Travel agent has sold my airline tickets
Discussion
Hi guys I need some help, I booked fights for family to fly to Canada over the Xmas period and paid a deposit back in August of £400. The agent stated that the balance would not be due until now, i.e. the end of October. Anyway yesterday I got a call form another agent in the company saying that because I had not paid the balance Air Canada had sold my seats on. As you can imagine I went ballistic. They have not contacted me at any time to say that this was going to happen or give me the opportunity to pay the balance early as I was expecting to pay it now.
They have offered me my deposit back but I need those flights as there are now no other flights available unless I am willing to pay £1000 more and go indirectly.
Guys what can I do and what is my legal position on this?
They have offered me my deposit back but I need those flights as there are now no other flights available unless I am willing to pay £1000 more and go indirectly.
Guys what can I do and what is my legal position on this?
Cupramax said:
Isn't it you forgot to pay up and hence have lost the tickets? My guess is its YOUR responsibility to pay by the agreed time and not theirs to nanny you. If this isn't the case then apologies but thats the way it sounds.
How does his post stating he was told he don't have to pay till the end of October and then had his seats sold mid October sound like he forgot? It doesn't, you just want to act big and try and make someone feel small.I wondered why I'd stopped coming here a few weeks ago, thanks for confirming it.
Sometimes airlines will bring forward the date that full payment is required to guarantee the seats, but if that happens they send a message to the travel agent first which they should pass on to you. Our policy is that deposits never guarantee an exact price due to fluctuating taxes etc, but they do put your name against a specific seat on a flight.
I'd be scanning the T&Cs very carefully to see what you can get back, but the agent will probably try all they can to push you to the airline for a solution.
Also if they have sold the specific seats then even if you do get the cash back, you'll be very lucky to get anything on that plane unfortunately. Drop me an email to ben.hobson@statravel.co.uk with the flight details if you want and I'll check if our allowance has any remaining seats for that plane.
I'd be scanning the T&Cs very carefully to see what you can get back, but the agent will probably try all they can to push you to the airline for a solution.
Also if they have sold the specific seats then even if you do get the cash back, you'll be very lucky to get anything on that plane unfortunately. Drop me an email to ben.hobson@statravel.co.uk with the flight details if you want and I'll check if our allowance has any remaining seats for that plane.
Cupramax said:
As I said, I apologise if I'm wrong, but go on, surprise me and say thats not the case... 
apologising for something avoidable doesn't excuse doing it. It's become so frequent on PH to ignore what the OP has put up and just wade in with size 9's looking for ways to run down their version of events.Frankly if you can't even attempt to answer the question as posted just STFU. Or just don't and it'll degenerate into every other s
t slinging forum on the web, as I say I'm finding more reasons not to come here every time I poke my head in.Davi said:
Cupramax said:
As I said, I apologise if I'm wrong, but go on, surprise me and say thats not the case...
apologising for something avoidable doesn't excuse doing it. It's become so frequent on PH to ignore what the OP has put up and just wade in with size 9's looking for ways to run down their version of events.Frankly if you can't even attempt to answer the question as posted just STFU. Or just don't and it'll degenerate into every other s
t slinging forum on the web, as I say I'm finding more reasons not to come here every time I poke my head in.Thanks guys for those who have stepped in with support.
As stated in the original post the agent had stated that the balance would be due now. Having just got off the phone with another flunky he has tried to palm me off by saying the balance was due a month ago. But at no time have they contacted me to inform me that the date had been moved forward. If I had been told I would have been annoyed but would have paid up as I need these flights. What I cant understand is why they have decided to call me now on the date I was originally told the balance was due to inform me that the seats have now been sold on. They must have had this date noted down.
I have spoken to the Trading Standards office and presented my evidence. They have told me that the agent is in breach of contract. They are legally required to supply the tickets as ordered or a suitable equivalent at no extra cost. Any extra costs would have to be absorbed by them.
My real problem is that according to Expedia no seats are currently available
As stated in the original post the agent had stated that the balance would be due now. Having just got off the phone with another flunky he has tried to palm me off by saying the balance was due a month ago. But at no time have they contacted me to inform me that the date had been moved forward. If I had been told I would have been annoyed but would have paid up as I need these flights. What I cant understand is why they have decided to call me now on the date I was originally told the balance was due to inform me that the seats have now been sold on. They must have had this date noted down.
I have spoken to the Trading Standards office and presented my evidence. They have told me that the agent is in breach of contract. They are legally required to supply the tickets as ordered or a suitable equivalent at no extra cost. Any extra costs would have to be absorbed by them.
My real problem is that according to Expedia no seats are currently available
Streetrod said:
They are legally required to supply the tickets as ordered or a suitable equivalent at no extra cost. Any extra costs would have to be absorbed by them.
My real problem is that according to Expedia no seats are currently available
I know it's Christmas but I am amazed if there are absolutely no seats whereby the travel agent can fulfil their obligation to you.My real problem is that according to Expedia no seats are currently available
It may be that those flights are full, but no seats, anywhere, on any airline, on any route in order to get you from UK to Canada on the dates in question.I do accept that this may mean some reasonable flexibility on your part.
Rather than just Expedia I'd start trawling a few of the various airline's own sites.
Then again I just may be being an innocent abroad as travelling at Christmas time and I do not mix.
The problem here guys is that only that I think only two airlines fly direct to Vancouver, they are British Airways and Air Canada. I was due to fly on the 23rd Dec and come back on the 2nd Jan. Other airlines do go to Vancouver but they are not direct and go via places like Chicago and Montreal. This can add anything from 5 - 9 hours to the flight time. Also the fights are a lot more expensive
It looks as though the agent just didn't do their job properly then... I'd suggest that they would be able to book something for you but it would probably be fully published fares which are serious money, hence them not offering to do it.
Have you thought sbout contacting ABTA as well as TS?
It would be a good idea to contact v15ben above as he will be able to check if there are any seats at all, so at least you'll know where you stand.
Have you thought sbout contacting ABTA as well as TS?
It would be a good idea to contact v15ben above as he will be able to check if there are any seats at all, so at least you'll know where you stand.
F i F said:
Davi said:
Cupramax said:
As I said, I apologise if I'm wrong, but go on, surprise me and say thats not the case...
apologising for something avoidable doesn't excuse doing it. It's become so frequent on PH to ignore what the OP has put up and just wade in with size 9's looking for ways to run down their version of events.Frankly if you can't even attempt to answer the question as posted just STFU. Or just don't and it'll degenerate into every other s
t slinging forum on the web, as I say I'm finding more reasons not to come here every time I poke my head in.Rouleur said:
It looks as though the agent just didn't do their job properly then... I'd suggest that they would be able to book something for you but it would probably be fully published fares which are serious money, hence them not offering to do it.
Have you thought sbout contacting ABTA as well as TS?
It would be a good idea to contact v15ben above as he will be able to check if there are any seats at all, so at least you'll know where you stand.
I have emailed Ben with my detailsHave you thought sbout contacting ABTA as well as TS?
It would be a good idea to contact v15ben above as he will be able to check if there are any seats at all, so at least you'll know where you stand.
Checking on SeatCounter it looks like there are a few seats left on the 23rd.
For instance BA have 3 seats in A or F class (expensive...)
AirCanada have some seats in B class - and their website shows seats in Tango Plus too.
Try Air NZ and Jet Airways who codeshare with AC on this route.
For instance BA have 3 seats in A or F class (expensive...)
AirCanada have some seats in B class - and their website shows seats in Tango Plus too.
Try Air NZ and Jet Airways who codeshare with AC on this route.
Edited by Puggit on Thursday 22 October 15:41
Rouleur said:
Have you thought sbout contacting ABTA as well as TS?
This is a good call. I assume the agent is ABTA registered so get their ABTA code/number and use this if required.
I've sent a reply with details of the seats that are still available on Air Canada direct flights and there are definitely some remaining!
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