AI Coronavirus Flight Changes
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
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Of course AI finally emailed back and replied on twitter, both times saying to call them...when I told them all of their numbers do not work.
#17
Join Date: Jul 2017
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Their numbers do work. The US numbers get forwarded to the call centre in India. I think they are overwhelmed with people calling in. So keep trying. if you can call the European and Indian numbers as well and try at different times of the day.
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
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i had a number of reservations that ai didn't allow me to cancel earlier this week so i was forced to change the dates....now ai is offering refunds for the same reservations....i'm going to try calling back to see if they would offer refunds for those changed reservations now but i'm not hopeful of a positive outcome....
#19
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i had a number of reservations that ai didn't allow me to cancel earlier this week so i was forced to change the dates....now ai is offering refunds for the same reservations....i'm going to try calling back to see if they would offer refunds for those changed reservations now but i'm not hopeful of a positive outcome....
called ai & asked them what my options were....i was informed that ai is not offering any refunds because its not their fault that the flights were cancelled....the government has ordered flights to be stopped so ai cannot be held responsible....
#20
Join Date: Jul 2017
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update on my earlier post....
called ai & asked them what my options were....i was informed that ai is not offering any refunds because its not their fault that the flights were cancelled....the government has ordered flights to be stopped so ai cannot be held responsible....
called ai & asked them what my options were....i was informed that ai is not offering any refunds because its not their fault that the flights were cancelled....the government has ordered flights to be stopped so ai cannot be held responsible....
And there is a good chance of not only getting COVID-19 on such flights but also transmitting it far and wide and trying not to do that on the pax's part means AI should penalize them.
#21
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#22
Join Date: Jul 2017
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6E took it a step further when they started sending emails encouraging people to book Flexi fares now so that we're not impacted by change fees later. Real aholes.
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: VPS, previously SEA and PIT
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Posts: 1,200
What US numbers are you calling? The ones on the website and that they gave me on Twitter simply give me a "Verizon Wireless, this number is disconnected" message.
#24
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, Marriott & SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, ShangriLa Jade, Enterprise Plat, Taj Gold
Posts: 3,343
You need to call 1888 634 1407 (Customer Support - Air India). The number works just fine.
Keep in mind, today is a national lockdown day in India. So there will be minimal agents in the call centers meaning much much longer wait times.
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: VPS, previously SEA and PIT
Programs: DL Diamond/1MM, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,200
No... what US number are you calling!!! It's a toll free number... VZW doesn't come into the picture at all.
You need to call 1888 634 1407 (Customer Support - Air India). The number works just fine.
Keep in mind, today is a national lockdown day in India. So there will be minimal agents in the call centers meaning much much longer wait times.
You need to call 1888 634 1407 (Customer Support - Air India). The number works just fine.
Keep in mind, today is a national lockdown day in India. So there will be minimal agents in the call centers meaning much much longer wait times.
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: VPS, previously SEA and PIT
Programs: DL Diamond/1MM, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,200
After all that, I could have bought the flights new for the same price...and I have to rebuy seats again. What an absolute, BS crapshow AI is right now.
#27
Used to be ' simz '
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Kolkata, India
Programs: Does it matter..??? It doesn't matter to them
Posts: 1,129
To add data points - I had 4 flights booked on vistara in March.. i decided to wait till last minute to see how things play out.. with the flights being grounded, I called them and asked for a full refund.. they refused, saying only change is possible, cancellation will mean cancellation fee.. i decided to wait it out further.. thankfully, a little later, my flights were auto rescheduled by Vistara, giving me the flexibility of getting a full refund.. which is what i opted for, rather than pushing my tickets to some uncertain date in future..
Now.. Im just wondering, not sure if this has been discussed before - if the airline is cancelling or rescheduling the flight, for any reason, shouldn't they also refund the payment processing fee ? The credit card company is not charging it to us, the airline is. and then if they cancel the flight, the consumer is out of pocket for the payment processing fee, for no fault of his..
anyone ever pursued this and got the processing fee back ?
Now.. Im just wondering, not sure if this has been discussed before - if the airline is cancelling or rescheduling the flight, for any reason, shouldn't they also refund the payment processing fee ? The credit card company is not charging it to us, the airline is. and then if they cancel the flight, the consumer is out of pocket for the payment processing fee, for no fault of his..
anyone ever pursued this and got the processing fee back ?
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
To add data points - I had 4 flights booked on vistara in March.. i decided to wait till last minute to see how things play out.. with the flights being grounded, I called them and asked for a full refund.. they refused, saying only change is possible, cancellation will mean cancellation fee.. i decided to wait it out further.. thankfully, a little later, my flights were auto rescheduled by Vistara, giving me the flexibility of getting a full refund.. which is what i opted for, rather than pushing my tickets to some uncertain date in future..
Now.. Im just wondering, not sure if this has been discussed before - if the airline is cancelling or rescheduling the flight, for any reason, shouldn't they also refund the payment processing fee ? The credit card company is not charging it to us, the airline is. and then if they cancel the flight, the consumer is out of pocket for the payment processing fee, for no fault of his..
anyone ever pursued this and got the processing fee back ?
Now.. Im just wondering, not sure if this has been discussed before - if the airline is cancelling or rescheduling the flight, for any reason, shouldn't they also refund the payment processing fee ? The credit card company is not charging it to us, the airline is. and then if they cancel the flight, the consumer is out of pocket for the payment processing fee, for no fault of his..
anyone ever pursued this and got the processing fee back ?
#29
Used to be ' simz '
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Kolkata, India
Programs: Does it matter..??? It doesn't matter to them
Posts: 1,129
I have a lot of free time these days.. im thinking of complaining to the nodal officer and then escalate from their onwards.. just wanted to see if anyone has already tried (with Vistara or otherwise) and what was the result..
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
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go for it....the nodal officer would have the same amount of free time as well so it may be the best time to complain....