[PREM FARE GONE] AF Business Class LAX - LHR $1515
Dec 22, 2017, 12:52 pm
#737
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: So Cal
Posts: 937
Dec 22, 2017, 1:33 pm
#739
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,634
I asked about compensation or a goodwill gesture in the form of miles or a discount voucher for future travel to make up for the trouble and disappointment of the cancelled booking. She told me that she is calling from a notification center and that I'd have to contact the local Air France office for any further assistance.
Can't say that I'm impressed with the way that AF is handling this fiasco.
Dec 22, 2017, 3:54 pm
#740
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
Because not everybody pays on credit card for one thing 
Similarly with the AZ FLR-DUS fare, a number of people (myself included) had difficulty getting chargebacks to clear because of complex charges when purchasing through OTAs. I bought via Expedia but was charged by Alitalia for some tickets and Expedia for others, and Amex had difficulty pinning down who was responsible for issuing the refund and in the end had to close the chargeback case as Alitalia had said they would issue a refund but it was subject to their 12 week period.
So it's not always an open and shut case unfortunately.
Similarly with the AZ FLR-DUS fare, a number of people (myself included) had difficulty getting chargebacks to clear because of complex charges when purchasing through OTAs. I bought via Expedia but was charged by Alitalia for some tickets and Expedia for others, and Amex had difficulty pinning down who was responsible for issuing the refund and in the end had to close the chargeback case as Alitalia had said they would issue a refund but it was subject to their 12 week period.
So it's not always an open and shut case unfortunately.
If you buy from an OTA and see a charge from multiple vendors, you still dispute it with each and everyone. It takes about five minutes. And the credit is immediate. And if the vendor does not respond in 30 days, the credit is permanent. (It is the law in the USA and not open to interpretation.) You are not doing anything wrong by disputing the charge. You did not receive the goods.
Dec 22, 2017, 3:58 pm
#741
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Loud, dark, warm, lots of ethernet cables, and in some rack space.
Programs: AA:EXP
Posts: 369
Dec 22, 2017, 4:44 pm
#742
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,904
I booked through a traditional travel agent. Today I got this message via email. They had my email from the contacts information.
The reservation is still alive in the agency system and the Air France system which seems odd. I guess they have communicated with the agency who they expect to cancel. I guess they would manually go in and do if the agency didn't take action.
Dear Customer,
Due to a system error, your ticket/s for travel on Air France in La Première/First Class which was recently purchased has to be cancelled and will be fully refunded.
We request you to contact your travel agent for further assistance related to the refund.
We apologize for this inconvenience. We thank you for your understanding.
Kind regards,
Air France
The reservation is still alive in the agency system and the Air France system which seems odd. I guess they have communicated with the agency who they expect to cancel. I guess they would manually go in and do if the agency didn't take action.
Dear Customer,
Due to a system error, your ticket/s for travel on Air France in La Première/First Class which was recently purchased has to be cancelled and will be fully refunded.
We request you to contact your travel agent for further assistance related to the refund.
We apologize for this inconvenience. We thank you for your understanding.
Kind regards,
Air France
Dec 22, 2017, 8:57 pm
#743
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat, Marriott Silver, HH Gold
Posts: 797
I just received a second call, this time I was able to answer it. It was definitely from a call center on the Indian subcontinent. She advised me that the flight for which I purchased the ticket was cancelled and promised a quick refund.
I asked about compensation or a goodwill gesture in the form of miles or a discount voucher for future travel to make up for the trouble and disappointment of the cancelled booking. She told me that she is calling from a notification center and that I'd have to contact the local Air France office for any further assistance.
Can't say that I'm impressed with the way that AF is handling this fiasco.
I asked about compensation or a goodwill gesture in the form of miles or a discount voucher for future travel to make up for the trouble and disappointment of the cancelled booking. She told me that she is calling from a notification center and that I'd have to contact the local Air France office for any further assistance.
Can't say that I'm impressed with the way that AF is handling this fiasco.
Even those who booked prepaid hotels etc around these flights, if they are for some time in the future, I would only expect them to cover penalties for cancelling or changing dates vs. covering the entire stay (which is fair).
As for goodwill gestures, they would be nice but hardly necessary in this situation. Yes it was a mistake on their end, but 95%+ of people booking this did so with their eyes open and with the knowledge of risk.
If people are flying shortly, then negotiating J for the fare booked is probably as fair as it can get.
Dec 23, 2017, 7:06 am
#745
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
I’m not sure how AF/DL could better handle this. They are calling (not just emailing), and more or less emailed everyone within 24-48 hours. As long as refunds don’t take too long, how could we expect anything more?
Even those who booked prepaid hotels etc around these flights, if they are for some time in the future, I would only expect them to cover penalties for cancelling or changing dates vs. covering the entire stay (which is fair).
As for goodwill gestures, they would be nice but hardly necessary in this situation. Yes it was a mistake on their end, but 95%+ of people booking this did so with their eyes open and with the knowledge of risk.
If people are flying shortly, then negotiating J for the fare booked is probably as fair as it can get.
Goodwill gestures are absolutely necessary because this airline is saying that they can randomly decide to cancel tickets after issuance. When we make errors, we have to pay at least $200. Why don't they get held to at least the same standard? And guess what? I'll be letting AirFrance know that I'll be directing my team's travel never be booked on them again for lack of reliability.
Finally, no - negotiating for J without downgrade compensation is not fair. These tickets were booked in F class. It befuddles me how you all think an airline charging an obscene $16K for a ticket is ok - as long as the amount is egregious - but if it starts to seem too low to any such apologists out there given some random line in the sand they draw - then we must all be clairvoyants upon booking.
Dec 23, 2017, 8:33 am
#746
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AMEX Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, RC/Marriot Platinum, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 388
When it comes to being reimbursed for nonrefundable expenses, is the cut off window based on when they actually cancelled the ticket or when they notified you? I have not been notified at all yet.
Dec 23, 2017, 8:35 am
#747
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,710
He said 95% of the folks booking this *fare* not booking on the website. I'd guess that is correct. I really doubt AF normally sells 4000 F seats in a couple of hours on a normal day to non-FT type folks. The vast majority of folks booking this *fare* knew exactly what was going on. This may not have been handled perfectly but it really wasn't all that bad compared to some other airlines as long as the refunds are timely.
Dec 23, 2017, 10:43 am
#748
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Delta-pm, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-PP
Posts: 271