90 Days for a Refund - Is that right?

[Rebecca Young]

Hoping someone can help. I booked flights through Expedia and paid for them using Amex. Expedia subsequently advised me that Air Canada had cancelled one of the flights. The alternative flight offered didn't suit my itinerary so I asked for a refund. Expedia checked with Air Canada who authorised a "full refund". Great I thought until Expedia told me that it would take 60-90 days for Air Canada to refund the money and that they had not control over the matter.

Should I accept this or should I ask Amex to do a charge back (never done of these before so I don't really know the conditions surrounding it). I am $8000 out of pocket.

Thanks.

 

[haydensydney]

It seems like a extremely long time to wait (I had a fare through Zuji charged twice and I had the money back within a couple of days) so I would look into the chargeback option through your credit card - that will get them moving.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I don't believe it will actually take that long. Expedia are just being overly cautious

 

[an*g-bne]

I've also had an Air Canada cancellation done via Expedia (instigated by me, not due to a cancellation). Again, Expedia quoted 60 days, but the money was back on the credit card within 3 days.

 

[Febs]

Consider yourself lucky. It once took me over 9 months to get a refund from AA (a refund I as completely entitled to, btw). Somewhat complicated, but it was still an overly long time to wait. On the plus side, when the refund did come through, large exchange rate fluctuations over the 9 months meant I came out well ahead.

 

[seanpodge]

Only if you took 90 days to hand over the money in the first place.

 

[Mal]

That can be the Max time. Many airlines quote 30, 60 or 90 days. But generally refunds are pretty quick and are back in a week or so depending on the airline.

Credit chargeback route could be very messy.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[N860CR]

I find creditcard chargebacks quite painful. It may just be Westpac, but the bank seems to favour the merchant (I guess they make more money out of them...) and make the whole process very painful and elongated. If you can sort it out with the merchant, it's a much better option.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I'm sure in the conditions of booking somewhere along the line the airline/travel agent have the right to take that long to issue a refund so I don't think a chargeback is at all appropriate.

What I will say is though, that it is VERY unlikely it would take more than a few weeks to get the refund, and as some have noted here it may be a couple of days.