Star Alliance Award via phone - 825 SEK service fee?
Jun 2, 2019, 1:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,976
Star Alliance Award via phone - 825 SEK service fee?
Since the Star Alliance Award Tool still is flunky and wasn’t able to send me the confirmation SMS I booked a itinerary Germany-Portugal with connection in MUC over the phone.
the agent quoted about 4.000 SEK for 3 pax in fees and that aligned with my expectations - what the online tool said as well.
but now I saw, I got charged 825 SEK/person Service charge pushing the total to over 5.000 SEK for three traveled. Anybody got a good explanation? I thought as as EBD there shouldn’t be a phone service charge, at least not while their website is broken?
the agent quoted about 4.000 SEK for 3 pax in fees and that aligned with my expectations - what the online tool said as well.
but now I saw, I got charged 825 SEK/person Service charge pushing the total to over 5.000 SEK for three traveled. Anybody got a good explanation? I thought as as EBD there shouldn’t be a phone service charge, at least not while their website is broken?
Jun 2, 2019, 1:35 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Preferable @30.000 feet
Programs: More than one
Posts: 1,673
Are you sure the service fee aren't going to be added later in the process on the web? If not, then i would call them back and complain about the service charge. Not all their agents are aware they shouldn't charge a phone service fee when you are EBD or you can't book the trip through the web.
Jun 3, 2019, 2:19 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,160
I thought the point of the last hike of partner award prices was to reduce the fees dramatically, seems not really to be the case, or?
Jun 3, 2019, 2:49 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Denmark
Programs: Eurobonus EBG
Posts: 39
There shouldn't be any fee for Diamonds:
15/3
"To align all our booking concepts, a service fee* of 375 SEK/NOK/DKK or 40 EUR/USD per person and booking for personal assistance of bookings of Star Alliance award tickets will be implemented from 1 April 2019.
The service fee will only apply when a EuroBonus member has the possibility to book the Star Alliance award tickets online free of charge through our online booking tool but chooses to book via customer service, e.g. phone, chat or e-mail. Exemptions* apply for EuroBonus Diamond members, Unaccompanied minor (UMNR), and infants. It’s always recommended to book flights online, if possible."
https://www.flysas.com/en/eurobonus/offers-and-news/
15/3
"To align all our booking concepts, a service fee* of 375 SEK/NOK/DKK or 40 EUR/USD per person and booking for personal assistance of bookings of Star Alliance award tickets will be implemented from 1 April 2019.
The service fee will only apply when a EuroBonus member has the possibility to book the Star Alliance award tickets online free of charge through our online booking tool but chooses to book via customer service, e.g. phone, chat or e-mail. Exemptions* apply for EuroBonus Diamond members, Unaccompanied minor (UMNR), and infants. It’s always recommended to book flights online, if possible."
https://www.flysas.com/en/eurobonus/offers-and-news/
Jun 3, 2019, 9:30 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Preferable @30.000 feet
Programs: More than one
Posts: 1,673
I don't see anyone here talk about exemption from the 450 SEK service fee. The discussion is about the additional 375 SEK phone service fee.
Jun 6, 2019, 7:33 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,976
Still didn't get any reply from the Diamond desk. Kind of unusual... in all my previous contacts, they did get back to me within a day or two at least. Perhaps the holidays (ascension day, SE national holiday, Pentecost...)
EDIT:// just talked to SAS on the phone and the agent told me "there is always a phone service charge, also for Diamond members", they only waive the fee when the website doesn't work. Which is now after the fact kind of hard to prove. She said, I have to call back tomorrow, to talk to the same agent which made the reservation to get it sorted out.
This is for the first time a very very poor customer experience from SAS!
EDIT:// just talked to SAS on the phone and the agent told me "there is always a phone service charge, also for Diamond members", they only waive the fee when the website doesn't work. Which is now after the fact kind of hard to prove. She said, I have to call back tomorrow, to talk to the same agent which made the reservation to get it sorted out.
This is for the first time a very very poor customer experience from SAS!
Last edited by fassy; Jun 6, 2019 at 9:32 am
Jun 6, 2019, 11:50 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Preferable @30.000 feet
Programs: More than one
Posts: 1,673
EDIT:// just talked to SAS on the phone and the agent told me "there is always a phone service charge, also for Diamond members", they only waive the fee when the website doesn't work. Which is now after the fact kind of hard to prove. She said, I have to call back tomorrow, to talk to the same agent which made the reservation to get it sorted out.
This is for the first time a very very poor customer experience from SAS!
This is for the first time a very very poor customer experience from SAS!
Jun 6, 2019, 12:28 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,976
Actually according to the DK website (https://www.sas.dk/eurobonus/medlemsniveauer/), one of the benefits being Diamond at the moment is that you pay service fees (" Du betaler gebyrer, når du booker bonusrejser og bruger EuroBonus medlemsservice"). I asks the diamond service desk whether this is a typo, and they confirmed the text is missing a "ikke", but they don't know when the IT department will correct it. Maybe the agent you talked to uses that page as reference for declining the refund.
Originally Posted by https://www.flysas.com/gb-en/eurobonus/membership-levels/
Pay no fees for booking award trips using the EuroBonus Membership service.
Jun 6, 2019, 2:06 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Preferable @30.000 feet
Programs: More than one
Posts: 1,673
It would be kind of a strange benefit that you had to pay booking fee because you are diamond member, but that's what's stated on the Danish version at the moment.
Jun 7, 2019, 2:26 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: ARN
Programs: A3*G, SK*G
Posts: 336
Actually according to the DK website (https://www.sas.dk/eurobonus/medlemsniveauer/), one of the benefits being Diamond at the moment is that you pay service fees (" Du betaler gebyrer, når du booker bonusrejser og bruger EuroBonus medlemsservice"). I asks the diamond service desk whether this is a typo, and they confirmed the text is missing a "ikke", but they don't know when the IT department will correct it.
For sure says on the international website as well:
Originally Posted by https://www.flysas.com/gb-en/eurobon...ership-levels/
Pay no fees for booking award trips using the EuroBonus Membership service.
Will call again tomorrow and insist on getting the fee refunded.
Originally Posted by https://www.flysas.com/gb-en/eurobon...ership-levels/
Pay no fees for booking award trips using the EuroBonus Membership service.
Will call again tomorrow and insist on getting the fee refunded.
Please note that on the Danish version it's stated that you should pay the booking fee, but the diamond service desk confirmed earlier today that the English version is correct, and you should not pay the booking fee.
It would be kind of a strange benefit that you had to pay booking fee because you are diamond member, but that's what's stated on the Danish version at the moment.
It would be kind of a strange benefit that you had to pay booking fee because you are diamond member, but that's what's stated on the Danish version at the moment.
Jun 7, 2019, 4:52 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,976
Just talked again to SAS. The agent then talked to her supervisor, got back to me and told me I should send in a claim through the feedback form AFTER the trip. When I inquired why, she said, the booking fee will only be removed if they can see I was on the trip as well. Sounds a bit strange, but whatever... as long as I get it back, should be fine. Probably, since canceling the ticket will refund the full ticket costs (besides the 450 SEK service fee) including the 375 SEK phone fee and their system is too stupid to figure out how much to refund...
So make sure, to remind the agent to waive the booking fee for EBD (or a tech issue on their website) before they issue the tickets! Obviously, it can't be done later...
So make sure, to remind the agent to waive the booking fee for EBD (or a tech issue on their website) before they issue the tickets! Obviously, it can't be done later...
Jun 7, 2019, 6:00 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Preferable @30.000 feet
Programs: More than one
Posts: 1,673
Just talked again to SAS. The agent then talked to her supervisor, got back to me and told me I should send in a claim through the feedback form AFTER the trip. When I inquired why, she said, the booking fee will only be removed if they can see I was on the trip as well. Sounds a bit strange, but whatever... as long as I get it back, should be fine. Probably, since canceling the ticket will refund the full ticket costs (besides the 450 SEK service fee) including the 375 SEK phone fee and their system is too stupid to figure out how much to refund...
So make sure, to remind the agent to waive the booking fee for EBD (or a tech issue on their website) before they issue the tickets! Obviously, it can't be done later...
So make sure, to remind the agent to waive the booking fee for EBD (or a tech issue on their website) before they issue the tickets! Obviously, it can't be done later...
There should not be an issue with refunding the fees before the first flight. If you change your flight and the new flight is cheaper, you get a refund for the difference immediately. And I've never heard that you will get a refund of the phone booking fee if you cancel your trip.
Jun 8, 2019, 5:05 am
#15
Moderator: SAS
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: BLL & CPH & ZRH
Programs: LX, SK EBD (*G)
Posts: 3,152
Not over the phone, but online:
I was trying to book a one way award flight from Zurich to Stockholm online on with Eurobonus on a Swiss flight.
However, before I finalized the purchase I realized that SAS wants 90 $ for fees?! Excuse me? Buying the ticket directly at the airline is *only* 100 bucks and if I were to take a later flight I'd actually be paying *less* than with the miles ticket. What the hell SAS? Even Miles and More "only" wants 60 bucks for the same flight for taxes and fees.
I was trying to book a one way award flight from Zurich to Stockholm online on with Eurobonus on a Swiss flight.
However, before I finalized the purchase I realized that SAS wants 90 $ for fees?! Excuse me? Buying the ticket directly at the airline is *only* 100 bucks and if I were to take a later flight I'd actually be paying *less* than with the miles ticket. What the hell SAS? Even Miles and More "only" wants 60 bucks for the same flight for taxes and fees.
Last edited by Nick Art; Jun 8, 2019 at 5:18 am