what sorts of things can you ask for for compansation on a airline?

Question

My airline double billed me and befor I call and complain I want to think of what I can get for compansation. because of them we went overdrawn in our bank meaning we owe the bank, We have to call long distance to sort this out as well. Anyone know what I kight be able to get apart from a free upgrade?

Answer 1

Back-to-back charges for identical big-ticket items are often taken care of without a customer even realizing anything happened. Since you noticed, either phone your bank to sort it out (a local call), or phone the credit card's toll-free customer service number if your bank can't handle it for you. I don't think you'll be able to get anything if it was truly a merchant error on double-billing if it becomes rectified quickly.

Answer 2

The main thing you need to be sure of is that you were double billed and not just had a hold placed on your account. I have seen this many times, where a person uses a debit card to buy a large item such as an airline ticket. The problem is that when you request to buy the tickets (it always happens when there are two tickets) teh airline hits your account to request say $500 (two tickets at $250). The bank then waits for the $500 charge to go through. Instead, two different transactions go through for $250 because each transaction has its own ticket number. Your bank keeps holding the $500 "authorization" for however long each bank wants to, and the airline has taken $250 twice to pay for the tickets.

Unfortunately this isn't the airlines problem, it is the banks problem and the way the government tells the airlines they have to account (sell) for each ticket (each transaction has to clearly list individual ticket numbers). 99% of the time this is easily corrected with a POLITE phone call to the airline who can then call the bank and ask if they will remove the hold. At that point the bank realizes the error (only the vendor, airline, can get the authorization removed so don't waste your time with the bank until you have talked to the airline) and you can then discuss having the overdraft fees reimbursed. The only time I have seen a problem arise with getting the holds removed is if you do banking with Wells Fargo. In that case you are out of luck because they won't remove authorizations EVER.

Best of luck with an upgrade, but again, this isn't the airlines fault. Yes you bought the ticket from them, but it is a fault with the banking system. That is why I never purchase any airline tickets with a debit card.

Answer 3

You probably won't even get a free upgrade for this; it's definitely worth asking, but they're not going to be very generous. After all, it's technically your fault for being overdrawn for not having more money in your account and not checking your balances every day. Plus the people who will be sorting out the billing problems rarely (if ever) have access to the reservations systems to begin with. Just letting you know what their position will be. Airlines don't give free stuff out all that often any more and usually you only get freebies and compensation if they're moving you around to make room for other passengers--- like being bumped for an oversold flight. Like I said, it does not hurt to ask, but don't get your hopes up. You may want to ask for a large number of miles instead of an actual upgrade--- you can do with them whatever you want, and it might be easier to get.