Usa Travel Mess Up... Any Ideas? Help!

[divegirl]

I know there's probably nothing that can be done but, here's the long and the short of it!

My son is travelling to America on Monday [17th] for three months back packing, he, on my recommendation used a local [Co-operative] travel agent as I had used them before and found them helpful. I also thought this would make sure there were no hiccoughs!
Flights were booked.. good price, job done.

Then yesterday the boys went online to sort out their insurance and it wouldn't accept the dates. Turns out the travel agent had booked the return flight for 91 days after departure. You'd think the computer system would pick up on this. Or a trained travel agent, it's pretty basic stuff is it not?

I know they should have checked the confirmation themselves so please don't keep pointing that out. My son spoke the the manager yesterday and she just said it was his fault.

Any constructive advice?

Lisa x

[factor-fiction]

I assume it's the airline, not the travel agent, that wants all or most of the £190

[pixie373]

I think the travel agent should have noticed too- it's their job. I assume it would be just as expensive if they travelled out the following day. I think you can only really put your case to the travel agent and see if you can come to some sort of deal. Good luck x

[pixie373]

Where are the posts going? My name in latest posts- but answer not here?

[pixie373]

Ah. My apologies!

[jno]

re Canada: "When traveling to the U.S. with the approved ESTA, you may only stay for up to 90 days at a time - and there should be a reasonable amount of time between visits so that the CBP Officer does not think you are trying to live here. There is no set requirement for how long you must wait between visits."

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1072/kw/esta/session/L3RpbWUvMTM5NDYxMzQ3Ni9zaWQvRmIyV3QxUGw%3D/p/0/c/0

[dzug2]

The chances are that he won't get on the plane in the first place - he doesn't have a visa and ESTA requires a return ticket within the 90 days. The airline check this or risk large penalties from the US authorities. Canada's no good - the 90 days keeps running while there

If he does get on the plane he stands a good chance of being refused admission on arrival

The only solution is to change the flight - arguing about the cost

It does sound as though he was rather vague about his requirements, so the TA is not entirely to blame

[rockyracoon]

I've just copped on to why the difference in flight prices are so much, he's going next week. The nearer you get the more the price goes up usually.

[KARL]

One possible option is to officially leave the country at 90 days but still be on USA soil to wait for the flight. This depends on flight timings: If the return flight is a few hours after midnight then go through passport control before midnight (don't cut it too fine, allow for queues, etc.) thus meeting the bureaucracy's criteria and just hang around on airside. The difficulty with this one is that most airports wont allow you through a long time in advance. Conversely, if the outward flight to the USA arrives shortly before midnight then the option may exist for being really slow to go through and enter after midnight. How the authorities would look at this second scenario is dependent on the person with the stamp changing the date at midnight, although the computer system is supposed to rule supreme (do you want to trust it ?).

I have assumed that by "America" you actually mean "The United States of....."

[237SJ]

I`m not sure anyone checks on departure - there is just a cursory glance at the passport to make sure it matches the boarding card but anyway, he would be sweating the whole time he was there if he was going to rely on that. There is no choice than to change the flight, really.

[black_cat51]

imho £190 isn't too bad - pay it, get hte flights changed and then argue about who is going to pay (although i think you'll probably find he'll have to pay) Perhaps the flights were artifically low because no-one needs to go for 91 days for this very reason.

[divegirl]

''
It does sound as though he was rather vague about his requirements, so the TA is not entirely to blame ''

How can saying when they wanted to go and telling them they would be travelling under an ESTA be considered vague? It's not like they walked out after 2 minutes, they were in there for over an hour discussing departure dates, I don't find it too much of a stretch of the imagination that a trained TA would know they would need to come back with in 30 days, do you?

Anyway, I have spoken to the US Embassy and they have confirmed that changing the flight is the only option so I'm off to do battle in a bit.

Lisa x

[rockyracoon]

It seems to me to be the only reason to go to a travel agent is to get their expertise, they failed. He could have booked the flights himself and got it right.

Go do battle and good luck ;)

[black_cat51]

isn't it 90 days?
Anyway, i suppose they need to budget £2 less per day for the entirety of their stay

[divegirl]

Well!

I have returned from the travel agents and though they lied through their teeth and were adamant they were not to blame they have paid, as a goodwill gesture, half of the cost of rescheduling the flight.
She said she was not aware they were planning on travelling on a ESTA although she had highlighted on the paper work when and how to apply for one. She stumbled over another few bits but I won't bore you with the details.

The boys are happy and that's the main thing.

Thank you all for your help.

Lisa x

[rockyracoon]

Thank god that's sorted out, you can all sleep properly now. As for a travel agent saying she didn't know they were travelling under an ESTA, well!