$1500 Rtn in F on EY CMB-DFW

[MEL_Traveller]

Even if we take into account the (almost) worse case scenario of no limo, no lounge access and no changes/cancellations permitted, it's still a great offer. I guess it's only fair to expect sweating a bit for such a good fare. I would probably be most worried to be refused boarding at the last minute or something like that, but would still take the chance if I had the time to do such a trip.

You could well be denied boarding, not so much at the gate, but at check-in if you don't have appropriate consumer protections. As far as I know, the DOT is the only one offering that. Itineraries should therefore be from, to or within the USA. For an itinerary to be considered 'from or to' it must either terminate there, or have a stopover of at least 24 hours (transits are ruled out).

Canada won't protect passengers on mistake fares, although they have suggested airlines notify passengers of their intention to cancel within 72 hours of the airline becoming aware of the mistake. That of course might not be until you go to check-in or board.

Contract law is unlikely to protect a passenger who knowingly purchases a mistake fare but doesn't seek to actively confirm the validity of that fare with the airline (which kind of defeats the mistake fare!). 'Actively' does not mean simply selecting seats, or 'booking the cook' or calling the airline reservation line and hanging up after hearing 'it is not necessary to reconfirm your flights'.

 

[boomy]

Good info MEL_Traveller, thanks!
Did you hear about anyone denied boarding on mistake fares recently? I wonder how strict the airlines are in these cases.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Good info MEL_Traveller, thanks!
Did you hear about anyone denied boarding on mistake fares recently? I wonder how strict the airlines are in these cases.

Swiss denied boarding* on the ex Rangoon tickets First class tickets (this year and last year). This was as passengers presented themselves at Zurich airport, in transit, after already having flown (with Singapore Airlines) from Rangoon to Singapore and Zurich.

*As a goodwill gesture Swiss offered to carry passengers to either the USA or Canada (the final destination) but only in economy class, not First.

The Canadian Transportation Agency upheld there was no valid contract and Swiss was under no obligation to carry the passengers, despite earlier carriage by another airline. (There were 7 exception to this, a group of passengers who lodged early complaints, to which Swiss mucked up their reply and were told they had to transport the passengers. But those cases have now been distinguished.)

 

[TedE]

Got really excited about the deal til I realised it was an old post. Damn.

 

[defurax]

Got really excited about the deal til I realised it was an old post. Damn.

Not as good as this mistake fare, but EY current J fares CMB-ORD (and many other US cities) are around AUD2,500 return. Not bad at all.

 

[juddles]

Not as good as this mistake fare, but EY current J fares CMB-ORD (and many other US cities) are around AUD2,500 return. Not bad at all.

defurax, in case you have researched this, what are the best available BNE-CMB or SYD-CMB J fares?

 

[defurax]

defurax, in case you have researched this, what are the best available BNE-CMB or SYD-CMB J fares?

For this trip, I went to CMB on a QF classic award on EK in J for 72,000 points and AUD350. I came back on a paid UL CMB-SIN for AUD380 and a QF award SIN-MEL in J. I guess in the future I could also reach SIN on a cheap Y ticket on QF and fly UL in J to CMB.

EK has a lot of award seats to CMB in F and J, even last minute.

 

[Danger]

You could well be denied boarding, not so much at the gate, but at check-in if you don't have appropriate consumer protections. As far as I know, the DOT is the only one offering that. Itineraries should therefore be from, to or within the USA. For an itinerary to be considered 'from or to' it must either terminate there, or have a stopover of at least 24 hours (transits are ruled out).

Canada won't protect passengers on mistake fares, although they have suggested airlines notify passengers of their intention to cancel within 72 hours of the airline becoming aware of the mistake. That of course might not be until you go to check-in or board.

Contract law is unlikely to protect a passenger who knowingly purchases a mistake fare but doesn't seek to actively confirm the validity of that fare with the airline (which kind of defeats the mistake fare!). 'Actively' does not mean simply selecting seats, or 'booking the cook' or calling the airline reservation line and hanging up after hearing 'it is not necessary to reconfirm your flights'.

With respect to the "to, from or within" rule in the DOT guidelines, I think it's important to point out that the requirement to have a stopover was arbitrarily enacted by the DOT during the RGN 'mistake' fare. Nowhere in the published DOT guideline is there reference to any time parameters. In my opinion, the DOT went behind the intent of the regulation by excluding transits from protection.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

With respect to the "to, from or within" rule in the DOT guidelines, I think it's important to point out that the requirement to have a stopover was arbitrarily enacted by the DOT during the RGN 'mistake' fare. Nowhere in the published DOT guideline is there reference to any time parameters. In my opinion, the DOT went behind the intent of the regulation by excluding transits from protection.

I pointed out earlier the DOT was starting to show some discretion regarding obvious mistake fares such as those of the Rangoon nature. The 24 hour rule was one way for them to exercise their discretion. It has now openly stated it is going to give careful consideration to 'blogged' mistakes and how to deal with those (while still protecting the rights of genuine mistake fare cases).

Much of the DOT text people were relying on were exactly that... guidelines or explanatory notes. Not the actual regulation itself IIRC.

 

[Gold Member]

I partook in this generous EY offer only to cancel my ticket a few months later due to the difficulty in getting to/from CMB, airport accommodation and flight timings. I cancelled via credit card chargeback after limited success playing the finger pointing games that EY and the OTA were delighting in. The chargeback was successful and so the funds were returned.

Despite apparently cancelling the ticket, I still received schedule/route/cabin updates thereafter as many others did too. I could even bring up the reservation on both websites. So it seemed as though EY still saw this as a valid ticket. Anyway, I recently recieved a call from EY New York ticketing to follow up on my cancellation request... It seems that they are sorry that this has not been processed yet and requested my CC details for a full refund

Given the way EY treated me while holding a valid First class ticket, I'll put this down to Karma.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Given the way EY treated me while holding a valid First class ticket, I'll put this down to Karma.

I'm presuming didn't offer you a double refund? :shock:

 

[Gold Member]

I'm presuming didn't offer you a double refund? :shock:

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But is has been resolved now with only a single refund in total? Otherwise you are open to being charged with theft

 

[Gold Member]

But is has been resolved now with only a single refund in total? Otherwise you are open to being charged with theft

Theft schmeft... It was sooooo long ago and with all my other travels, how am I supposed to keep track of all my shonky wheelings and dealings??? Honest mistake, just like EY, right?

 

[defurax]

All flights finally credited to AA today! 27,296 miles, not bad for a mistake fare

 

[Danger]

Did any of you who partook in this discount fare (and who travelled on an Australian passport) get a transit visa? I'll be staying for less than 24 hours in CMB soon and as far as I can tell I'm eligible for a transit visa but don't know how to get it or the cost.

 

[defurax]

Did any of you who partook in this discount fare (and who travelled on an Australian passport) get a transit visa? I'll be staying for less than 24 hours in CMB soon and as far as I can tell I'm eligible for a transit visa but don't know how to get it or the cost.

You can get a transit visa (free) or tourist visa (35 USD) online: http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/

The transit visa is up to 48 hours. I took the tourist visa because I was staying in Coombo twice in 10 days.

I highly suggest doing it online, there can be hundreds of people at the Visa On Arrival desk.