Non-Flying Passenger Rebate

[crackernut2]

Can anyone advise me please, I was the lead passenger of a party of five on a 14 day flight only trip to Tenerife. The morning after our arrival one of our party fell ill and had to be hospitalised.
Eventually, after 11 days his insurance had him flown home. On the morning of our departure I telephoned the Airline to explain why we would be a passenger short and was told that as the passenger was already in the UK there would be no problem.
As we had paid for return tickets we expected to find an empty seat where we could put our missing friends extra hand luggage etc. only to find that the seat had been re-allocated. Should we have the right to claim a refund for his return part of the ticket?

[Zacs-Master]

Depends what it says in the terms and conditions of your booking. I would strongly suspect that the airline has some small print which allows them to do this.

[bednobs]

what about the insurance?

[campbellking]

To be honest with you, most airline companies overbook their flights, and rely on no-shows to enhance their profit margins. This is why some people are paid money not to take flights when everyone turns up. Any refund must be down to the insurance company.

[zebo]

Be glad they didn't try to charge you extra because he had used the return ticket as a single which is often more expensive! Sounds daft but back in the day when flights were sold as returns a friend of ours didn't return, he'd met someone and stayed on for a few more days, and the airline tried to claim for a single, which was dearer than a return.

[Zacs-Master]

‘he had used the return ticket as a single’

No he hadn’t. He’d been flow home On a separate flight

[zebo]

But he hadn't flown home on the ticket as issued, the insurance would have made separate arrangements.

[Zacs-Master]

That’s not what you said. Anyway it’s irrelevant. See my first answer

[sapelesam]

In 1988, I was booked on a golfing holiday in Spain. Due to fly on a Thursday I unexpectantly had to attend a funeral so booked a one way ticket for the following day. The leader of the group explained this at the airlines desk at Manchester Airport, the lady rang her office and confirmed my return flight would not be cancelled. Obviously he got nothing in writing, only her name. As you will have guessed,after seven glorious days of golf, arrived at airport to find my ticket cancelled. The return flights had been £130, I was stuck in Spain for two more nights, flight home £175, hotel £80, food and drink £40. Good job I had a good limit on my Barclaycard. I never got a penny refund.

[jno]

no, in effect he's sold his seat to the insurance company. They might like to take it up with the airline but they probably won't; I expect there's something in its T&Cs saying it can do this.

[237SJ]

He was a no show so the airline is free to sell the seat to someone else (probably a stand by passenger or staff)

[crackernut2]

many thanks everyone, to be honest I was testing the ground as regards to making a claim. I just thought that it was a "bit of a liberty" on the airlines behalf. I would like to warn anyone who decides to ignore taking out travel insurance. Believe me without it we would still be sitting in A&E with a comatose brother-in-law trying to raise £6000!
How come European women can come here one day, have a baby delivered the next, and go home the next day, all pro gratis?!!

[Islay]

The pregnant women scenario is due to an agreement that we have with some European states using the E111 card.

[crackernut2]

We had to sit in A&E with an E11 card but the Hospital staff were not interested. They would not do anything until we came up with a 2000 Euro deposit!

[hc4361]

Crackernut, which hospital was that? I know Tenerife quite well and have never had problems using the E11 card

[Jahulaye]

Why did you Phone the airline in the 1st place?

[crackernut2]

hc4361, Las Americas, Hospiten

Jahulaye, As a precaution. We didn't know what to expect when we checked in with one passenger less on the ticket.

[hc4361]

That explains it, crackernut - it's a private hospital which is why they wouldn't accept the E11 card. The insurance should have covered the costs.