Booked a friend's flight now she wont pay me for it. What can I do?

[doobynuts]

Sorry everyone. Thanks for all the posts. I read these forums a lot as I am a frequent flyer but now just getting used to posting and didn't have a chance over the weekend.
Good and bad news. Bad news is Qantas told me that I cannot get a credit or a name change due to it being a non-refundable sale ticket. I rang my credit card company and asked if there was any recourse and was told no because the transaction was authorised by me. I can't take her to court because I have no evidence only verbal that she would pay me the money.
So at this point Saturday evening I was up sh..t creek without a paddle apart from cancelling the flights because I have access to her ref number and details and they arent flying until April. Obviously this would only give me some small satisfaction and would only make things worse but I was fuming and was 5 secs from cancelling the flights and heading down the path of no return when my wife called the parents of her now no longer friend and explained to them the situation. They are latino and very christian - lo and behold we got a promise (from the parents) that I would get my money by the end of this week. Fingers crossed.
Will never ever book and pay for flights for anyone again apart from immediate family. I still think there should be a way to get my money back in case things like this happen to other people.

 

[cove]

This has been a very sobering thread to read doobynuts. I pay for others travel regularly so your story could have been my story if any of my sons has a friend who is out there so to speak.
I hope you are successful in getting paid.

 

[Foreigner]

Happened to me last week. Booked and paid for some flights for another person on a fully refundable and fully flexible fare. QANTAS advised that a refund or name change could only happen with the wrtitten permission of the ticketed person.

This is it...maybe Red Roo can confirm for everyone's benefit.

 

[Deleted member]

Very strange friends your wife has or rather used to have

 

[serfty]

Thanks for coming back.

The old saying goes - "A verbal contact is worth the paper it is written on!".
Posted on a wing & a prayer

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Will never ever book and pay for flights for anyone again apart from immediate family.

Good advice. Bad that it took something like this for you to learn your lesson.

I still think there should be a way to get my money back in case things like this happen to other people.

I would love Red Roo to follow this up and give us advice on how to purchase tickets for other people, but still be protected if something does happen and a cancellation is required...if it can be done. If not, then so be it.


(Sent Red Roo a PM asking what options we have when purchasing tickets to try to protect ourselves, if there is a way of doing so. Will let you know of the outcome if Red Roo gets back to me)

 

[QF WP]

Fingers crossed for a suitable resolution. Escalating to the parents was a masterstroke and I can only imagine the parents' phone call to their daughter and the shame she has brought on them.

Still, they are no longer your friends. Good outcome there!

 

[UP4014]

I'd still be ready to cancel the flights in case nothing forthcoming. hopefully it works out though.

 

[psi999]

I have just booked 20 return flights for a few friends for an event coming up in June - I hope my repayment experience works out a little better than the OP's.

(OP's situation was in the back of my mind at time of booking though)

 

[doobynuts]

Yeah I am still worried that they won't come through or the "beatch" that stuffed me over does something but she hasn't called us so hopefully all good. They aren't wealthy but they aren't poor so I would assume they will take it up with their 41 year old daughter and give her a smack or too.

 

[spudseamus]

doobynuts ! mate im a little short of cash this week and I was wondering jf you could book a Mel -Dub in J for me --honestly I will pay you at the end of my trip !! grin! ( I do hope it ends up ok for you ;0)

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Just got a reply from Red Roo...


Q to Red Roo

Hi Red Roo,
There is a thread about a pax who purchased a ticket for a friend and needed to cancel to ticket because she wouldn't pay.
It's in the 'Your Questions' section of AFF.
Now, the thread has gone on for about 10 pages and it looks like the outcome is that even if I pay for my mates ticket, l have no recourse if cancellation is needed as it's in someone else's name, even though l paid for it on my credit card.
Is there any other way in which a ticket can be purchased for someone else, but the credit card owner still be protected (if a cancellation needs to be done for some reason or another?)
Oneworldplus2

Reply to Q

Hi Oneworldplus2,
The booking is owned by the person whose name is on the booking. From a privacy perspectIve we are unable to change or discuss the booking with anyone else.
I hope this clarifies the situation.
Cheers,
Red Roo

 

[Austman]

Just got a reply from Red Roo...

The booking is owned by the person whose name is on the booking. From a privacy perspectIve we are unable to change or discuss the booking with anyone else.
I hope this clarifies the situation.
Reply to Q

It's just not true. I changed another person's Qantas booking last week. I knew the name and PNR. That's all you need. There is no PIN code. I even explained it was for another person. But I do understand this is the line they might have to officially say.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Have you done the seating allocation for them yet Doobynuts? Call me psychic but I'm sure this woman is the type who would enjoy a middle seat in the last row of whY. It's really handy to the toilets & besides you get to strike up conversation & meet lots of new friends whilst they queue for the loo.

 

[Julesmac]

Have you done the seating allocation for them yet Doobynuts? Call me psychic but I'm sure this woman is the type who would enjoy a middle seat in the last row of whY. It's really handy to the toilets & besides you get to strike up conversation & meet lots of new friends whilst they queue for the loo.

I like your style oz!

 

[cove]

Great thought pattern there oz and that is after your red eye flight! What about the last aisle seat that people brush by in their rush to make the loo crowd after dinner.

 

[doobynuts]

Tomorrow is D Day! Should be ok though fingers crossed. Otherwise this thread might continue a few more pages.

 

[Deleted member]

It's just not true. I changed another person's Qantas booking last week. I knew the name and PNR. That's all you need. There is no PIN code. I even explained it was for another person. But I do understand this is the line they might have to officially say.

Yep. I haven't made or altered or in any changed a booking in years. Paid for all of them. But Mrs GPH is on the job.
Control lies with he or she who has the key to the door.

 

[Deleted member]

Have you done the seating allocation for them yet Doobynuts? Call me psychic but I'm sure this woman is the type who would enjoy a middle seat in the last row of whY. It's really handy to the toilets & besides you get to strike up conversation & meet lots of new friends whilst they queue for the loo.

And would ot like to be too close to travelling companion, maybe even travel on a different day?

 

[oz_mark]

Have you done the seating allocation for them yet Doobynuts? Call me psychic but I'm sure this woman is the type who would enjoy a middle seat in the last row of whY. It's really handy to the toilets & besides you get to strike up conversation & meet lots of new friends whilst they queue for the loo.

A sister-in-law ussed to be a check-in agent in Perth. It's fair to say I learnt to be careful what I said to her!