If you book a non-refundable air ticket, you need to be made aware at the time that it's non-refundable, don't you?

[bintofbohemia]

I used to work as a travel agent years ago and I vaguely remember that when selling an IATA or non-refundable ticket, you had to make the client aware of this at the time of booking, am I remembering correctly?

We booked flights over the phone with the RBS and have only just discovered that you can't cancel them and it's £100pp to date change. In the middle of negotiations with them as they didn't record the call, but we stand to lose £1500.

bumping in desperate hope that a travel agnet might wander in...

Oh yes - they should have either read T&C or sent you a copy with your ticket .

Thanks Rosa! They did send the T&Cs with the ticket, but this was bout 4 days after we booked and paid, so not much use! They also made the wrong booking initally, had to re-do the paper work, and then undercharged us and had to come back for more cash. Not good...

They should have faxed them to you or made you sign them at the time of booking or made you aware of them - it makes up your contract with them..... Take it further - I would !

Cheers - DH is dealing with it and insisting that they take it further. Their advice was to cancel (losing £1500) and then file a complaint afterwards!!

If they don't refund us, we have to decide betwenn just losing the money (which we can ill afford to do) or going away for a month and spending money which is meant to be a deposit on a house. Grim, either way.

Nooo good for DH sorry for the person who made you booking as it sounds as if they did not follow the protocol ...
Its been a while since I was in the thick of things but don't give up and don't let them keep your dosh either....

I used to work in travel and we would always have to advise clients on the phone whether it was a restricted ticket and that was then backed up by email confirmation of the fare restrictions and rules.
You definately should have been told!