What to do if you make a booking mistake.

[William Chau]

I'm a lowly peon and so I was trying to book a series of one way flights to get an itinerary that gave me the trip to Asia I wanted without the horrendous price-tag.

Unfortunately, I suspect that I was an idiot when I did it and ticketed one of the flights for the wrong month.

Yes, I know I can only blame myself. But are there any tips on how to try and get a full refund. Obviously, I don't expect them to offer me the right month at the same price.

Also, anyone know of any cheap flights without ridiculous stopovers from SGN-HKG in Feb 2014 (or any upcoming sales) to cut my losses if I can't get the refund. There's VN air but I'd rather fly a oneworld, skyteam or star alliance airplane if possible.

 

[Hvr]

Who with and how long ago did you book it?

If you discuss it with the airline within 24 hours some of them will allow a free change.

 

[William Chau]

United Airlines and July this year. Only picked it up because I was booking hotels now.

I've emailed them and am waiting for a response. Obviously I can show that the rest of the trip is in Feb 2014.

 

[pauly7]

Who with and how long ago did you book it?

If you discuss it with the airline within 24 hours some of them will allow a free change.

Yes I found this out when booking a QF flight but accidentally selected a BA codeshare instead (the horror!). A quick phone call to QF on the same time and that was quickly fixed and put back onto the QFa380

 

[MEL_Traveller]

United Airlines and July this year. Only picked it up because I was booking hotels now.

I've emailed them and am waiting for a response. Obviously I can show that the rest of the trip is in Feb 2014.

united, like all American carriers (and indeed qantas for sales made in the USA), have a 24 period after booking/ticketing during which you can cancel free of charge.

after that you may be subject to change fees.

for cheap intra-Asia flights checkout jet star and air Asia. jet star will match any price offered by tiger or air asia (provided the tiger/air asia flight leaves within one hour of the jet star flight).

I wholly recommend air Asia's 'red carpet service' where available. USD30 gets you a whole range of benefits including priority check in and lounge access.

 

[William Chau]

united, like all American carriers (and indeed qantas for sales made in the USA), have a 24 period after booking/ticketing during which you can cancel free of charge.

after that you may be subject to change fees.

for cheap intra-Asia flights checkout jet star and air Asia. jet star will match any price offered by tiger or air asia (provided the tiger/air asia flight leaves within one hour of the jet star flight).

I wholly recommend air Asia's 'red carpet service' where available. USD30 gets you a whole range of benefits including priority check in and lounge access.

I'm aware of that but in the case of a genuine mistake change fees shouldn't apply. If you go on the harvey norman website and order 10 TVs instead of 1 you don't get charged for the 10. The problem is trying to get a hold of somebody high enough up the food chain that can deal with this.

 

[mannej]

The problem is trying to prove it as a genuine mistake considering you made the booking in July.

It may be a case of wearing the change fee or throwing away the ticket for a cheaper option.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm aware of that but in the case of a genuine mistake change fees shouldn't apply. If you go on the harvey norman website and order 10 TVs instead of 1 you don't get charged for the 10. The problem is trying to get a hold of somebody high enough up the food chain that can deal with this.

the only thing you can do is ring the airline...if you have a series of flights with them that are obviously out of sequence date wise, try and appeal.

but legally there is no leg to stand on.

 

[JohnK]

Use a website such as Skyscanner to get an idea on cost of airfares in SE Asia.

I'm aware of that but in the case of a genuine mistake change fees shouldn't apply.

I have a flight next month but now do not want to travel.

I made a genuine mistake when I booked it 6 months ago and it should have been for February 2014 instead. The airline should not charge me any change fees as I made a genuine mistake.

 

[Kef]

It will be a hard one convincing them its a mistake for something that was booked back in July. (I'm sure you a genuine but its one they probably hear quite a lot of). Why not trying to ring them?

 

[William Chau]

In this case, the rest of the itinerary clearly shows the flights are in Feb 2014.

In fact, without this flight there is clearly an open jaw and I need to swim from SGN to HKG.

 

[JohnK]

In this case, the rest of the itinerary clearly shows the flights are in Feb 2014.

In fact, without this flight there is clearly an open jaw and I need to swim from SGN to HKG.

Cruise? Flight booked on another carrier?

Not trying to be cheeky but they hear these stories regularly.

 

[William Chau]

Cruise? Flight booked on another carrier?

Not trying to be cheeky but they hear these stories regularly.

And that is precisely the pushback I'm getting right now. Seems like an uphill battle and I'll probably have to just wear the cancellation cost.

 

[johnd]

I have a good news story for this thread.
Some months ago my wife needed to go to a funeral in central QLD and I booked an award flight with Virgin for her - yes time was tight.
When I sent her the booking details she looked at them and I booked her to arrive in Brisbane and return on the same day with only two hours between arrival and departure. She should have been in QLD for 26 hours and not 2 hours. Not sure if this was my fault or something that happened via the Virgin web booking form with a timed out session.
I rang Virgin and told them of my issue are realy expected to forefit the return flight and would need to book the correct award flight or pay with real $ for a return flight.
The Virgin staff were extreamly helpful in getting this correct for me (and my wife) and changed the return flight for no charge.
For me it paid to talk with a consultant and explain the situation.

 

[anat0l]

I think the key thing to keep in mind here is that you can always ask a consultant or customer service agent or whoever to help you out. But you never go in with the expectation of success (unless you're entitled to via fare conditions). Anything that is offered to you is done as a goodwill gesture.

In the case of johnd, it shows that it is possible to get a mistake changed; I have no idea how long johnd called up after the mistake was booked, but at least johnd went in with the right "attitude", i.e. not expecting it due to fare rules, but if changed then that is a bonus and kudos are due.

Also, never use precedent as a form of excuse, i.e. "My friend got this fare changed last week, why can't I?"

 

[johnd]

I have no idea how long johnd called up after the mistake was booked,

I am sure it was not within 24 hours. I think I did the booking on a Friday night or Saturday when we got confirmation of the funeral and my wife noticed the error when she was printing out the travel itinerary on the Monday. Her departure was on the Tuesday.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have a good news story for this thread.
Some months ago my wife needed to go to a funeral in central QLD and I booked an award flight with Virgin for her - yes time was tight.
When I sent her the booking details she looked at them and I booked her to arrive in Brisbane and return on the same day with only two hours between arrival and departure. She should have been in QLD for 26 hours and not 2 hours. Not sure if this was my fault or something that happened via the Virgin web booking form with a timed out session.
I rang Virgin and told them of my issue are realy expected to forefit the return flight and would need to book the correct award flight or pay with real $ for a return flight.
The Virgin staff were extreamly helpful in getting this correct for me (and my wife) and changed the return flight for no charge.
For me it paid to talk with a consultant and explain the situation.

that is a good outcome.

however the airline would have little choice from a PR perspective. this was to attend a funeral. and booking in those circumstances (short notice, stress etc) then the odd mistake is bound to creep in.

 

[William Chau]

Good news guys - I managed to get a full refund.

The key is to try and get someone from the US on the line because only they have the authority to override the fee. I called the US team, got a US email address, emailed the proof and got it done within around 2 weeks.