Hi all
On Monday, I was booking flights to America for Christmas Holidays (Travelwiz wouldnt have been able to help me as I fly out of SYD), and was looking at the United website. There was a bit of a discrepancy with their USA and Australia website prices. It was $1599 USD on the American website and $2500 ish on the Australian website. Factoring exchange rate, it should be closer to $2000 AUD.
For this reason, I was trying to book through the USA website, even though it kept redirecting me to the Australian website to start again - meaning, search, re-enter details etc.
I just clicked back on my browser, logged in United MileagePlus account, and some sort of magic happened, it displayed $1599 AUD. So I booked it, went through, got the screenshot and even confirmed with ANZ that there was a transaction with that amount posted.
Temporary confirmation email went through, It said wait for eticket and receipt within the next hour. Nothing came. I logged in my mileage plus account, and the itinerary was there so yeah no worries, ill just wait.
2 days later, I get an email that says $2054 AUD on the receipt. Where did that come from? I log in my ANZ app, transactions havent been posted yet, but it seems like there is $4000 missing between my credit limit and outstanding balance. I rang ANZ. Guy says there is a pending transaction for $1599 AUD AND $2054 AUD from United. He recommended sorting it out with United first. I figured wait until transactions actually appear on my app so I have the details to call united with.
Today, I log in to my app, transaction for $2054 is there but not $1599. So United probably didn't put that amount through. I ring united, and naturally am on hold for 30 minutes, speak to people from the Philippines, and basically tell me that no its $1599 USD and implied that I am making up the amount, and that a printout and a screenshot wouldn't suffice because that's from my end. I mean what other evidence could I use, that fare was booked online!
I told them that their website automatically changes to local currency and there was no way I would have been charged in foreign currency, and that ANZ even confirmed that there was a transaction with the amount in my confirmation. Looking at my app now, it seems like I am not going to be charged that $1599 anymore because my available balance already tallies to credit limit less outsanding balance. Like all overseas call centers, they dont seem to be capable of handling complex scenario, so I was told to send an email and wait for 10-14 days!
I haven't rang ANZ yet, I would imagine they can provide some sort of documentation of our conversations or transactions that were meant to go through but didn't?
Ill try to ring the USA number tomorrow, but surely they must have some record of what was initially charged against my card? If I authorised $1599 they should be unable to take more out of my card than that.
Obviously if I can get the $1599 then Id still fly it, but Qantas is flying same route same date for around $2200. If I get charged $2054 then i would rather fly the $100+ extra. Thats with double luggage capacity, newer planes, and better service.
Ill ring both ANZ and United tomorrow again, but I'm already sick of it. I'm thinking of just doing a chargeback if things don't get resolved. I especially don't appreciate being implied to be a liar/making up stuff.
Do you guys think its worth fighting it off for the $400 difference, just accept the $2054?
Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks.
The ticket was us$1599 and you thought you got lucky when a bug stated au$1599. You rolled the dice and lost.
Edit
UD don't have to honour pricing errors.