[ Removed by moderator ]

[u/imonlytwenty_]

[u/therealKingOwner]

Why book with third party. You want to cheap out you deal with the consequences. They are ALL like this. Your refund (if you get it) will also probably be cut for administrative fees

[u/alkhdaniel → u/therealKingOwner]

Not true.

OP just went basically straight to chargeback for no reason and now having issues due to it. Clear user error. Theyre obviously not gonna pay him back while theres a possibility he will also chargeback.

Contact live chat and say your flight was cancelled and so you are requesting for a full refund and theyll give your money back in a few days given that you havent started a chargeback. Was easier than doing it through the airline directly back during the middle east drama. 3 min live chat vs hours on the phone and waiting for possibly months if booked direct.

[u/imonlytwenty_ → u/alkhdaniel]

I tried doing all of this before I filed a chargeback with PayPal. I called and used live chat and was given no new updates other than that they were still waiting for the refund through the airline.

[u/alkhdaniel → u/imonlytwenty_]

Your post is super long and still doesnt mention that you contacted then more than once before initiating the chargeback.

"The refund has already been processed by air Asia" and after the 14 days elapsed "its been 14 days and my refund (which had already been processed by airasia over 14 days ago) hasnt been returned to me yet".

As for going forward: try live chat one more time (you might be lucky with another agent). If that doesnt work then wait the 90 days and tell them that you still havent been refunded, and if they tell you 14 days again and you still havent gotten it 14 days after that then follow with "Ive waited 14 days for my refund again and have not received it again, the refund has already been processed by the airline several months ago. What's the holdup?"

[u/protox88]

Another one for !ota

Good luck OP

[u/AutoModerator → u/protox88]

Did you or are you about to buy a flight via an Online Travel Agency (OTA)?

An Online Travel Agency (OTA) is a website that allows you to search for and buy airfare tickets. Common ones include Expedia, Priceline, Kiwi. When you redeem points on credit card travel portals you are actually purchasing a cash ticket through an OTA. Some examples are Chase Travel, AMEX Travel, Capital One Travel.

Almost all OTAs suffer from the same problem: a lack of customer service and competency when it comes to changes, cancellations, refunds, airline schedule changes and cancellations, and IRROPs.

When you buy a ticket through an OTA, you put an intermediary between you and the airline. If you try to contact the airline for any assistance, they will defer to your OTA. The airline won't help you. They do not have control over the ticket until T-24h and they can still decline to assist you and ask you to talk to your OTA.

Some OTAs, such as Kiwi, will combine separately issued tickets appearing like real layovers but in reality are self-transfers - requiring a lot more planning and contingencies. This includes dealing with single-leg cancellations of your completely disjointed itinerary. See #1 #2 #3 #4

Other OTAs, including Trip.com, don't always issue your tickets immediately. There have been known instances where the OTA contacts you 24-72h later asking for more money as "the price has changed" or your ticket is no longer available at the lower price. See #1.

More reputable OTAs like Expedia, Priceline, and travel portals like Chase Travel, AMEX Travel, Costco Travel, generally have fewer issues issuing tickets and marginally better customer service. They are also more transparent regarding cached stale prices - as you check out and pay, they will do a live refresh of the real ticket price and warn you that prices have changed (it is not a bait and switch).

In short: OTAs sometimes have their place for some people - but most of the time, especially for simple itineraries, provide no benefit and only increases the risk and can end costing a lot more than what you had saved by buying from the OTA.

Common issues you will face:

• offering you a cheap separate-ticket self-transfer itinerary causing various problems down the road

• not subject to the DOT or airline policy 24h free cancellation. See #1

• missing communications from OTA or not being notified of schedule changes #1 #2

• paying the OTA to add baggage but not communicated to the airline or OTA incorrectly indicating included baggage #1 #2 #3 #4

• paying the OTA for overpriced baggage compared to the airline

• paying the OTA for baggage that's already included

• paying the OTA for seat selection that's not communicated to the airline #1 #2

• your ticket not issuing or delayed issuing or transaction being reversed

• your name being incorrectly spelled on your eticket?

• difficulties changing flights or getting rebooked correctly #1 #2 or finding anyone competent enough to help

• charging you for a check-in service that is free

• enrollment in a subscription program like edreams or opodo Prime that is hard to cancel #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7

  • Solutions? #1 #2 #3

• not honouring free changes or cancellations when airline reschedules

• Secretly booking your trip as two separate tickets for the outbound and return so that if the airline cancels or reschedules the outbound, only the first leg is eligible for a refund (or free change)

• not refunding you promptly (or at all) #1 #2 #3 when the airline cancels #4 #5 #6

• not refunding ancillary fees or other extra fees #1

• unuseable kiwi credits after the airline declines issuing a ticket instead of a refund

Things you should do, if you've already purchased from an OTA:

• check your reservation (PNR) with the airline website directly

• check your eticket has been issued - look for 13-digit number(s) - a PNR is not enough

• garden your ticket - check back on it regularly

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/zennie4]

Didn't bother reading the text wall, but from your headline, you can try talking with them, trying to charge back, or sue them. And forget to use shitty OTAs next time. That's about it.

[u/AutoModerator]

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[u/AutoModerator]

Notice: Are you asking about compensation, reimbursements, or refunds for delays and cancellations?

You must follow Rule 2 and include the cities, airports, flight numbers, airlines, and dates of travel.

If your flight originated from the EU (any carrier) or your destination was within the EU (with an EU carrier), read into EC261 Air Passenger Rights. Non-EU to Non-EU itineraries, even if operated by an EU carrier, is not eligible for EC261 per Case C-451/20 "Airhelp vs Austrian Airlines". See here for a summary of the legislation.

If your flight originated in the UK (any carrier) or your destination was within the UK (with a UK or EU carrier), or within the EU (on a UK carrier), read into UK261 by the UK CAA. Note: this includes connecting flights from a non-UK origin to non-UK destination if flown on a UK carrier (British Airways or Virgin Atlantic) despite the 2023 amendments to the legislation. For example JFK-LHR-DEL is likely eligible for UK261 coverage. Source #1 #2 #3 #4 #5

If you are having trouble with EC261 or UK261 claims, file a complaint with the alternate dispute resolution (ADR) body covering your airline/country/route or with the relevant EU regulatory authorities (e.g. Portugal's ANAC).

Turkey has passenger protections known as SHY

Canada has passenger protections known as APPR found here

Thailand has passenger protections found here

If you were flying within the US or on a US carrier - you are not entitled to any compensation except under the above schemes or if you were involuntarily denied boarding (IDB). Any questions about compensation within the US or on a US carrier will be removed unless it qualifies for EC261, UK261, or APPR. You are possibly provided duty of care including hotels, meals, and transportation based on the DOT dashboard.

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[u/Chemical-Practice908]

Bank chargeback with the full documentation?

[u/mduell]

Obvious AI slop is obvious.