Fully Refundable Ticket?
Jun 19, 2016 | 4:04 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,046
Fully Refundable Ticket?
redacted
Last edited by kthpence; Jun 20, 2016 at 11:19 am
Jun 19, 2016 | 4:33 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 13,920
Are you serious?
Why would you pay and risk thousands of USD on fully flexible ticket to get lounge access?
I guess it could be done but you would have to read the fine prints about cancellation/refund and risk that the airline refuses to refund when you have checked in and used airport facilities.
Find a nice caf, sit/relax and wait for your friend.
Why would you pay and risk thousands of USD on fully flexible ticket to get lounge access?
I guess it could be done but you would have to read the fine prints about cancellation/refund and risk that the airline refuses to refund when you have checked in and used airport facilities.
Find a nice caf, sit/relax and wait for your friend.
Jun 19, 2016 | 5:37 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 1,046
Are you serious?
Why would you pay and risk thousands of USD on fully flexible ticket to get lounge access?
I guess it could be done but you would have to read the fine prints about cancellation/refund and risk that the airline refuses to refund when you have checked in and used airport facilities.
Find a nice caf, sit/relax and wait for your friend.
Why would you pay and risk thousands of USD on fully flexible ticket to get lounge access?
I guess it could be done but you would have to read the fine prints about cancellation/refund and risk that the airline refuses to refund when you have checked in and used airport facilities.
Find a nice caf, sit/relax and wait for your friend.
Last edited by kthpence; Jun 20, 2016 at 11:20 am
Jun 19, 2016 | 6:08 am
#4
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT EXP; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
I love when people act shocked about things like this in FT. There's no way in hell I'm going to wait at a cafe at CDG in this current climate. If you're familiar with CDG, everything is before security, and I really don't feel safe spending my afternoon in an un-secure area.
I bought an LH ticket, went to the lounge and called to get it refunded. I encountered no problems...
I bought an LH ticket, went to the lounge and called to get it refunded. I encountered no problems...
As to safety and security, I think my friendly advice is "it would be wise to get a grip and calm down". A taxi to the airport is likely riskier.
Jun 19, 2016 | 6:17 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; Hilton Dia; Marriott Titanium/LT Gold
Posts: 8,504
If you find the risks of a cafe at CDG unacceptably high, I don't think Flyertalk is the place for you.
Jun 19, 2016 | 6:27 am
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,253
Putting aside the paranoia as justifying fraud.
Of course OP can get away with the ticket fraud once, but LH is especially vigilant. Try it again and the result may well be a polite, "we've determined that you had no intent to fly the ticket at the time of purchase, so we'll see about a refund after our investigation."
There is a thread about a UA GS who had his GS status revoked for doing this repeatedly, although it wasn't to gain lounge access.
Of course OP can get away with the ticket fraud once, but LH is especially vigilant. Try it again and the result may well be a polite, "we've determined that you had no intent to fly the ticket at the time of purchase, so we'll see about a refund after our investigation."
There is a thread about a UA GS who had his GS status revoked for doing this repeatedly, although it wasn't to gain lounge access.
Jun 19, 2016 | 8:16 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; Hilton Dia; Marriott Titanium/LT Gold
Posts: 8,504
Putting aside the paranoia as justifying fraud.
Of course OP can get away with the ticket fraud once, but LH is especially vigilant. Try it again and the result may well be a polite, "we've determined that you had no intent to fly the ticket at the time of purchase, so we'll see about a refund after our investigation."
There is a thread about a UA GS who had his GS status revoked for doing this repeatedly, although it wasn't to gain lounge access.
Of course OP can get away with the ticket fraud once, but LH is especially vigilant. Try it again and the result may well be a polite, "we've determined that you had no intent to fly the ticket at the time of purchase, so we'll see about a refund after our investigation."
There is a thread about a UA GS who had his GS status revoked for doing this repeatedly, although it wasn't to gain lounge access.
There are several stories of folks being charged for the cost of lounge access or otherwise penalized for this scheme, which is of course what it is- if not theft. You used services (and consumed goods) without paying for them, and without any intent to pay for them.
I really have no idea why you even posted this here as it is clear you don't care what others think.
Jun 19, 2016 | 1:36 pm
#8
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For future readers of this thread:
Risk-aversion is not a bad thing, but how we respond needs to be tempered with common sense and rational thought.
The OP chose an extreme option to assuage her fears. Fine. Other people might have been more practical, in this case by going to the Sheraton CDG and waiting out the delay there. Inside the terminal but well-secured and well-away from the operational areas of the airport, the Sheraton would have provided a chance for tea service or even a meal in a safe, convivial atmosphere (note that this Sheraton is an international-level Sheraton, far above what you might find at a domestic US airport).
Risk-aversion is not a bad thing, but how we respond needs to be tempered with common sense and rational thought.
The OP chose an extreme option to assuage her fears. Fine. Other people might have been more practical, in this case by going to the Sheraton CDG and waiting out the delay there. Inside the terminal but well-secured and well-away from the operational areas of the airport, the Sheraton would have provided a chance for tea service or even a meal in a safe, convivial atmosphere (note that this Sheraton is an international-level Sheraton, far above what you might find at a domestic US airport).
Jun 19, 2016 | 2:42 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,437
What is wrong against buying books, newspapers and/or magazines and reading them in a pre-security caf at CDG?
We are talking about Paris, not Syria or Irak ...
Jun 19, 2016 | 3:22 pm
#10
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,439
In addition to what other people have told you, understand that the refund could take up to two months..,.is it worth it to you to carry that balance? Plus it's an extremely lame thing to do, as I imagine you know.
Jun 19, 2016 | 7:26 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Santa Cruz, CA USA
Programs: AA, UA, WN, HH, Marriott
Posts: 7,293
I love when people act shocked about things like this in FT. There's no way in hell I'm going to wait at a cafe at CDG in this current climate. If you're familiar with CDG, everything is before security, and I really don't feel safe spending my afternoon in an un-secure area.
I bought an LH ticket, went to the lounge and called to get it refunded. I encountered no problems...
I bought an LH ticket, went to the lounge and called to get it refunded. I encountered no problems...
Jun 20, 2016 | 5:43 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,871
there are paid lounges (per visit) and paid VIP services (CDG has paid VIP)