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U.S. fines airlines more than $7M for not providing refunds

nytimes.com

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Re: U.S. fines airlines more than $7M for not providing refunds

#61

Post by pjc50 »

cnelsenmilt wrote: post #47
pjc50 wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It strikes me as remarkable that, in a pandemic which killed several hundred airliners worth of Americans, a lot of fuss was made about mask-related impositions, while TSA-related impositions that save a number of lives that's close to zero have become entirely normal. All War On Terror and no War On Viruses.

People objected to the TSA, but the political climate in 2002 was too much in favor of it.

Sure, but that was then and this is now. I guess it's simply not possible to get it back into the "discourse" as a thing that should be changed.

Re: U.S. fines airlines more than $7M for not providing refunds

#62

Post by infotogivenm »

mattwad wrote: post #16
kaycebasques wrote: post #15

I am relieved to see that regulators appear aware of the game that Frontier seems to be playing. I flew to Denver recently and didn't need to travel heavy so I went with their cheap fare. The flight from SFO was fine. The flight from DEN to SFO was extremely frustrating. We arrived at DEN early because we got a text message warning us about major TSA delays. Literally the moment we were about to board Frontier change…

They are the scum of the universe. If you don't pay for your seats, they will separate you and your party even if there are available seats together, because they know you'll shell out cash to fix it. (I think American does this now too, and possibly others but I haven't confirmed they also do it when there's available seats).

Personally I’ve always seen them allow you to get up and relocate as soon as cabin doors closes. But yea, you didn’t pay for a seat assignment so you might get stuck where-ever. They’re pretty clear about this…

Flown Frontier many dozens of times, since I usually travel alone with just a backpack. It’s probably saved me $5-10k in my adult life. Very often it will be $150+ less than the next cheapest option.

Re: U.S. fines airlines more than $7M for not providing refunds

#63

Post by himinlomax »

mtalantikite wrote: post #53

I have a voucher from a cancelled flight on JetBlue stuck in the abyss of their computer systems. In order to use it I've been told I have to call, but the wait times are hours long. I can use their text message interface on iOS to get someone to call me back instead of waiting on hold (which is nice), but the couple times I've tried there's been some ridiculous problem with actually using the voucher: They can't fin…

What about sending a physical certified letter?

Re: U.S. fines airlines more than $7M for not providing refunds

#65

Post by yamtaddle »

pxx wrote: post #38
elmomle wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you only get to sit with your loved ones if you have enough money? That's not a world I want to have any part in.

You only get to fly to see your loved ones if you have enough money too. Ancillary revenue like seat assignment fees makes it so that more people can afford to see their loved ones.

This is only true if those seat assignment charges actually result in significantly lower ticket prices for everyone else, which is far from guaranteed.

Re: U.S. fines airlines more than $7M for not providing refunds

#66

Post by wnolens »

I've abandoned probably a thousand dollars in airfare in my life. Just don't have the energy nor do I think it's possible to get it back.

I once cancelled a flight on United, but the $400 "credit" I had (1y expiry) with them had some special "booking code" attached to it (not informed of this on purchase, bought regularly through their website) so the only tickets I was allowed to use the credit on cost > $1000 (regular economy class..) due to this booking code and had to be searched through a special portal.. what the hell? I could use the regular front page flight search and buy same seat on same flight for less than the difference using my credit..

Does anyone have a positive experience with an airline? They're all such trash.

My only one is with Porter airlines, flying out of Toronto. It's often delayed but they're incredibly kind and sometimes give me a $15 voucher to the bar! Also a free alcoholic drink on board.

Re: U.S. fines airlines more than $7M for not providing refunds

#67

Post by ghaff »

pxx wrote: post #38
elmomle wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you only get to sit with your loved ones if you have enough money? That's not a world I want to have any part in.

You only get to fly to see your loved ones if you have enough money too. Ancillary revenue like seat assignment fees makes it so that more people can afford to see their loved ones.

I'm not a fan of a lot of the fees that airlines impose--but then I also don't fly budget airlines or buy the cheapest tickets. Personally I'd probably be happier with a more premium flying experience and somewhat higher ticket prices--though not enough to routinely upgrade to business class. And I'm sure there are many people for whom air travel over Christmas to visit family is something of a luxury appreciate being able to spend less money.

Re: U.S. fines airlines more than $7M for not providing refunds

#68

Post by JusticeJuice »

pricechild wrote: post #37
JusticeJuice wrote: post #32

I spent $600 on a flight from London, to San Diego. There's a stopover in New York - but the connecting flight is delayed for six hours. At this point it's 10pm, but they get a plane, we board, we're actually taxing to the runway... and then the flight is canceled. Turns out it would arrive too late in San Diego for noise regulation. We all get off, I get another flight with a different company next thing in the morn…

If you're "departing from an airport in the UK on any airline" then I'm pretty sure the legal minimum compensation is more than that: * https://www.caa.co.uk/passengers/resolving-travel-problems/d... * https://www.caa.co.uk/passengers/resolving-travel-problems/d... It sounds a bit confusing as to whether you were cancelled or delayed, or accepted an offer etc. but I wouldn't accept $24...

I was just so over it, I took the $24 and treated it as a lesson. I talked to a manager, but I couldn't be fucked doing more than that - I wasn't strapped for cash. If I was in my home turf, with a legal system I knew maybe I'd fight it more, but I was a tourist.

Re: U.S. fines airlines more than $7M for not providing refunds

#69

Post by mindslight »

ceejayoz wrote: post #54
thereisnospork wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>If you want to pick your seat, pay for it. Ya its called a ticket, which are typically received in exchange for money. Should airlines also charge a disembarking fee? pay up or don't get off the plane? Seems like that's more money left on the table, captive audience and all.

The ticket in this case is for a flight, not a particular seat on that flight. Think of it like buying lawn seating at a concert. Best spot is taken? Tough luck.

With a general admission concert ticket, your grouping still remains intact. I haven't flown in a while (thankfully), but the original comment makes it sound like they sell you an unassigned seat ticket, but then assign you a specific sometime down the road, perhaps maliciously.

Re: U.S. fines airlines more than $7M for not providing refunds

#70

Post by andrewmunsell »

annoyingnoob wrote: post #56

In my experience, you can get the attention of an airline by complaining about them to the DOT (in the US). I had an airline change my ticket from refundable/changeable to non-refundable/non-changeable. The airline refused to acknowledge our original contract. A complaint to the DOT got their attention quickly and I was refunded quickly. https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/complaint-process

Same experience for me. I had tickets booked under Aeromexico and cancelled them (they had a waiver that provided a cash refund in 12 months after the request, yes that's already ridiculous). I had an email confirmation they would refund the tickets.

After the 12 month period, I spent 2 months calling, email-escalating, and eventually filing a DOT complaint. Aeromexico responded within 2 days of the DOT complaint being received and theoretically is in the process of actually refunding me this time (knock on wood).

$7m is nothing for them. The fines need to be bigger, quicker, and more aggressive to stop this behavior. They are screwing customers because they can get away with it. EU regulations around customer refunds are significantly better than in the US, and we should be heading in that direction to hold these companies accountable.

Side note: my sister actually had tickets on the same route but for an itinerary the week before me and got the refund with no issues, so I have no clue why I had to do the DOT song and dance.

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