Travel Credit on an Airline That Isn't Flying

watwatwat on 23/05/2020 - 12:44
Last edited 23/05/2020 - 16:12

Sooo… I booked close to $800 worth of flights via a dodgy Australian online travel agent. The flights were cancelled due to covid. The travel agent wants $170 of fees to reissue this in to airline travel credit. They claim that if I don't do this soon, the airline will no longer offer credit and everything will be void. Plus, let's also take in to account that this airline isn't even flying right now nor are they allowing bookings in to the future.

Am I really put in a position where I need to pay $170 extra for travel credit on an airline that isn't flying (Malindo air).

And if I don't pay this fee immediately, then what, I get nothing?

It is odd that I can book a flight with an Australian travel agent through overseas airline and when THEY cancel the flight, I get $0 and I go on with my day after having thrown money in to a fire.

Travel

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 23/05/2020 - 12:50

    Have you contacted the airline directly?

    • watwatwat on 23/05/2020 - 12:51

      Yes, they said I can only speak to the travel agent.

  • slknv on 23/05/2020 - 12:57

    Name and shame the "dodgy online travel agent"?

  • barozgain on 23/05/2020 - 13:03
    +2

    credit card chargeback

    OR NSW Fair Trading(or equivalent in your state)as this is illegal

    • watwatwat on 23/05/2020 - 14:19

      ACCC mentions: "Where the service or experience has been cancelled by the provider due to government restrictions, you are unlikely to have a right to a refund from the booking site under the consumer guarantees provisions of the Australian Consumer Law."

      I already tried a chargeback once and they said it's unlikely to be successful. I will try again but not looking favourable.

      • BOGOF on 23/05/2020 - 14:44

        Australian Consumer Law only applies to companies that have a presence in Australia. Many On-line travel agents are based overseas some have terrible reputations.
        Don't tell me it was 'BravoFly'?

        • watwatwat on 23/05/2020 - 16:12

          It's an Australian company.

    • dizzle on 23/05/2020 - 14:27

      That may depend on terms and conditions.

      Another recent example (that has turned out well in the end) was a popular travel agent and cancelled cruises. The cruise line offered full refund (or extra future credit to rebook) and even paid the travel agent their commissions for any cancelled cruises. So there was no reason for them to keep anything.

      The TA then kept $300 per person on cancelled cruises as a cancellation fee. According to all the legal avenues, that was considered fair. However in the end they gave in to public opinion and offered the full refund. It took them over a month to decide that though.

      I can kind of understand that they have still done their job of booking, paperwork etc, that they still need to be paid and still need to pay their staff. Not saying I agree, but I can understand.

  • brendanm on 23/05/2020 - 15:44

    How did you "try a chargeback"?

    • watwatwat on 23/05/2020 - 16:10

      I requested one then by bank ANZ convinced me to not proceed as they didn't think it would be successful because technically I paid for the agent to book the flight, of which they did that.

      I can't edit my previous comment but yes, I didn't technically attempt chargeback yet.

      • Dumax on 23/05/2020 - 19:45

        No you paid the travel agent to take you from Point A to Point B - if they are unwilling to provide that then you have every right to do a chargeback.

        Plus, what's the worst that can happen in a chargeback? If you do nothing you still don't get your money back - plus what's the use of travel credit on an airline - plus as you said, what's the point in having travel credit on an airline that isn't flying?

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join