The place is the refund for my improve that under no circumstances took place?

How extended does it consider to get a refund for an up grade that never occurred? Margaret Carroll has been ready 4 months for hers. Can we help transfer issues alongside?

Question

I not long ago asked for a refund from Abroad Journey Journey (OAT) for an air ticket I procured as a result of them for a Cathay Pacific flight. I had booked a roundtrip high quality financial system ticket from San Francisco to Hong Kong. A consultant from OAT air office encouraged this enhance to high quality financial state for the reason that Cathay Pacific experienced a specific fee. I compensated OAT an more $1,300 for this improve.

On the flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong, I was not seated in quality financial system. The cause for this motion by Cathay Pacific was a modify in plane. Even at test-in on the internet, the improve in seating was not revealed. This condition has triggered me to be very upset and pressured. I compensated good money to be seated in a seat of my selection for this 12-hour flight.

I have contacted OAT numerous times. They preserve telling me that it normally takes time to get a refund from the airways. I feel that heading on four months is way far too prolonged a wait. I want a refund from OAT to my account of $650, half of the spherical excursion ticket. Can you assistance me? — Margaret Carroll, Livermore, Calif.

Answer

If you paid for an update to high quality financial state, you really should have sat in high quality overall economy or been given a prompt refund. Cathay Pacific could have been much more proactive about notifying you, and the refund must have been computerized and a great deal, substantially more rapidly.

But an plane alter — or “equipment change” in airline parlance — is not a bait-and-change. It transpires reasonably routinely when a aircraft isn’t operating accurately or the airline demands to accommodate far more travellers. Continue to, I imagine Cathay Pacific may possibly have alerted you when you checked in and made available other selections, this kind of as rescheduling you on a flight with high quality financial state.

By the way, quality economy is kind of a misnomer. All economic climate course seats need to have a minimum amount of legroom and amenities, particularly on a 12-hour flight. Top quality economy is a lie, if you request me. They need to just phone it economic climate course and get rid of the small seats that you experienced to endure for half a day.

Who is accountable for the lacking improve refund?

You had been right to get hold of Overseas Journey Travel in writing. It marketed you the Cathay Pacific enhance and it need to have built certain you obtained a refund for the nonexistent seat in top quality economic system. And you’re also suitable that 4 months is way as well lengthy to wait. If you’re still on maintain right after a month, you can escalate your circumstance in creating to a supervisor. The Elliott Advocacy analysis group lists the names, numbers and e-mails for Overseas Journey Vacation in our databases.

But ultimately, this refund was up to Cathay Pacific. I really should observe that your journey happened before COVID-19 — so no pandemic excuses! You could have contacted Cathay Pacific or appealed to a supervisor. In our listing, there are executive contacts for Cathay Pacific, too.

I achieved out to Overseas Journey Journey and Cathay Pacific on your behalf. 5 months after you requested a refund, you lastly gained it.

(*If you want to examine more improve shenanigans, here’s just one that is passenger-motivated:  This request for an enhance unsuccessful in the worst way!)