Full Refund vs Credit to Travel Bank amid COVID crisis
Apr 17, 2020, 9:24 am
#166
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,156
There is no guarantee of a future seat on the same route at more or less the same price as the one that you have bought and cancelled.
I wonder when all settle down, whether there will be a change in the buying habit that people may be more reluctant to buy months in advance and more likely to select a refundable fare if one is available.
I wonder when all settle down, whether there will be a change in the buying habit that people may be more reluctant to buy months in advance and more likely to select a refundable fare if one is available.
Apr 17, 2020, 2:17 pm
#168
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YVR
Programs: AC 75K, BA Gold, Marriott Platinum, National EE, Sixt Platinum, Hertz PC, AVIS PC
Posts: 1,912
Bonnie Henry, BC's Provincial Health Officer said today, "B.C. is looking at a year to 18 months before people are travelling again for work or fun."
Wow.
Ron.
Wow.
Ron.
Apr 17, 2020, 2:41 pm
#169
Join Date: Jun 2019
Programs: WestJet Gold
Posts: 79
Only Premium Flex or Business Flex could be cancelled to original form of payment, without any fees. Premium and Business could be cancelled with a fee to travel bank.
Apr 17, 2020, 8:02 pm
#170
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Charleston, SC, USA
Programs: Avis Pref+, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Life Gold, Honors Silver, IHG Plat via MC.
Posts: 6,786
But is the extra credit really usable? The LH group one is only applicable to difference in base fare, not YQ or taxes, and only applicable if the fare difference is >€50, or something like that. So if you try to re-book a ticket with the same base fare, even if YQ and taxes are higher, you don't get the credit. Even if your ticket has €49 higher base fare, you get nothing. Something along those lines, anyway. I got a full refund via chargeback on my cancelled LX ticket, so I didn't pay too much attention.
I really don't like the fixed concept though. I book almost exclusively in the front cabin, so even if WS went with $15/$60 (if we just change the currency symbol), or $25/$100 (similar dollar amount) as what you're describing from AZ, it would often be pretty small relative to the ticket, and not enough to make it worth my while.
I really don't like the fixed concept though. I book almost exclusively in the front cabin, so even if WS went with $15/$60 (if we just change the currency symbol), or $25/$100 (similar dollar amount) as what you're describing from AZ, it would often be pretty small relative to the ticket, and not enough to make it worth my while.
Apr 18, 2020, 12:57 am
#171
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: No single airline or hotel chain is of much use to me anymore.
Posts: 3,279
If we're flying to Europe in half-filled 737s via Gander in six months time you're going to wish you kept that $299 fare to Gatwick.
What I argued with my parents a couple weeks ago is if you can't be made whole for a cancelled flight in six months that is going to be the absolute least of your problems and you will probably have already eaten the dog at that point.
Apr 18, 2020, 7:14 am
#172
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,203
I urge people to write to Blane Workie about the non-compliace of Canadian airlines with the US DOT rules regarding refunds. email address can be easily found on the web and is in the [email protected] format. She handed fines onto Air Canada in the past
Ms. Blane Workie is the Assistant General Counsel for the Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). She leads an office of attorneys and transportation industry analysts who investigate and enforce DOT's aviation economic, consumer protection, and civil rights requirements primarily through negotiation and issuing cease and desist orders assessing civil penalties. In addition, Ms. Workie has played a critical role in DOT's efforts to enhance aviation civil rights and consumer protection through public outreach activities and issuance of rulemakings.
Apr 18, 2020, 1:46 pm
#173
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,774
Not quite. WS is also foregoing cash revenue by doling out extra miles. But, that is all in the future when it needs cash now.
Credits/miles also have the advantage of "breakage." Industry-wide, somewhere around 35% of credits and miles are never used. They are forgotten, people die, move along and so on. From the WS perspective, a $1 refund costs $1 in precious cash. $1 in miles costs $0.70 in revenue forgone some day in the future.
Credits/miles also have the advantage of "breakage." Industry-wide, somewhere around 35% of credits and miles are never used. They are forgotten, people die, move along and so on. From the WS perspective, a $1 refund costs $1 in precious cash. $1 in miles costs $0.70 in revenue forgone some day in the future.
Apr 18, 2020, 8:48 pm
#175
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Charleston, SC, USA
Programs: Avis Pref+, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Life Gold, Honors Silver, IHG Plat via MC.
Posts: 6,786
How can I find the expiry date of my TravelBank funds online? I see only the total dollars. It's impossible to reach WS by phone!
Also, has expiry been extended due to COVID-19?
Also, has expiry been extended due to COVID-19?
Apr 19, 2020, 6:57 am
#176
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: May 2002
Location: YEG
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 56,449
For flights booked before 3rd Mar. for travel anytime that were cancelled WestJet's COVID-19 policy is a 24-month TB validity.
Apr 19, 2020, 9:33 am
#177
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: YYC
Posts: 2,074
I just checked and on mine I'm able to click on the 'Manage WestJet Dollars' tab and then the option to show expiring dollars so yes, very easy to access TB expiry dates.
For flights booked before 3rd Mar. for travel anytime that were cancelled WestJet's COVID-19 policy is a 24-month TB validity.
For flights booked before 3rd Mar. for travel anytime that were cancelled WestJet's COVID-19 policy is a 24-month TB validity.
Last edited by YYCCL3; Apr 19, 2020 at 9:34 am Reason: typo
Apr 19, 2020, 11:26 am
#179
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 231
Hopefully we'll all be booking our next flights long before these credits expire.