Travel Agent Booked a Non Refundable Ticket with a Longer Transit time.

usmanyousaf on 08/09/2015 - 00:11
Last edited 08/09/2015 - 20:35

Hi there,
I recently booked a ticket with a transit time of 9 hrs in Abu Dhabi but the travel agent later sent me confirmed ticket after payment having transit time of 14+ hours in Abu Dhabi.
While booking flight, i made sure infact paid bit of extra to have 9 hours transit time but he still sent me the wrong one.
As per their policy, ticket is non-refundable and since it is fault from their end they should either refund me or book as per what i paid for.
I will speak with them tomorrow anyway but wondering in this situation, if they fail to help me, is their any department where i can raise this dispute.

Comments much appreciated.

FYI: I paid extra for having shorter transit time reason being it is my wife travelling with my 6 months child and I dont want them having a longer transit. Therefore, i paid extra $$$ to make sure that the teansit time is minimized.

Update: Thanks folks for your time and commments. After an intensive conversation with the travel agent, i managed to get the ticket i wanted/paid for.
There was no dramas.

Travel

Comments

  • McFly on 08/09/2015 - 01:03
    +1

    Yes, they need to refund or re-book.
    If manager won't help are they part of a group (ie. is there a head office?)
    Maybe http://www.afta.com.au/contact can help?
    But how did you end up with cheaper tickets (did they not charge you yet, do you have a credit from them, etc.?)

    • usmanyousaf on 08/09/2015 - 03:30

      Actually, i saw ad on Facebook. I spoke with them and reserved a ticket. Later i changed the reservation dates. But for some reasons i have asked him to revert back to old dates.
      During all this, i have been contacting via phone and agent send me the reservations as per daye & time. Also, during all this, i have not paid any money.
      Later when i decided to pay for the ticket i reserved, before paying i notices that the transit time is 14+ hrs. I called him and asked him about transit time. Long story short, i had to pay extra $$$ for getting ticket with 9 hrs transit time.
      When i receive email with reservation, i checked it, it was fine and paid the amount via bank transfer.
      Now when i received the confirmation ticket after transferring money, the transit time was again 14+ hrs.
      I will definitely talk to the agent/his manager and try to sort this out but just in case, i want to know, if we have a dispute with travel agent, do we have any government/semi government/regulatory authority where i can raise this??

      • zappy32 on 08/09/2015 - 05:44

        If the last quote you have is for the 9 hrs transit time you should be fine. Obviously contact them as soon as you can and don't try and threaten/escalate the situation unnecessarily.

        If you really can't get them to fix it then here's the procedure if they're ATAS accredited.
        http://www.atas.com.au/provide-feedback/complaints

      • McFly on 08/09/2015 - 13:07
        +1

        i had to pay extra $$$ for getting ticket with 9 hrs transit time.
        When i receive email with reservation, i checked it, it was fine

        Still not clear… So they do owe you money? (Difference between 9hr & 14hr options.)

        and paid the amount via bank transfer.

        Why do people still pay for stuff not by CC/PayPal???

  • QuickToThePointless on 08/09/2015 - 01:58
    -4

    If they dont conceed, even things up by identifying their vehicle and give them a longer transit time by such methods as slashed tire, sugar in the fuel tank, potato in the exhaust etc.

  • zappy32 on 08/09/2015 - 02:38

    It sounds like you may have done it via email did you? If there's a paper trail of sorts it shouldn't be any problem, even if there's not I booked once with STA(US) and they said they have a 24 hours grace period, even on non-refundable tickers. Just let them know as soon as you can!

  • Davros on 08/09/2015 - 05:46
    +4

    Thats why I don't use travel agents

  • djones145 on 08/09/2015 - 06:57

    If they won't refund, try asking for a lounge pass for first or business class. At least wife and Bub can relax there

  • [Deactivated] on 08/09/2015 - 08:55
    +1

    Take the time to explore Abu Dhabi for the day?

  • adante on 08/09/2015 - 11:04

    Any chance you booked on credit card? Might be worth raising (or threatening to) a dispute at that end.

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