Missed Flight - Is It Legal to for Airline to Resell The Ticket?

LMomo Fuko on 10/11/2019 - 09:02
Last edited 10/11/2019 - 09:53 by 1 other user

Hi hives..

Thanks in advance for reading.

Recently, I bought round tickets (over $1k each) from Thai Airways for my whole family to come and visit me in Australia. Because of Visa Issue, my dad could not join the flight in the last min but my family told me there is another passenger in my father's seat during the whole flight (we didn't inform the airline about my dad's visa issue till check-in counter).

My question is ..Is it legal to resell the father's ticket (which I already paid) to another passenger without my permission? Can I request refund?

Cheers!

PS. I booked the whole seat row for my family.

Travel Airfare

Comments

  • oscargamer on 10/11/2019 - 09:10
    +19

    Perfectly correct for the airline to fill the seat.

    You are entitled to nothing.

    • Momo Fuko on 10/11/2019 - 10:38

      Thanks mate. That clarify my doubt.

  • Dont Care on 10/11/2019 - 09:13
    +5

    you don't even know they resold the ticket. it could have been a male wanting to sit with your family.

  • bloom on 10/11/2019 - 09:15
    +2

    All airlines overbook knowing some people never check in, standard practice.

    You only get rights once you check in

    • oscargamer on 10/11/2019 - 09:17

      What rights are these?

      • bloom on 10/11/2019 - 09:18

        The right to travel from A to B
        Doesn't guarantee you'll be on the same flight though haha

        • oscargamer on 10/11/2019 - 09:27

          I'm happy to be wrong, but as stupid as it sounds, I believe that the t's and c's of all airlines says no such thing

          Maybe something along the lines of 'we will endeavour to transport you from a to b.' No guarantee though.

  • vikvance on 10/11/2019 - 09:17
    +3

    I'm sure whatever they did was perfectly legal.

    If your father's ticket was non-refundable then there's little you can do from a legal point of view.

    You could file a complaint with the Airline and mention the passenger & your father's Visa issues, and if you're persistent with following up the complaint, then they may give you back some amount, but that would be just at their discretion.

    • Dont Care on 10/11/2019 - 09:20
      +7

      I have never heard an airline refunding a ticket because someone doesn't have a valid visa.

      • 87percent on 10/11/2019 - 10:20

        Correct.

        It’s up to the person buying it to confirm they can actually fly

        You think those people on Border Security get a refund because they get put back onto the next flight home?

      • Momo Fuko on 10/11/2019 - 10:41
        +1

        It is not my intention for asking for refunding because of invalid visa. I am not happy because of my family couldn't use the seat and sat with a stranger in the middle of the row.thanks.

        • Dont Care on 10/11/2019 - 10:58
          +2

          there was noone in the seat. How do you think the guy felt sitting with a family of strangers.

        • p1 ama on 10/11/2019 - 12:16
          +1

          I am not happy because of my family couldn't use the seat and sat with a stranger in the middle of the row.thanks.

          Each passenger is entitled to one seat. The airline sat someone in an unoccupied seat. Don't act like they sat someone on your family's lap.

          • Momo Fuko on 10/11/2019 - 22:27
            +1

            @p1 ama: I am not. Thanks for your comment.

            • p1 ama on 10/11/2019 - 22:48
              +1

              @Momo Fuko:

              I am not. Thanks for your comment.

              Oh please, don't lie. See:

              I am not happy because of my family couldn't use the seat and sat with a stranger in the middle of the row.thanks.

              If you don't want your family to sit near other people then maybe hire a private jet?

              • Momo Fuko on 11/11/2019 - 09:27

                @p1 ama: That is my next plan :)
                Maybe.. a private airbus?
                PS . I am 100% serious :D

              • omgitzrick on 11/11/2019 - 10:44

                @p1 ama: Or pay for the whole row… oh wait.

        • DashCam AKA Rolts on 10/11/2019 - 12:35
          +6

          You didn't buy a row of seats. You bought a number of seats and sought an allocation of those seats in a row, again not guaranteed. Seats were then allocated/confirmed at check-in; empty seat filled by standby or wait-list passenger, or a passenger sought a seat change. That passenger was allocated the seat you expected your father to fill.

  • o53djz7qTPY4der on 10/11/2019 - 09:20
    +2

    I had a similar problem when flying to London one year.

    My missus couldn't make it. I spoke to BA beforehand about a refund, they said "yeah, but no". They also said "if she isn't traveling we NEED to know". Fair enough.

    I said, I'd get back to them. I never did and figured I'd just say nothing. I checked in online for both of us. The seat was free the whole way there via Singapore. I was sure it'd be taken on the way back. I checked in on the way back for both of us again. Again, I had two seats to myself.

    I wasn't going to formally tell them so they could resell it. They had to work it out/find out for themselves, by which point it would have been too late to resell. Although, they could have resold the London-Sing-Syd leg.

    • o53djz7qTPY4der on 10/11/2019 - 09:23
      -4

      To add, I believe they should be allowed to resell but they should be made to pass the money onto the customer who cancelled. Therefore, if they resell, they're not double-dipping and if they lose money due to the cancellation (i.e. can't sell for the same/higher amount) or don't get a buyer then the airline doesn't lose out - they still have the original customers fare/difference.

      • oscargamer on 10/11/2019 - 09:28
        +4

        Their plane. Their rules.

        • o53djz7qTPY4der on 10/11/2019 - 09:38

          Their plane. Their rules.

          I don't disagree. I am simply giving an opinion on a hypothetical ideal.

      • [Deactivated] on 10/11/2019 - 13:19

        They don't even resell the seat, if there's 200 seats on a flight, they sell 210 etc. They count on people not showing up, if everyone does they have to find people to offload. Depending on where that is, who volunteers and who the airline is depends on how much compensation you get for that.

    • bobbieb on 10/11/2019 - 11:02
      +4

      Huh? You checked in to your flight for your missus, but she didn't board?

      Did this not cause all sorts of issues during boarding?

      So you're saying that you sat there and ignored the repeated "Urgently paging Mrs Xiongmao" announcements that the gate staff would likely have made looking for their missing passenger?

      • o53djz7qTPY4der on 10/11/2019 - 11:29

        Correct.

        No issues that I saw. I did not hear any announcements nor did staff approach me.

        • afoveht on 10/11/2019 - 11:51

          How did you check her in on an international flight without her being present and with her ID?

          In any event, good for you for keeping a free seat next to you the whole time rather than being squeezed in. I did the same last night at a concert - had 2 tickets but only I went - used one seat for my arse, the other for my jacket and a buffer from the next guy.

        • bobbieb on 10/11/2019 - 13:57

          I'd suggest that you stop using that particular airline then…

          If what you're saying is accurate, then it's concerning for many reasons, some of which are:

          • If your missus had actually been there and was running late, they seemingly would have left her high and dry.
          • A missing passenger within the airside of the departure area should have raised all sorts of security concerns.
          • Similarly, nowadays a misplaced/lost boarding pass is also red flag.
          • SlickMick on 11/11/2019 - 10:36

            @bobbieb: I don't see an issue.. if she had no checked baggage who's going to miss her?

            I think most airlines wouldn't even call for a passenger without checked luggage. I don't think any would wait. I'd be peeved if I was on a flight waiting for a passenger running late.

            Checking-in has a different meaning these days. It used to be something you did at the airport, but now check-in seems to be what used to be called confirming flight.

            • bobbieb on 11/11/2019 - 10:45

              @SlickMick: Yeah… agree. With online check-in becoming so prevalent, the notion has become pretty meaningless.

              I'd always assumed that they continue to force paper boarding passes - particularly on international flights - as a back-fill for the old process.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 10/11/2019 - 12:40

      Checking in for an international flight requires the production of a passport. This is an international agreement to which all airlines are party. No passport presented = no check in.

      • [Deactivated] on 10/11/2019 - 13:15

        The thing is, the actual physical presentation can happen much later than check in, it's possible that depending on the flight the airline might not know that you're not physically there until too late to fill the seat. I've had international flights where the first time anyone from the airline saw my passport was when boarding (security etc saw it earlier).

      • AdosHouse on 10/11/2019 - 13:17

        My flight to Japan 3 weeks ago, I did online Check-in, but Qantas already had my Passport number. Though I did have to show my passport at Bag check-in, at security, and then when boarding.

  • iforgotmysocks on 10/11/2019 - 09:30
    +2

    It is legal for you to get your affairs in order to make the flight.

  • redforever on 10/11/2019 - 10:27
    +4

    not that this matters. but was it a full flight? Could well be that because you have told them that you were not flying. As he wasn't checked in, the pre selected seat was released and reassigned to another passenger.

    You should be able to get a refund on the tax paid. check with the airline.

  • boomramada on 10/11/2019 - 10:40

    You can usually contact that airline few days before (depend on the terms) get partial refund, can do that with hotels sometimes even its says not cancelleble, if you ask nicely. Other than that you have no rights.

    • SlickMick on 11/11/2019 - 10:41

      This is what is surprising me, I've never just thrown away a ticket. Even discounted tickets (the only ones I'll ever buy) can have date changed for a fee. Don't know about refunded.

      Since they filled the seat, it should make no difference to the airline for OP to change the flight now even though long gone??

      I miss the good 'ol days when if you missed a flight, they'd just put you on next flight, no charge.

      • boomramada on 11/11/2019 - 16:02

        Good old day, airline tickets are expensive, not many ppl fly. If airline start refunding, then everyone be missing their flight and there be chaos.
        Or you could have US system, airline abe to overbook, which would be even more worst.

  • holdenmg on 10/11/2019 - 12:25
    +1

    Check out if the Airport Tax is refundable…

    In the situation where you did not board the flight, you may request for a refund on the Airport Tax paid, within six (6) months after the scheduled date of flight departure.

  • WreckTangle on 10/11/2019 - 13:27

    In any case, its a Thai Airline originating in Bangkok, You go no legal recourse in Au.

  • psdillon on 10/11/2019 - 15:38

    I've heard that some overweight people book two seats - how does the extra seat not get re-allocated?

    • Ughhh on 10/11/2019 - 15:41

      You need to check in to secure your seats?

      • psdillon on 10/11/2019 - 15:43

        Oh right, they'd both be under the same name I guess. (?)

        • Ughhh on 10/11/2019 - 15:46

          Well if you're going overseas, you need your passport to check in.
          International or domestic, I would double check at the check in counter to make sure the seats book are confirmed.

  • tabitha731 on 11/11/2019 - 07:20
    +2

    All Airlines overbook every single one of their flights… It's common practice.

    Preselecting seats are not always a guarantee you will get those seats, you will get first preference for those seats but they are not definitely yours until a boarding pass haa been issued

    • Brendoo on 11/11/2019 - 07:39
      +1

      Seats are not even 100% yours after the boarding pass is issued. They can be changed once onboard at the discretion of the airline (has happened to me many times), just for everyone's info. Usually I'm given a couple of bottles of nice wine from the plane bar to keep or $100 duty free voucher or something like that when my seat is changed after boarding, so I don't mind.

  • Brendoo on 11/11/2019 - 07:32
    +1

    Perfectly normal. The person who didn't check-in for the flight would be recorded as a "no show" and the seat allocated to someone else. Flights are often overbooked by the airline to ensure maximum profits, or there are always people trying to get on to a flight last minute, due to missing their own or whatever. So typically a no show passenger's seat will be filled by someone else.

    In the terms and conditions (aka fare rules) of your ticket purchase it will always tell you what the penalty is for a no show. If the ticket was expensive (I mean not a budget ticket) you may have no penalty and the credit will remain for another ticket, or a full refund. You may get penalised a certain amount for no show, like $200, but the rest kept as a credit or refunded. If the ticket was on a budget airline and a budget ticket, you may lose your money. All depends, there are many variations. The fare rules are available as you purchase the ticket (before commiting) and they will also be sent to you with the receipt/confirmation of the ticket purchase.

    Very important to always read those rules. There are big differences from one ticket to another.

    Also, if the passenger knew before the flight that they would not be there, then contact the airline because you typically can get a bigger refund if you inform the airline in advance, vs just not showing up at the airport. Usually if you tell them at least 2 hours before the flight you will get more money back than if you dont tell them. Again, it's all in the fare rules of the ticket that was purchased.

  • brad1-8tsi on 11/11/2019 - 09:37

    All flights are over-booked in the expectation that people won't turn up.

    Outbound from Denpasar used to be the most overbooked - around 30%. Haven't worked for an airline since 2007 so things might have changed.

    edit: The extra passenger may have been a staff member travelling on standby.

  • OzHunterNSW on 11/11/2019 - 10:47
    +1

    Maybe your travel insurance will reimburse you. You are insured, aren't you?
    Did the airline really sell your ticket?
    Some passengers do see a better, and vacant seat, and jump right in.

    You should have asked the airline hostess about this.

    • bobbified on 12/11/2019 - 11:23

      Maybe your travel insurance will reimburse you.

      Not for visa issues!

  • HeWhoKnows on 12/11/2019 - 22:36

    Read the fine print !

    Short answer - the airline can do anything it deems fit and proper to fill seats

    You missed a flight - tough cookies
    Not the airlines problem

    They managed to fill the seat - good luck for both the airline and that passenger
    None of your business!

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