am going to follow this advice.
On 4 separate phone calls Emirates had refused to change my flight unless I paid the unfair stopover fee. They had told me that flights were available within my fare class. Despite the fact they eventually wavered this unfair charge I was told incorrect information and the delay ended up in my chosen flights selling out and me having to travel a day earlier. My credit card provider has recommended me to dispute the cost of the whole flight. They were in breach of contract in what they did.
First off I have to ask Emirates for a refund. If they refuse my credit card provider will open a dispute.
I am going to follow this advice.
OP purchased a ticket from A-C with a transit through B, OP wished to change the contract and wished to exercute a change however a dispute existed on the terms which was resolved however the alternative flight which was not confirmed had become sold out. While the OP may feel hard done, the availibility is subject to change and no confirmed ticket was issued for the requested flight, therefore no breach exists. The OP was able to change flights without charge unless we are missing information, the OP could have flown a fay later but it was the OP's choice to select the alternate flight. I would not be supprised if a refund is issued by the card provider that EK decide to the OP on a No Fly List.
#24
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,278
OP. You never responded to my query in post 17. Do you think that could be causing Emirates to have a different view from you?
Within Saver there are 4 groups - N, Q, L and T. I wonder if perhaps there was no availablity within the fare group of the original ticket, meaning a change of booking code and the associated price difference?
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: Skywards (Gold), Star Alliance (Gold), Turkish Airlines (Elite +)
Posts: 68
They told me that fares within my fare class were available and that there was no fare difference.
And anyway the terms and conditions of my original ticket would stand by law. If they had told me my fare class wasn't available that is a different story and would be my tough luck.
The terms and conditions at the time I bought the ticket said that there was a free stopover allowed in each direction and that a date change would cost 100 GBP.
They wanted 100 date change, 100 stopover fee plus stopover tax (around 20).
And anyway the terms and conditions of my original ticket would stand by law. If they had told me my fare class wasn't available that is a different story and would be my tough luck.
The terms and conditions at the time I bought the ticket said that there was a free stopover allowed in each direction and that a date change would cost 100 GBP.
They wanted 100 date change, 100 stopover fee plus stopover tax (around 20).
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: Skywards (Gold), Star Alliance (Gold), Turkish Airlines (Elite +)
Posts: 68
You've misunderstood. They are in breach of contract for refusing to let me swap my date according to my original ticket T&Cs. There was availability within my fare code for the 100 date change fee + stopover tax without any fare difference. This was clearly stated.
They were insisting on adding 100 stopover fee but my T&Cs said a free stopover was permitted in each direction.
I studied contract law at university. This is a breach of contract.
I hadn't experienced this before but I know in the future that it is better to book immediately and state that you are paying the extra charge they added "under protest" because that legally means you're not accepting the unfair charge they added and yes you can claim that back.
They were insisting on adding 100 stopover fee but my T&Cs said a free stopover was permitted in each direction.
I studied contract law at university. This is a breach of contract.
I hadn't experienced this before but I know in the future that it is better to book immediately and state that you are paying the extra charge they added "under protest" because that legally means you're not accepting the unfair charge they added and yes you can claim that back.
Last edited by Alisonnoonan; Apr 19, 2019 at 4:49 am
#27
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
You've misunderstood. They are in breach of contract for refusing to let me swap my date according to my original ticket T&Cs. There was availability within my fare code for the 100 date change fee + stopover tax without any fare difference. This was clearly stated.
They were insisting on adding 100 stopover fee but my T&Cs said a free stopover was permitted in each direction.
I studied contract law at university. This is a breach of contract. They were trying to extort an extra charge.
I hadn't experienced this before but I know in the future that it is better to book immediately and state that you are paying the extra charge they added "under protest" because that legally means you're not accepting the unfair charge they added and yes you can claim that back.
They were insisting on adding 100 stopover fee but my T&Cs said a free stopover was permitted in each direction.
I studied contract law at university. This is a breach of contract. They were trying to extort an extra charge.
I hadn't experienced this before but I know in the future that it is better to book immediately and state that you are paying the extra charge they added "under protest" because that legally means you're not accepting the unfair charge they added and yes you can claim that back.
#28
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 866
They told me that fares within my fare class were available and that there was no fare difference.
And anyway the terms and conditions of my original ticket would stand by law. If they had told me my fare class wasn't available that is a different story and would be my tough luck.
The terms and conditions at the time I bought the ticket said that there was a free stopover allowed in each direction and that a date change would cost 100 GBP.
They wanted 100 date change, 100 stopover fee plus stopover tax (around 20).
And anyway the terms and conditions of my original ticket would stand by law. If they had told me my fare class wasn't available that is a different story and would be my tough luck.
The terms and conditions at the time I bought the ticket said that there was a free stopover allowed in each direction and that a date change would cost 100 GBP.
They wanted 100 date change, 100 stopover fee plus stopover tax (around 20).
THE CARRIER SHALL LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CARRIED ON ANY ONE FLIGHT AT FARES GOVERNED BY THIS RULE AND SUCH FARES WILL NOT NECESSARILY BE AVAILABLE ON ALL FLIGHTS. THE NUMBER OF SEATS WHICH THE CARRIER SHALL MAKE AVAILABLE ON A GIVEN FLIGHT WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE CARRIERS BEST JUDGMENT
#29
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Dubai
Programs: EK Gold
Posts: 69
Good result and agreed the rules aren't ambiguous, at least you got there eventually. How long were the hold times? One thing that makes calling EK less of a pain is relatively no hold times in my experience (but status makes a difference there so I'm biased). I generally use ExpertFlyer to ascertain the same fare class is available before calling, the online changes thing has long been an issue which I think we'd all like to see fixed
#30
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
Not sure why the call centre wouldn't want to give it to you, but on your e-ticket if you see the fare consteuconstand the fare basis (I think it's 8 digits) the 1st letter is usually the booking class, e.g. KLXPSSZA (made it up, but that's roughly what it would look like .That's booking code K, a Y Flex fare)