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A couple of airlines have filed for bankruptcy this week, most notably ATA (American Trans Air), who was a fairly decent sized regional carrier that was in business for 40 years.
Here are the procedures:
If you've paid via credit card, you need to dispute the charge with your credit card company. Thankfully, the vast majority of travel agencies (mine included) require a credit card in order to book. I cannot TELL you how many people today actually thought it was MY job to call THEIR credit card company and dispute the charge. This is illogical on many points, the most glaring being that I have no way of knowing (nor wish to know) all of your security information to gain access to your account to dispute a charge.
Unfortuately, while this solves the problem of getting your money back, this also means that you must re-purchase the ticket on another airline if you wish to travel. Also unfortuate is that the fare is likely to be much, MUCH higher. This is, apparently, also MY fault. You see, despite this airline declaring bankruptcy, it should be within MY power to dictate to the alternate carrier as to WHAT their fare should be for their particular itinerary.
Don't get me wrong, I can completely understand the frustration that this would cause. What I CAN'T abide is someone SCREAMING at me and DEMANDING that I fix it.
Dude, I can't. If you calm down, take a deep breath and follow my instructions, I can promise we'll work though it and I'll find you a flight. It might not be exactly the times or dates you wanted, but I've been doing this for close to 20 years and it's RARE that I'm unable to find a solution in a situation like this.
However, if you scream and yell at me, make insane demands, curse at me and basically BLAME me for the airline filing bankruptcy, I can promise you that you will receive the BARE MINIMUM of help required for me to keep my job.
Of all the people that called us today about ATA, all of the people who were calm, rational and respectful managed to get rebooked on alternate flights and the vast majority of them weren't out much more money than they were on ATA.
Oddly enough, the customers who yelled, railed, screamed and threatened ended up walking away empty handed.
Ain't it amazing how that happens?
Here are the procedures:
If you've paid via credit card, you need to dispute the charge with your credit card company. Thankfully, the vast majority of travel agencies (mine included) require a credit card in order to book. I cannot TELL you how many people today actually thought it was MY job to call THEIR credit card company and dispute the charge. This is illogical on many points, the most glaring being that I have no way of knowing (nor wish to know) all of your security information to gain access to your account to dispute a charge.
Unfortuately, while this solves the problem of getting your money back, this also means that you must re-purchase the ticket on another airline if you wish to travel. Also unfortuate is that the fare is likely to be much, MUCH higher. This is, apparently, also MY fault. You see, despite this airline declaring bankruptcy, it should be within MY power to dictate to the alternate carrier as to WHAT their fare should be for their particular itinerary.
Don't get me wrong, I can completely understand the frustration that this would cause. What I CAN'T abide is someone SCREAMING at me and DEMANDING that I fix it.
Dude, I can't. If you calm down, take a deep breath and follow my instructions, I can promise we'll work though it and I'll find you a flight. It might not be exactly the times or dates you wanted, but I've been doing this for close to 20 years and it's RARE that I'm unable to find a solution in a situation like this.
However, if you scream and yell at me, make insane demands, curse at me and basically BLAME me for the airline filing bankruptcy, I can promise you that you will receive the BARE MINIMUM of help required for me to keep my job.
Of all the people that called us today about ATA, all of the people who were calm, rational and respectful managed to get rebooked on alternate flights and the vast majority of them weren't out much more money than they were on ATA.
Oddly enough, the customers who yelled, railed, screamed and threatened ended up walking away empty handed.
Ain't it amazing how that happens?
Thats right I was just reading that! Oh you poor thing! 
hope tomorrows not so bad.
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