BestJet in Administration

[williamsf1]

Many people have booked with this company ( with mixed results)

hopefully, no one here has been caught out

TD breaking news – Bestjet placed into administration | Travel Daily

 

[Scott K]

I used them a few times, got stung once when I miss-booked and had to change, resulting in an extortionate fee. Around the same time a friend got stung for a fee when their flight was changed by the airline, and Bestjet stung them too - even though it was just a change of aircraft.

I stopped using them then, realising if there were issues, booking via the airline made it cheaper in the long run.

I can’t say i’ll be sad to see them go.

 

[TheInsider]

Run by the wife of ex Air Australia boss (who was banned from managing corporations for 3 years). Seems like a lot of airlines are already voiding tickets (EK/AC).

A bit more information here: Budget travel website Bestjet collapses just days from Christmas

 

[levelnine]

It's a shame they have collapsed.

They were often excellent for producing low prices that could be used to get the same price at qantas.com using Qantas' price guarantee.

 

[Virgin Bart]

So, I've been stung.

The facts:

• Booked through BestJet
• Booked on 31 October, got e-ticket 31 October
• MEL-LAX-MEL booking on VA, VA ticket (795)
• Called VA to reconfirm yesterday (19/12)
• Ticket was "refunded" on 18/12
• VA say booking is "refunded but not cancelled and not ok to fly" (whatever that means)
• VA can't tell me if refund was from them to BJ, or from BJ to me
• I'll give it a week, if no refund on my CC then I'll do a chargeback
• BJ phone number, website and physical address are all shut.

From FFA Facebook page I seem to be the only one that's had their ticket cancelled so I'm interested to read your comment

Seems like a lot of airlines are already voiding tickets (EK/AC).

.
The worse part in all of this is that when i call VA they keep insisting I speak to BJ directly...
Sigh.

 

[Virgin Bart]

For those interested, I've just submitted a chargeback with Qantas Monday (credit card company).

I'll keep this post updated.

Fun and games
31 Oct - flight booked
18 Dec - ticket refunded to OTA, OTA in administration
20 Dec - chargeback initiated

 

[cjd600]

For those interested, I've just submitted a chargeback with Qantas Monday (credit card company).

I'll keep this post updated.

Fun and games
31 Oct - flight booked
18 Dec - ticket refunded to OTA, OTA in administration
20 Dec - chargeback initiated

Good luck, what a nightmare

 

[MH_fan]

Bought tickets through Bestjet in late Sep (before they changed hands). I think I'm ok. Nothing directly from the airline indicating that my tickets have been affected by them going under.

 

[MH_fan]

So, I've been stung.

The facts:

• Booked through BestJet
• Booked on 31 October, got e-ticket 31 October
• MEL-LAX-MEL booking on VA, VA ticket (795)
• Called VA to reconfirm yesterday (19/12)
• Ticket was "refunded" on 18/12
• VA say booking is "refunded but not cancelled and not ok to fly" (whatever that means)
• VA can't tell me if refund was from them to BJ, or from BJ to me
• I'll give it a week, if no refund on my CC then I'll do a chargeback
• BJ phone number, website and physical address are all shut.

From FFA Facebook page I seem to be the only one that's had their ticket cancelled so I'm interested to read your comment
.
The worse part in all of this is that when i call VA they keep insisting I speak to BJ directly...
Sigh.

I don't get how they can cancel your ticket when you booked 7 weeks ago and had an e-ticket issued! I can understand if you bought your tickets within the last week that there'd be problems.

 

[TheInsider]

So, I've been stung.
From FFA Facebook page I seem to be the only one that's had their ticket cancelled so I'm interested to read your comment
.
The worse part in all of this is that when i call VA they keep insisting I speak to BJ directly...
Sigh.

If the ticket has been voided, then I suggest doing the chargeback straight away.
There are people on Whirlpool that are stating there tickets have also been voided. Wil be up to the airline to change it over to this status, and considering it only really happened yesterday, there may be quite a process to void all the tickets.

 

[TheInsider]

I don't get how they can cancel your ticket when you booked 7 weeks ago and had an e-ticket issued! I can understand if you bought your tickets within the last week that there'd be problems.

Because TA's don't pay their bills straight ayay. It could be 3-6 months before they actually send the money over to the airline.
So when a flight gets 'ticketed', it will then be charged against an 'account', then invoices would be sent through.

 

[MH_fan]

Because TA's don't pay their bills straight ayay. It could be 3-6 months before they actually send the money over to the airline.
So when a flight gets 'ticketed', it will then be charged against an 'account', then invoices would be sent through.

I did not know that! I'll be keeping a close eye on my tickets then in case they mysteriously "disappear".

 

[TheInsider]

I did not know that! I'll be keeping a close eye on my tickets then in case they mysteriously "disappear".

There were another two OTA that also recently went bankrupt (can't remember the names), but every issued ticket (100%) were voided. From what QF did, they just charged the same amount but directly to the customer through the same PNR, while issuing a new ticket. Other airlines are just cancelling and making people rebook new tickets all together.

 

[UP4014]

Neverwith anything on line the value is gone once the website is off.

I don't get how they can cancel your ticket when you booked 7 weeks ago and had an e-ticket issued! I can understand if you bought your tickets within the last week that there'd be problems.

They wanted some money so request a few refunds.......

 

[MH_fan]

Neverwith anything on line the value is gone once the website is off.


They wanted some money so request a few refunds.......

That is just outrageous and so dodgy!

 

[Seasoned Traveller]

Run by the wife of ex Air Australia boss (who was banned from managing corporations for 3 years). Seems like a lot of airlines are already voiding tickets (EK/AC).

A bit more information here: Budget travel website Bestjet collapses just days from Christmas

I never saw Rachel James in the Office at all, BestJet was started in 2012 and I only saw Michael James in the Office.

 

[JohnK]

Feel sorry for anyone involved.

Very tempting to book some of these cheap fares but prefer to book direct with airlines.

 

[Must...Fly!]

It does pay to be careful with OTAs. I generally won't book with them either, but if it's a lot cheaper just keep hunting around the various sites until I see the price at a somewhat reputable (or at least, solvent) OTA - aka one backed by Expedia or FCG.

 

[MH_fan]

I never saw Rachel James in the Office at all, BestJet was started in 2012 and I only saw Michael James in the Office.

When he shouldn't have been!

 

[Hvr]

A good reason to always purchase tickets with a credit card.

Is there anyway for a passenger to 'claim ownership' of a booking from the OTA via the airline? Or can the OTA cancel whenever they want even mid-trip?


(I'm not affected but just wanted to know.)