fair refund for downgrade?
Jan 23, 2025 | 7:43 pm
#1
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fair refund for downgrade?
I bought a pair of r/t BC tickets on a small airline of a small country not subject to any of the usual consumer protection rules. Airline has decided to use their BC equipped a/c for something else during our imminent time of travel. They've offered to refund the difference between the low BC fare I purchased and the very high prevailing full Y rate (just over a week until travel at a busy time of year. I'll probably gave to dispute with theCC but what is a acceptable refund? I would settle for the lowest full flex Y fare 2 months out (the time which I purchased) but the airline is not budging. Have asked for but not received the CoC.
Jan 23, 2025 | 8:39 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: SEA
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I’m not familiar with “BC equipped aircraft”. Can you elaborate? CoC would dictate the baseline but since it’s so close to your travel dates, I’d at least try to get to the equivalent of a replacement ticket so you can still maintain your plans without incurring significant additional expense.
Did you purchase using a credit card, or have travel insurance? Those would be other potential venues to explore.
Did you purchase using a credit card, or have travel insurance? Those would be other potential venues to explore.
Jan 23, 2025 | 8:44 pm
#3
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Im not familiar with BC equipped aircraft. Can you elaborate? CoC would dictate the baseline but since its so close to your travel dates, Id at least try to get to the equivalent of a replacement ticket so you can still maintain your plans without incurring significant additional expense.
Did you purchase using a credit card, or have travel insurance? Those would be other potential venues to explore.
Did you purchase using a credit card, or have travel insurance? Those would be other potential venues to explore.
Jan 23, 2025 | 9:40 pm
#4
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
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While I know it's common practice mask itinerary details in discussions of this nature on FT, if you could at least name the COUNTRY, you might receive some remotely useful feedback (i.e even tiny countries usually have some form of consumer protection infrastructure that you could presumably attempt to navigate).
Jan 24, 2025 | 1:19 am
#5
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Being opaque as I have yet to fly and don't want to PO the airline (not that I think they would read FT). Country was heavily attacked (as in over a quarter billion cluster bombs) by a foreign power that never even declared war on it.
And the a/c now scheduled was changed from a single aisle jet with 2 CoS to a single CoS regional tuboprop.
And the a/c now scheduled was changed from a single aisle jet with 2 CoS to a single CoS regional tuboprop.
Last edited by YVR Cockroach; Jan 24, 2025 at 3:01 am
Jan 24, 2025 | 4:02 pm
#6
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Location: Shanghai
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Okay, in the absence of further details, I'd be inclined to request a full refund in writing, and resort to a chargeback if denied. While I realize chargebacks are no longer a slam dunk, since the airline is no longer willing/able to render the service you paid for, it seems like a fairly straightforward case.
Feb 1, 2025 | 7:24 pm
#8
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Flown the legs and the airline is QV (Lao Airlines). A/C for our flights (only for a few days over CNY) was swapped out from an A320 to ATR72s. QV's VTE office is close to my hotel but being ther eon a weekend, no chance of getting a look at their CoC. I will try at their ticket office at VTE today if I get a chance.
Last edited by YVR Cockroach; Feb 1, 2025 at 8:42 pm Reason: correcting IATAcode
Feb 2, 2025 | 2:17 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,781
With QV if likely wouldn't be worth my time unless the amount is significant. If you pursue it ask for them to look up the historical fare available. They can.
On the other hand your interactions might provide interesting insights in how to deal with a one party socialist state.
On the other hand your interactions might provide interesting insights in how to deal with a one party socialist state.