Booking flights and credit card not accepted

[JohnK]

I booked my first DJ flights last night for travel to Ozfest V in Hobart in May 2008.

I was quite late and only about half an hour before the sale was due to end. It would not accept my Amex Gold credit card. No problems with this card in the past. I tried a few times and after still getting the same error message I then used the Earth Amex credit card and the booking was processed.

The flights booked are in May 2008, the Amex Gold card expires in March 2008 and the Earth Amex expires in June 2008. I am paying for the booking up front. Why was the Amex Gold card rejected? I think it is due to the Amex Gold card expiring before the flights booked!

This type of situation would not occur that often but if the reason is as I have stated then DJ almost lost my booking and will lose future bookings. This is unacceptable. Early next year, before Amex Gold card expires, I will be booking flights for later on in the year. I certainly hope that this situation does not occur again. Can someone from DJ or someone that understands terms and conditions a little better please explain it to me?

 

[Yada Yada]

I booked my first DJ flights last night for travel to Ozfest V in Hobart in May 2008.

Hi John,

Well I must say that I am shocked! :shock: :shock: :shock: Not about the problem with your Amex, but rather the fact that you will be flying Virgin Blue!!! I thought you'd sworn never to fly with them. What gives?

I've never had a problem using my Amex Gold card when booking VB flights but I'm usually not booking them very far in advance. I guess it is possible that you have uncovered a bug in their software because as you say, if you are paying now, who cares that the flight is after the card expires? :-|

 

[ColinP]

Notwithstanding your credit card problems, I'd like to hear what you think of DJ John.

I think you're in for a pleasant surprise.

 

[serfty]

DJ flying is quite OK, especially when as a WP one can use the QP beforehand ...

 

[JohnK]

Well I must say that I am shocked! :shock: :shock: :shock: Not about the problem with your Amex, but rather the fact that you will be flying Virgin Blue!!! I thought you'd sworn never to fly with them. What gives?

The credit card issue is more important. Not sure if I said I would never fly DJ but I was always going to give them a chance when the price difference between DJ and QF was significant. Also as my QF anniversary is end of May and I will have requalified Platinum easily by then so perfect opportunity to plan the first DJ flights.

In most cases when I have looked at booking flights the difference between DJ and QF is only marginal and most times last minute bookings DJ is much more expensive. In this case SYD-HBA-xMEL-SYD with DJ was close to $100 cheaper. I am returning from Hobart Sunday night but if I had left earlier on Sunday, or on Monday morning, on the HBA-SYD direct service then the saving would have been close to $140.

I guess it is possible that you have uncovered a bug in their software because as you say, if you are paying now, who cares that the flight is after the card expires? :-|

Hopefully someone can confirm this....

 

[Petch]

I booked my first DJ flights ... It would not accept my Amex

I too had problems booking my 1st ever flight with DJ, using Amex. The first time it declined, and I thought "huh"?!? So I tired again, and the second time it went through, but I think it said it was an off-line transaction or something. So for the next few days I was worried that the transaction hadn't gone through, because every time I logged onto the flight PNR it said "Pending". I think it took almost a week, before the "Pending" ticked over to "Confirmed".

I have booked other flights on DJ with my Amex since then, without problems.

 

[serfty]

Doh! :shock:

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/djs-biggest-ever-happy-hour-11551.html

Sydney to Hobart $59^

Travel Period: 01/05/08 - 31/05/08

 

[kpc]

Sydney to Hobart $59^

Travel Period: 01/05/08 - 31/05/08

Doh! :shock:

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/djs-biggest-ever-happy-hour-11551.html

My $142 Syd-Hba return trip on J*for Ozfest 5 is starting to look a tad expensive now

 

[JohnK]

Doh! :shock:

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/djs-biggest-ever-happy-hour-11551.html

Unfortunately I had to book flights and could not wait for another sale at the risk of the flights I wanted selling out. BTW a few flights on those days have already sold out of the cheaper fares. I paid ~$184 for SYD-HBA-xMEL-SYD ($69 for the flight down and $109 for the flight back) including 2 lots of $3 credit card surcharge.

With the sale mentioned above I would have only saved another $20 or so. I opted for the Sunday night flight which is not direct otherwise spend $115 accommodation for Sunday night in Hobart to save $40 on the direct service SYD-HBA Monday morning.

 

[serfty]

Cheers,

I had something similar happen to me re my (& SWMBO) recent AKL-ZQN flight. I was wait ... waiting ... waiting for a sale but then saw the O fares fall from O9 to O5; not wanting to miss out altogether (N class was NZD60 more each) I booked (on a Thursday) and the O's fell to O3.

Next Tuesday, sales were released which would have saved us NZD25 each, but by the time I saw them, O was zero so would not have been available anyway.

In Mid October I booked MEL-HBA on QF for $99 each and HBA-MEL on JQ for $49 each using sales around at the time.