Pilgrims stranded by TA paying airline with credit card

[markis10]

Cannot help but think there is more to the story!

THEY spent more than $150,000 on flights and accommodation for a once-in-a lifetime pilgrimage to Rome.
But 32 Catholics from Rooty Hill's St Aidan's Parish Church were left stranded at Sydney Airport because their bookings, made through a licensed travel agent, were deemed "invalid".
Omega World Travel's Gina Varnier had used a credit card in her name to make the group's bookings in June but was not at the airport when the travellers checked in on Monday.
Singapore Airlines refused to issue boarding passes to the group because "any person booking a flight using another person's credit card must ensure that the cardholder is present at check-in to validate the transaction on the card".

http://m.theaustralian.com.au/news/...ir-ticket-bungle/story-e6frg6n6-1226497315082

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Must be as that really only applies to bookings made at singaporeair.com and it's unlikely a travel agent would have booked through the website.

 

[serfty]

Must be as that really only applies to bookings made at singaporeair.com and it's unlikely a travel agent would have booked through the website.

Maybe the TA did not book/pay through 'normal' Agency methods.

I can see it happening - such a rule is often standard for an airline, although maybe enforcement can be scratchy.

I guess the TA was quite happy to earn reward points for the payment- now has to deal with a cost of a lot more than the value of 60K or so in points.

 

[Blinky]

Sounds strange. All my travel is booked with the credit card of my boss.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Sounds strange. All my travel is booked with the credit card of my boss.

That's fine if you are paying through a travel agent or online travel agent , but if buying direct from the carrier on the internet many airlines insist the card holder is either part of the travelling party or at least is present during check in to produce the physical card.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Maybe the TA did not book/pay through 'normal' Agency methods.

I can see it happening - such a rule is often standard for an airline, although maybe enforcement can be scratchy.

I guess the TA was quite happy to earn reward points for the payment- now has to deal with a cost of a lot more than the value of 60K or so in points.

Yeah, but it's still odd. You can have SQ process a credit card charge for a booking made by an agent in the GDS whilst still earning commission. This method should not require a card to be presented on check-in. If doing it online at singaporeair.com you would be forfeiting the commission

 

[JohnK]

I don't quite understand.

Singapore Airlines yesterday said that the credit card policy was "a standard requirement" as a precaution.

I can understand the policy but did Singapore Airlines receive payment back in June? If so then what is the issue 4 months later? Some stupid technicality?

 

[QF1]

While it may be that the TA did not follow the exact process, I am not sure why SQ enforces this rule on registered TAs. The ground staff at SQ in Australia right from the top has always been a bunch of button monkeys....."The computer says No"

 

[TheInsider]

While it may be that the TA did not follow the exact process, I am not sure why SQ enforces this rule on registered TAs. The ground staff at SQ in Australia right from the top has always been a bunch of button monkeys....."The computer says No"

QF makes the bid for the work, but SQ don't want to pay the QF asking price, so they go for the lowest bidder, which is Menzies!

 

[ozmille]

This could cause the TA some major issues, looks like it is a small agent, would be interesting to find out exactly what happened and how she paid for the tickets.

 

[smit0847]

Travel agents use a credit card in their own name to book customers flights?!?

 

[Standby]

I have had the "cardholder must be present" but only with Asian based carriers ,Bangkok airways an Vietnam airlines,clearly spelt out in T's & C's on their web site.

 

[smit0847]

Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian

"It feels like I have the world on my head," Mila Alforque said. "I've been very unwell and I was hoping this pilgrimage would help me."

I've never really understood why people who are unwell or have difficulty walking, breathing etc undertake long trips - do they think dozens of hours on an plane through different time zones will cure them?

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Travel agents use a credit card in their own name to book customers flights?!?

maybe it was a business card?

 

[medhead]

[/FONT][/COLOR][/I]I've never really understood why people who are unwell or have difficulty walking, breathing etc undertake long trips - do they think dozens of hours on an plane through different time zones will cure them?

I would suggest that they have faith and they believe that will help them.


Sent from the Throne

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Was the issue as simple as SQ not checking them in without the cardholder being present or have tickets not been issued due to monies being misappropriated?

Travel agents use a credit card in their own name to book customers flights?!?

While working for a GDS I remember several NZ travel agents doing exactly that when clients paid for tickets with cash. The TA used their own personal credit card so they would accrue the reward points.

 

[JohnK]

I've never really understood why people who are unwell or have difficulty walking, breathing etc undertake long trips - do they think dozens of hours on an plane through different time zones will cure them?

Sometimes it is their only hope.

I know someone very close to me who was in the same situation ~20 years ago. Faith and hope have given them a new lease on life and at nearly 70 years old they can now do things that most 20-30 years old's could not handle.