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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Cancelling non refundable air tickets

234 replies

FlossieLondon · 22/05/2014 10:01

It is looking inceasingly like I won't be able to go the States with my husband for a family wedding, as I have to stay home to care for our son. (See previous thread.)

We've been on to the airline to cancel my tickets (to reclaim tax) to be told that this can't be done for one person on the booking - it is both of us or nothing. We can't do that my husband is best man, he needs to go out on the flight we booked.

After a lot of pleading the airline has finally agreed to cancel my ticket if I want, but the admin fee means that we only get a few pounds back. This is only a matter of changing the booking on a computer? What the hell? I am bloody furious.

Keeping the ticket for the moment... hoping and praying that another seat will become available so our son can come with us.

OP posts:

TenMinutesEarly · 22/05/2014 10:43

Changing name to your ds and booking another adult ticket on a new flight is a good idea.

ItIsAnIdeasGame · 22/05/2014 10:44

They will often only let you change the name if it is 3 letters out, not reissue a ticket voice of bitter experience

jacks365 · 22/05/2014 10:45

The tickets are non refundable and non transferable so changing to the son is not possible.

Original poster

FlossieLondon · 22/05/2014 10:45

Alright well I got roasted because I was angry and said things about her I shouldn't have done. Not angry anymore but still very hurt, but I am not doing that subject again on here so let's leave it at that.

OP posts:

moldingsunbeams · 22/05/2014 10:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

drspouse · 22/05/2014 10:48

If he's only 3, does he need his own seat or, at a push, could he sit on your / DH's knee for the flight?

Children over 2 need a seat of their own.

Can you beg and plead a bit more to ask to change the seats to you and DS, and put your husband on standby?

After all, it's not like your DS takes up more room than your DH so as far as they're concerned it's equivalent.

Or alternatively admin fees to change to a different flight are usually around £100-£150 per person, even for a non-refundable, economy non-full fare flight (i.e. what real people buy). Can you ask them what's available for all three of you?

Original poster

FlossieLondon · 22/05/2014 10:51

Not my husband on stand-by he has to go on the flight.

For the last time. I can't change flights or names on my non-flexible tickets. We've begged and pleaded and the airline will not have it. We're stuffed.

OP posts:

sezamcgregor · 22/05/2014 10:52

Hi Flossie

My mum works in catering too and I have had to not go to lots of things over the years when her rota has changed or she's point blank refused to ask for the day off in case her manager then starts reducing her hours and being silly with her.

With your situation, I would have made a contingency plan, although I do think your mum's boss is being unfair - and I'm sure you can't take back someone's booked holiday days.

I'd appeal to friends and extended family and call the airline to see if they can compromise.

Sorry I can't be more help.

ILoveCoreyHaim · 22/05/2014 10:53

The airline could help you if they wanted and make some more money. All they need to do is change the 2 adult tickets to you and your son's name and book and extra adult ticket on another flight. Ask to speak to a manager and say you will book and pay for ticket there and then on another available flight

jacks365 · 22/05/2014 10:55

The airline have told them that the only option is an upgrade costing £5000 which is unaffordable.

Op I would go the goodbye route if I were you and hope for a no show but not sure how you would get round the luggage needed.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 22/05/2014 11:01

When is the flight date?.

This is precisely the bugbear with non transferable and non refundable airline tickets. BA amongst other carriers do issue economy tickets that are fully transferable but you have to pay a lot more for those.

I am sorry but you may well have to take the financial hit on your airline ticket anyway.

I would still talk to the airline (get hold of the most senior person possible) and see if there is a spare seat in the economy section; this will not though be known till the morning of departure.

(I take it as read that your son does have a passport; the ESTA and API for him will still have to be completed for the American authorities before the flight actually departs).

sezamcgregor · 22/05/2014 11:01

Not sure when you are, but try this lovely lady who offers nannying:

www.facebook.com/eastmidlandsnightnanny?fref=ts

ItIsAnIdeasGame · 22/05/2014 11:13

It's when I read things like 'just put a 3 year old on your knee' or 'change the name' that MR is full of people who actually post advice whilst being utterly in the dark on how things work themselves. (Even with sisters).

OP can you find out if it is oversold?

ikeaismylocal · 22/05/2014 11:15

I would think paying a nanny for a week of 24 hour a day care would actually cost more than buying a new adult + toddler ticket.

Can you buy a ticket for the plane ride home? If you are going to have the same faff on the way home I'd just resign myself to not going, but if you can book the homeward flight I would risk it, turn up to wave daddy off and hopefully pick up a last minute ticket for ds.

Would visa or insurance be an issue?

ItIsAnIdeasGame · 22/05/2014 11:18

Can you buy a single for you and a return for your d's ( on a different plane from your DH) then fly back together?

drspouse · 22/05/2014 11:22

Not my husband on stand-by he has to go on the flight.

Does he actually have to go on THAT flight or can he go on one that arrives, say, 6 or 8 hours later with another carrier?

I am not at all surprised that the flights are not refundable but a trans-atlantic flight is usually changeable for a (sometimes fairly hefty but not £5000 hefty) fee. I've just been looking at flights myself, also the same kind of distance, and I couldn't find any that were the "cheapest available for that route" that didn't offer some kind of change of date fee for about £100-150.

I think the airline could do a change of day or a change of name if they wanted to, for a fee. They are just being annoying. We've frequently changed day though to be fair we did check when we bought the tickets that we could (again, for a fee).

If you are serious about trying to all fly out, you might get some advice on the flyertalk forums but be prepared for lots of technical information.

feesh · 22/05/2014 11:33

Why don't you cancel both yours and your husband's flight, if that's what the airline need you to do, and then rebook on the same/another flight?

It's worth noting noting that you are normally offered a range of economy class prices when booking on an airlines' website, and each comes with different T&Cs. If you want the cheapest tickets, you do have to accept that they will be the least flexible. If you want more flexibility, you usually have to pay more.

feesh · 22/05/2014 11:33

Why don't you cancel both yours and your husband's flight, if that's what the airline need you to do, and then rebook on the same/another flight?

feesh · 22/05/2014 11:33

Why don't you cancel both yours and your husband's flight, if that's what the airline need you to do, and then rebook on the same/another flight?

whydidyoudothat · 22/05/2014 11:36

Airlines are able to change names on tickets, but they don't like to, it's only in extreme circumstances that they would do. They would normally ask that you pay in full at todays fare for the new ticket to be issued in the new name and apply for a refund of the original named ticket, less a fee for the name change. Could you maybe see if they would do this for you and change your ticket to your sons name, then book yourself onto a later flight? Or a flight with a different carrier/ route to a nearby airport?

Unfortunately there will always be a fee, even to reclaim unused taxes as someone still has to cancel the ticket and complete the paperwork for the refund. doesn't matter that they're keeping the money for a flight you're not using

Helpys · 22/05/2014 11:43

I remember your other thread.

Have you investigated the cost of a nanny for a week?

NoImSpartacus · 22/05/2014 11:44

The airline won't change the name on a non flex ticket, (as the OP has already pointed out). That is that. They are not 'being annoying'; as dogmatic as it may seem, they have rules to abide to and have lots of people asking for the same thing the OP is asking for every single day. if you want flexibility, you have to pay for it.

OP if I were you I would get in touch with a travel agent (Flight Centre are good) and see if you can be waitlisted on the flight, that way if someone cancels, you will have a chance of getting a seat for your son. Otherwise just call the airline every few hours, every day, make a nuisance of yourself, checking on the status of the availability. People cancel seats all the time, I'm an assistant to a guy who travels extensively and he is often waitlisted on flights and these usually clear, meaning a seat becomes available for him.

Good luck, I can tell by your post how stressed you are about this, but it will all come good, I'm sure.

oranges · 22/05/2014 11:44

are you on Twitter? It may be worth asking the airline publicly through their twitter account, for a possible solution. Ideally they should be able to get you and your son on another flight for a reasonable fee plus the difference in flight cost. If you can't afford that, then yes, sorry you are possibly just stuck.

ItIsAnIdeasGame · 22/05/2014 11:45

I 2 as told by the airline it was to do with security rules. I had to add my mum's full name (like an idiot I had booked it with her short name). It was sorted in the end but we went into the shop and my dh is a gold card member.

Seriously ask around on a travel forum?

Original poster

FlossieLondon · 22/05/2014 15:18

Thanks NoImSpartacus for some really sensible advice. My husband is dealing with the airline because I am so stressed about this, that I burst into tears when speaking to a customer service rep.

And after all the hassle and extra work my mum has had from the sous chef walking out, she's not been feeling well. She went to the doctor last night who has written her off for two weeks, due to work related stress. She can have more time if she needs it and her manager will have to find someone to cover.

I feel guilty, very guilty but she says it's not my fault. Of course I am not going to ask her to look after a naughty toddler in the circumstances if she is still off work, so don't start on me please!!

OP posts:

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