Bestjet out of Business. Confirming Emirates Flight Still Valid

voteoften on 19/12/2018 - 19:36
Last edited 20/12/2018 - 18:27 by 1 other user

Bestjet has gone out of business. I’ve bought from them before with no problem. I have a booking in :May on Emirates. I’ve gone to the Emirates website with the confirmation number provided by bestjet and it is there and I’m invited to spend up to $210 to select a seat one way.

The fact that the flight pulls up on the Emirates website - does this mean they have received the money from bestjet yet or am I still in danger of losing my flights? It’s still early days, but if I have to buy a new flight, I want to do it soon. I do have annual travel insurance and I would have paid with a credit card, so I’m sure I’ll get my money back if I need to. I just want certainly that my flight is valid.

Thanks 💐

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Comments

crashloaded on 19/12/2018 - 19:39

+1

I'd say if you can see the itinerary on the Emirates website it is still valid. You have to pay to select seats on nearly all base fare economy international flights these days.

If you're still worried, i'd just contact them directly on twitter or email, they respond pretty quick.
Jimmycfc on 19/12/2018 - 19:52

Oh damn, i've got two tickets in February with them. I already did a seat swap through the airline so i'm hoping i'll be ok.
- Jimmycfc on 19/12/2018 - 20:02
  
  Checked directly on the airline, still valid.
TheMindsetTraveller on 19/12/2018 - 20:52

Make sure there is an actual ticket number for each passenger….

The PNR (5 or 6 digit reference number) is just fluff really.
- voteoften on 20/12/2018 - 10:02
  
  Still waiting for a response from Emirates, I’m in the middle of the Pacific atm so I reckon they are not open yet. My itinerary that Emirates sent me has an attachment that reads ticket and receipt. It has a qr type bar code with numbers under it. Three digits then a space and ten digits. The amount on the receipt is about 25% more than I paid bestjet however. Does anyone know it this means bestjet paid Emirates? It’s from the first week of October.
  
  Thanks 🤗
holdenmg on 19/12/2018 - 20:55

+1

The ninth rule of Fight Club is use an accredited ATAS Travel Agent.
- Lysander on 19/12/2018 - 23:06
  
  They can still go out of business.
  
  The most important rule really is pay with a CREDIT card, not a DEBIT card or BPAY or ANYTHING else - for ANYTHING you buy and do not get immediately.
  
  Visa and Mastercard and Amex will always happily refund your money.
  - SydneySwan on 20/12/2018 - 16:33
    
    +1
    
    They will refund but I wouldn't describe it as 'happily'.
    - Lysander on 20/12/2018 - 18:01
      
      My refunds were always very happily. They do not like losing money but really it is hardly a dent in their enormous profits.
  - BucketListChelsea on 23/12/2018 - 21:38
    
    Do you mean that that they refund you the money as chargeback request?
    - Lysander on 23/12/2018 - 21:42
      
      Yes
muntuzed on 19/12/2018 - 23:36

Had a mate who booked with them and he called the airline and booking was cancelled. I would recommend calling the airline directly. He could also view the booking online but it seems some airlines might be still catching up.
p3nf0ld on 19/12/2018 - 23:38

Yeh make sure you call the airline. We had etickets and everything and could login to the airline but when we rang the airline they said it was cancelled. They suggested we book directly through them - which we eventually did. Have lodged a charge back via credit card so fingers crossed.
Msandler2009 on 20/12/2018 - 02:55

+2

Having also booked tickets with Bestjet for Emirates two weeks ago, I contacted Emirates tonight and they informed me that the tickets were refunded at the request of Bestjet on the 19th. I contacted my bank to request a charge back however they said I must visit a branch. It seems that as the company is in liquidation it will be unlikely that I will see the money again.
For me the tickets still continue to show up on the Emirates website, despite this they are not valid according to Emirates.
- voteoften on 20/12/2018 - 07:45
  
  Are you saying that if the company is in liquidation, your bank is telling you they won’t do a chargeback?
  - Msandler2009 on 20/12/2018 - 08:25
    
    My bank (Commonwealth Bank) informed me that there is a chance that due to liquidation the charge back will not be approved, as the company has a responsibility to pay back it's debts first.
    - voteoften on 20/12/2018 - 09:54
      
      Hmmm, I’d think that your purchase would be one of their debts. 😉
      - Msandler2009 on 20/12/2018 - 11:45
        
        @voteoften: Would hope so….
voteoften on 20/12/2018 - 07:54

Sorry for the typo in the title folks. My eyes aren’t what they used to be. I have sent Emirates a message via messenger. I don’t use Facebook, but I have found I get quick answers with Facebook and that I don’t have to search for the right email address or fill out any forms.

Good luck everyone and thanks to those who have offered advice. 💐
amateurbargainer on 21/12/2018 - 10:23

What dates are you flying? They can cancel the ticket anytime.

They did this to me last time, a day before my flight. Luckily, they accepted the mistake and rebooked another one. However, that gave me a lesson that travel agents can cancel a ticket anytime before flight. So, don't just settle for lowest fare, but reliable agency as well.
voteoften on 22/12/2018 - 07:12

Received a reply from Emirates. They say it’s an active booking. The tickets are issues and remains valid. I hope that means I’m safe.
- Yoo05 on 22/12/2018 - 13:46
  
  +1
  
  When are you flying??? I called emirates yesterday and they said bestjet cancelled my booking on 18th.
  - khimmy01 on 23/12/2018 - 15:01
    
    My tix (issued on 14Nov) with SIA was valid between 19Dec to 21Dec, realised it was cancelled on 22Dec.
    - Yoo05 on 23/12/2018 - 15:55
      
      Seems Like CVFR (the company bestjet used to booked the tickets treid to cancel lot of refundable & tickets in future date and asked for refunds.
- kmaz100 on 22/12/2018 - 14:08
  
  I have a booking through Bestjet for March with Emirates. I checked on the Emirates website and it came up as valid.
  I also called them and they confirmed that it was valid and sent me a confirmation email on the 21st Dec. The operator said to check
  back in a few weeks as the agent could still cancel the tickets and request a refund, but, as they are now in
  liquidation, it would be the liquidator that would be requesting this and I assume that this would not be legal for them to do.
  I will be watching the tickets like a hawk for the next few weeks though.
  - Yoo05 on 22/12/2018 - 14:15
    
    Thats good to know your booking is still valid, i checked online and it doesnt bring my itienery, gives an error and called emirates few times they cant do anything as bestjet cancelled it on 18th and asked for refund. I have called the bank and disputed the transaction, hopefully get a positive response from bank.
    - kmaz100 on 22/12/2018 - 16:17
      
      Seems like your best bet is a credit card charge back. Should be OK as they have not provided the service you paid for.
      Good Luck!
      - BucketListChelsea on 23/12/2018 - 21:41
        
        @kmaz100: Anyone knows if there are reason for chargeback to be rejected, like in this case…. Bestjet has gone into liquidation?
gstfree on 23/12/2018 - 08:16

+2

Sorry to hear Bestjet cancelled issued tickets after administration. This is surely a crime. I hope investigation results shows insolvency trading, lack of record keeping, lack of management experience and make directors personal liable to pay off debts.

For those who paid by cc, please contact cc provider and lodge a charge back request and only mention flight not received.

Going forwards true ozbargainer should get Flight Centre to price match the itineries. I do this every time and never had any major issue with Flight Centre.
- SydneySwan on 23/12/2018 - 12:30
  
  Does Flight Centre still price match? I thought they dropped it recently.
  - gstfree on 24/12/2018 - 08:13
    
    May be. Last time I price match was earlier this year.
- BucketListChelsea on 23/12/2018 - 21:35
  
  I have lodged a charge back request but because of the holidays, they can only call to start the process next Thu 27 Dec 2018. Yes, will have to mention flight not received as the travel insurance by QBE which was included in the booking is still valid and not refundable.
khimmy01 on 23/12/2018 - 14:59
Hi all, would like to share a bit of my experience on this episode.

I booked the tix (2.75K in all) on 11Nov, for travel in Apr2019, got it ticketed on 14Nov

though I will be safe now that the etickets have been issued, not quite

heard the news on BestJet on 19Dec

Checked online with SQ, all good between (19Dec to 21Dec)

Realised ticket got cancelled when checking again online on 22Dec

No one has any clue for any form of clarifications, airline, credit card company; will be a miracle if I can contact BestJet and the administrator

It seems that my confirmed tickets were cancelled as the payment from my credit card company is not due

Credit card company insists that I pay for the tickets despite the fact that the transaction is in question (being disputed)

I also learnt that the eco-system between agents and airline is a complex web of middle men and intermediaries (consolidator), extremely difficult to stop any payment if at all possible.

Can't help but feel that I am left on my own to sort this out.

I think this is a elaborated scheme simply because of the unique circumstances: Founder offload company to McVickers, and within six weeks, the company folded; during that time, attractive discounts are promoted to get people to part with their $$.

surely the directors must know something - I don't think it is that innocent.

I am now 2.75K short, forced to cough up another 3K to rebook (simply caused it was ticketed and got cancelled).
- gstfree on 24/12/2018 - 08:18
  
  I raised a few disputed transactions with cc provider, no issue at all. Don't mention anything about company liquidated. Just tell the cc provider you have not received the goods/services. They will investigate and place a temporarily credit to your account until investigation result comes out.
BucketListChelsea on 23/12/2018 - 20:49

+1

Booked through Bestjet on 23 Nov and was sent Tax Invoice/Receipt with Booking ref. Heard about the collapse and rang Emirates and was told that Bestjet did booked with them but as they did not pay Emirates, Emirates cancelled the booking. The Booking ref is Bestjet Booking Ref not Emirates Booking Ref. Credit Card has already been charged and paid.

Today I received an email from Bestjet. It says if you booked with Bestjet prior to 11 Dec 2018 your booking should not be cancelled.
It says Bestjet used CVFR consolidation to issue e tickets on behalf of numerous airlines. If you booked prior to 11 Dec 2018 and received your e-ticket booking and e-ticket was confirmed, the airline has received you funds from IATA and your booking should not have been affected. It says further that :

CVFR has worked with airlines to cancel your booking so they can get a full refund but the WON'T refund the money to you, they are also covered by insurance. CVFR will keep your funds and make you submit a charge back even though your booking is confirmed, e-tickets have been issued and the airline has received your funds. IATA does not permit this and the airline should never cancel your booking unless advised by you.
CVFR IS ACTING ILLEGALLY, SHOULD NOT HOLD AN IATA LICENSE AND SOME AIRLINES ARE SUPPORTING THIS. HELP US STOP THEM ACTING ILLEGALLY & MAKE THEM HONOUR YOUR BOOKING.Airlines which were ticketed via CVFR:
Emirates, Etihad, Singapore, Virgin Australia, Malaysia Airlines, China Southern, Cathay Pacific, Hawaiian.
These airlines should honour all reservations booked prior to 11 December 2018 where the customer has received e-tickets as IATA has collected the customer funds and paid the airlines.

What to do if your booking and e-ticket are cancelled:
Email your Bestjet Receipt along with your e-tickets to the following emails advising that your tickets should remain and not cancelled. The airlines should honour your e-tickets.

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Please email all CVFR & IATA email address along with your airline your reservation is with. If your booking has been cancelled please send an email to all parties and then call the following numbers:
1300 244 777 or 0408 883 367.

If you booking has been cancelled please immediately contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission: 1300 302 502, www.accc.gov.au

——end of Bestjet email ——-

I am not sure if the above email is legitimate. Anyone has any knowledge or comments?
- Skinny Mocha on 23/12/2018 - 21:05
  
  I received the same email as well. I purchased tickets via Bestjet for Malaysia Airlines prior to December 11 and checking online, it seems to be confirmed. I'm worried though, reading through previous comments.
  - BucketListChelsea on 23/12/2018 - 21:31
    
    For my case I checked with Emirates and also on Emirates online, it says
    
    Sorry the booking reference you've entered is incorrect. Your booking reference is the six character alphanumeric code which can be found on your ticket.
    
    So even though I booked and paid on 23 Nov 2018, no tickets were booked by Bestjet to Emirates.
    - davidosan on 05/01/2019 - 17:57
      
      This looks like fraud to me. Massive nuisance.
      
      I booked my tickets on the 4th of November 2018 for flight in February 2019.
      
      I was notified by Singapore airlines that my flights were cancelled and to talk to the administrators and file for a charge back with my CC company.
      
      I was not emailed or notified by BestJet at all.
loginid on 24/12/2018 - 10:17

+1

I booked with them in Sept 18 and just got off the phone with Singapore airlines who confirmed that my tickets were valid; "For the moment".

I was happy to hear they were valid but didn't like the ominous "for the moment". When I double checked with her what that actually MEANT - she said it should be fine……

This is a little stressful tbh!!

Having said that, I've used them for the past few years without any issues.
Johnnybravo07 on 24/12/2018 - 18:30

+2

Booked and paid on 22 November for 2 return paris flights with Korean Airlines through Bestjet. Called Korean Airlines and was told my tickets were cancelled and money was refunded to Bestjet. I am guessing liquidation refunding all the refundable tickets and gathering the money. People who paid with debits card sometime ago will hardly see any any refunds coming back to them because if any money left after paying off the secured creditors, liquidiator will charge excessive amounts after dragging the case as long as possible. The thing I cannot accept is why airline is cancelling my ticket without my authorisation and refunfing the money back to travel agent??
wsjasl on 25/12/2018 - 06:08

My ticket with SQ was cancelled by bestjet. some good and bad news i get.
GOOD
*I have just called to SQ 131011 to see if my ticket still valid. Was told it was cancelled by BESTJET and refunded. However I was assured that the refund credit will go back to my credit card. SQ obviously awared the bestjet issue and the lady double checked with her manager. I asked for the reference number for our conversation as future reference. That lady told me all the calls were recorded and nothing i need to worry about.
*I also raised a dispution with Citi CC team just in case.I didnt tell them anything abt the bestjet liqidation. all i told them is i did not receive eticket from them. They said they will investigate and it may take 30-45 days.

BAD
I have checked with the complementory travel insurance provided by citi siganature card (allianze), no luck. Stated clearly in their PDF for exclutions (insolvency or financial collapse of an unlicensed travel services provider or any company, organisation or person with whom they deal)
- voteoften on 25/12/2018 - 07:50
  
  +1
  
  But was bestjet unlicensed? I thought they were not a member of some group, but that doesn’t necessarily mean unlicensed, does it?
  - holdenmg on 25/12/2018 - 12:46
    
    Hi,
    
    I read:
    http://www.travelweekly.com.au/article/bestjet-gets-atas-boo…
    
    That said, Bestjet's website continued to spruik their being
    IATA Accredited Agent, and ASTA http://web.asta.org/imis/organization?ID=900244756&firstName…
  - wsjasl on 25/12/2018 - 21:38
    
    Could try insurance again. From google:
    
    Bestjet.com is 100% Australian. Bestjet Travel Pty Ltd trading as Bestjet.com. ABN. 71 155 965 601. IATA. 023 6314 1. Travel Agent License No. QLD 3579165
    
    Looks like they are licenced.
  - voteoften on 26/12/2018 - 14:51
    
    I think unlicensed just means someone operating out of their home or someone putting a group together and running off with the money. Or some other less than formal setup. Licensing is government. Membership is non government. Any screenshots of their claims could be useful to others.
- p3nf0ld on 25/12/2018 - 11:28
  
  I'm not sure how they can tell you the refund will go back to your credit card. It's going back to best jet. It sounds like fraud to me but will see how our chargebacks go.
- wsjasl on 25/12/2018 - 21:33
  
  +1
  
  I have just called SQ again to confirm credit card refund. they told me that the agent last night gave me the misleading information. They suggest me to contact my bank for transaction dispute. The only thing SQ can offer is the same price as my booking for me to rebook. No appology. Disappointed.
  - Wiede on 25/12/2018 - 21:44
    
    When did you buy your ticket though bestjet?
    - wsjasl on 25/12/2018 - 21:51
      
      yes. skyscanner > bestjet
      - Wiede on 25/12/2018 - 22:16
        
        @wsjasl: What date did you buy your ticket?september/oct/november? Skyscanner just updated their website to ask people to contact them if you found bestjet through them.
        
        wsjasl on 26/12/2018 - 02:40
        
        @Wiede: thanx for that.
        
        just got an email from skyscanner. it maybe helpful.
        
        My name is Jon, and I work in the Support team here at Skyscanner. Thank you for getting in touch, and I’m really sorry to hear that your booking has been affected in this manner. I hope that I can help with some current information that we have in this developing situation.
        
        We became aware on 19th Dec that unfortunately BestJet has entered into administration. We had already removed Bestjet from Skyscanner on 18th Dec on the back of an increase in customer feedback, but other than that increase in the last few days there was no sign or suggestion that they were about to fail, and it very much came as a surprise when we became aware. As a travel search engine we have no way of contacting people who have booked, so we have not been able to be proactive in letting people know.
        
        Our understanding is that people who have flights ticketed already should be fine, but the advice is to check with the airline. However, it sounds like you've already done that, and sadly there are a number of people whose flights were not ticketed and are regrettably left out of pocket; and indeed some whose flights were ticketed that have subsequently been cancelled. I'm very sorry that it sounds like you are among those affected. I am following up separately with Singapore Airlines, and will let you know of any update there. However, in the meantime it's important that you follow the below advice from Bestjet's administrators.
        
        On Thursday 20th Dec we heard from Bestjet’s appointed administrators, as attached (details can also be found via this link: https://www.pilotpartners.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/…); and more recently they also published an FAQ document: https://www.pilotpartners.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/…. The recommendation from Bestjet’s administrators is to contact your financial institution to request a refund for your flight. We have spoken with a number of people who have had early positive feedback from their banks regarding a chargeback claim. We have also been in touch with ANZ Bank and Commonwealth Bank, to have an idea of large banks’ views of the situation. They are both very sympathetic to the situation, and have both stated that they are happy to assist customers with cases. They both say they would register disputed transactions or chargebacks, and while it’s not 100% guaranteed this does seem hopeful. It’s possible that some banks might be less forthcoming in the first instance, and we would suggest being firm regarding the situation in order to give yourself the best chance of the request being accepted and successful.
        
        As per the guidance, it would also be prudent to contact your travel insurer to see if they provide cover for such situations, and register claim (even if the chargeback is started with your bank). The reason for this is that you will only have a limited window in which to register a claim, and if the chargeback is unsuccessful we would not want to be in a position where that period has expired.
        
        Should those routes prove unsuccessful, as per the guidance there is an opportunity to complete the Proof of Debt or claim form (attached), and you may then rank as an unsecured creditor. This would need to be emailed to [email protected], and the administrators will be in touch. Being honest, we are not sure how likely that is to be successful, nor how long it might take; so our advice would definitely be to pursue the financial institution chargeback and travel insurance (if you have it) routes first.
        
        Finally, we also wanted to provide the guidance from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on such situations, which we hope might be helpful. Again, their advice is to contact your financial institution and investigate the administrator options, as outlined above.
        
        https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/consumer-protection/when-a…
        
        Once again, I’m really sorry that you are in this situation and we remain here to try to help advise as best we can. If you do have any questions, please let me know and hopefully we can stay in touch and you can let us know how you get on from your side with regards to the above.
        
        voteoften on 26/12/2018 - 14:57
        
        @wsjasl: Sounds like a reasonable and helpful advice from bestjet. Guess I’ll notify my travel insurer of a potential claim.
Wiede on 25/12/2018 - 21:46

A closed group. If you want to join please make sure you don’t give anyone your travel details

https://m.facebook.com/groups/210822659858608/
jamestran84 on 03/01/2019 - 11:09

Chubb insurance didn't cover my bestjet flight (via amex) as it didn't fall under their T&Cs :(
myusername on 04/01/2019 - 14:04

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-04/bestjet-link-with-def…

Bestjet out of Business. Confirming Emirates Flight Still Valid

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