Why will not likely Air France refund canceled flight?

Expensive Vacation TROUBLESHOOTER: I have been hoping for months to get a refund from Expedia for flights canceled all through the pandemic. Even though Expedia has politely replied to all my refund requests, I even now really do not have my funds.

I utilized Expedia to guide spherical-excursion tickets from Boston to Paris on Air France last March. Just just before the departure date, I been given a textual content concept from Air France. It explained it canceled my flight from Boston to Paris because of the virus and rebooked me on a Delta flight rather. Air France transferred my flight with out my understanding or consent. Of class, Delta canceled its flight as well.

Considering the fact that that time, I have designed a number of requests for a refund of $568. Each time, Expedia has politely replied that the ask for is on the way, but there are delays for the reason that Air France is “overwhelmed” with the cancellation requests. An Expedia representative explained it could acquire up to 12 months, but it’s been substantially extended. Can you assist me get a refund for the canceled Air France flight?

— Liga Aldins, Westwood, Massachusetts

Response: Air France owes you a prompt refund. If an airline cancels your flight, you’re entitled to an instant refund. If you take a rescheduled flight, then the exact cancellation terms apply as before. Which is to say, if the airline cancels, you can get a complete refund if you terminate, you get a ticket credit. But you by no means approved the new flight.

I see the back and forth among you and Expedia in the paper trail you presented. You were proper to lean on your on the internet vacation agent for a refund, but it appears to be as if the internet site was powerless to move your refund ahead. It was not even apparent who had your money. Was it Air France, Delta or Expedia? (Remedy: It was Air France.)

I fully grasp that refunds are slower all through the pandemic, but this is preposterous. Functioning with Expedia really should make the approach transfer faster, due to the fact technically an on the web travel agent is your advocate.

You could have arrived at out to an govt at Expedia. I publish the names, figures and email addresses of Expedia’s supervisors on my buyer advocacy web site at www.elliott.org/firm-contacts/expedia-client-company-contacts/. If that didn’t function, you could have also achieved out to Air France (www.elliott.org/firm-contacts/air-france/) or Delta (www.elliott.org/firm-contacts/delta-air-lines-customer-services-contacts/). Numerous readers have applied the govt contacts for assist receiving refunds for the duration of the pandemic, and those people executives had been quite responsive.

I like the actuality that you kept all of your conversation with Expedia in producing. That is fantastic if you have to demonstrate you did your thanks diligence (which you absolutely did). But at some position, you’ll will need to escalate this to the future degree.

By the way, if that does not function, you can always file a dispute with your credit card firm. That’s also labored for a great deal of vacationers trying to get pandemic flight refunds.