Rewards flights cancelled taxes not refunded

[Nick Cugura]

I cancelled 2 reward flights earlier this year and have just noted that taxes totalling $4000 were not refunded. The airline explained that it was my fault for not noting it on my credit card statement and reporting it earlier. Although the airline had these funds for months they simply offered me 5000 points and were not prepared to offer any financial compensation. I have travelled hundred of times over the past 25 years and have had to cancel many FF reward flights. Has any one had any success in asking the airline for details regarding award bookings going back more than the past 12 months?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I cancelled 2 reward flights earlier this year and have just noted that taxes totalling $4000 were not refunded. The airline explained that it was my fault for not noting it on my credit card statement and reporting it earlier. Although the airline had these funds for months they simply offered me 5000 points and were not prepared to offer any financial compensation. I have travelled hundred of times over the past 25 years and have had to cancel many FF reward flights. Has any one had any success in asking the airline for details regarding award bookings going back more than the past 12 months?

No direct experience about going back 12 months, but you need to escalate the issue. You aren't recovering tax in this case, it is the Qantas fuel surcharges plus a small bit of tax (slightly more if departing from the UK). The airline may have incorrectly processed the money to another credit card (errors can happen), and they will need to do a bit of forensic work, but you are entitled to a refund. Airlines say it can take 6-8 weeks for money to be refunded, it's not entirely your fault that you might have forgotten about it given the length of time.

Just a thought - have you checked all your applicable credit cards? Could it have gone to another one?

 

[Pleb Status]

Maybe I am a bit 'poverty stricken', but if I had $4k coming my way, I would be checking my CC balance on at least a weekly basis.

In my experience, I would estimate at least 1 in 2 QF refunds that I have received have been caught up in the system and needed some further action to move them along.

 

[Nick Cugura]

I cancelled 2 reward flights earlier this year and have just noted that taxes totalling $4000 were not refunded. The airline explained that it was my fault for not noting it on my credit card statement and reporting it earlier. Although the airline had these funds for months they simply offered me 5000 points and were not prepared to offer any financial compensation. I have travelled hundred of times over the past 25 years and have had to cancel many FF reward flights. Has any one had any success in asking the airline for details regarding award bookings going back more than the past 12 months?

I have started receiving the refund. It wasn't a case of a different card being credited!

 

[Nick Cugura]

Airlines should check all award bookings that haven't been fully refunded and consider paying interest as the airline are earning interest on funds that isn't theirs!

The airline is crediting the member's rewards booking taxes but not the other passengers (partner and children) making it difficult to identify an issue when checking the credit card statements.

I suspect that there could be a huge liability for the airlines which they do not want to report.

 

[Pushka]

I have started receiving the refund. It wasn't a case of a different card being credited!

So you are now receiving the money back? Plus 5000 points?

I’m with plebstatus. I watch refunds like a hawk. Last month only half the refund was provided so I called. Oh. It’s a known problem. Waited 5 days. No sign. Called again. It’s been advanced in the queue. After another 5 days it arrived. That was only for $400!
I didn’t expect compensation. It’s just annoying to have to keep calling. For $4000 I would have been calling every other day.

 

[drron]

I watch my account when it is 2x $US5.60 refunds from AA.