Singapore Airlines won't refund credit card charge on flights they cancelled.

[GordonJ]

In 2019 I purchased travel from Singapore Airlines werbsite using my credit card for travel in March 2020. Singapore airlines have cancelled the flights and are refunding the cost of the tickets but they say that the credit card fee which I paid when making the purchase ($82.20) is non refundable. That doesn't seem right to me.

 

[opusman]

File a chargeback with your credit card issuer.

 

[hossein_au]

Wouldn’t the bank automatically credit the fee? I recall they have done it for me on a couple of occasions I have had refunds issued (depending on exchange rate the refunds were a few cents off).

 

[GordonJ]

Wouldn’t the bank automatically credit the fee? I recall they have done it for me on a couple of occasions I have had refunds issued (depending on exchange rate the refunds were a few cents off).

This is a fee that Singapore Airlines have charged me - not the credit card provider

 

[exceladdict]

Absolutely file a charge back with their email saying they won't refund the fee as your evidence that the organisation isn't playing ball

 

[Brissy1]

I had the similar issue with Virgin (except that I initiated the cancellation) on tickets to the US, and unfortunately it's clearly in Virgin's refund T&Cs. I did follow it up with them though and as USA law applied (for flights to/from the USA) which clearly state the refunds must include credit card surcharge, Virgin refunded.
Very poor show from SIA if it's they that cancelled.

 

[ftm]

The non refundable CC Fee is an interesting one.

When a merchant processes a refund, they do get a partial refund of the original merchant fee charged by the bank/card provider, however there is always a gap. So the merchant never receives a full refund of their costs, but they do receive something.

Airlines for a long time argued that the CC Fees that were being charged didn’t fully cover their merchant costs. Now that QF, for example, have increased the cap to $130, it must be getting closer, particularly for Visa/MasterCard. They still wouldn’t be covering cost on an Amex though.

In the case of a $10k Business Fare, issued to a Visa/MasterCard at a 1% fee, and the ticket is then refunded, then the airline would definitely be ahead on the c/card fees. Factor in that they have also charged a cancellation fee (which is supposed to cover their costs and lost potential to sell the seat) and the passenger is right to feel a bit grumpy about the non-refundable c/card fees.

 

[MattA]

What was the resolution on this one, OP?

Just got confirmation of a refund for an infant revenue booking that was linked to a cancelled (by SIA) redemption we should have flown last week. Looks like they're refunding the fare but not the booking fee ($65) or Credit Card fee ($11.80) that I was originally charged.

Did you ever get anywhere with this? Wondering if it's worth chasing up.

 

[GordonJ]

What was the resolution on this one, OP?

Just got confirmation of a refund for an infant revenue booking that was linked to a cancelled (by SIA) redemption we should have flown last week. Looks like they're refunding the fare but not the booking fee ($65) or Credit Card fee ($11.80) that I was originally charged.

Did you ever get anywhere with this? Wondering if it's worth chasing up.

Hi

No I didn't receive a refund of the credit card surcharge. I didn't see any effective way of taking the issue further.

 

[MattA]

Hi

No I didn't receive a refund of the credit card surcharge. I didn't see any effective way of taking the issue further.

Thanks -- So I sent a follow up anyway and just got a refund notification for the booking fee and the credit card fee. Clearly if this is a policy it's not applied consistently...

 

[GordonJ]

Thanks -- So I sent a follow up anyway and just got a refund notification for the booking fee and the credit card fee. Clearly if this is a policy it's not applied consistently...

Thanks for the update - might give it a go....