Where’s the refund for my up grade on Cathay Pacific?

Expensive Journey TROUBLESHOOTER: I just lately requested a refund from Abroad Experience Journey for an air ticket I bought as a result of them for a Cathay Pacific flight. I had booked a spherical-journey premium economic system ticket from San Francisco to Hong Kong. A consultant from OAT air section proposed this improve to top quality financial state because Cathay Pacific experienced a particular fee. I compensated OAT an added $1,300 for this improve.

Christopher Elliott, the Travel Troubleshooter ...
Christopher Elliott, the Vacation Troubleshooter 

On the flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong, I was not seated in top quality financial system. The purpose for this motion by Cathay Pacific was a transform in aircraft. Even at look at-in on line, the modify in seating was not unveiled. I was extremely upset and stressed more than this. I paid good income to be seated in a seat of my selection for this 12-hour flight.

I have contacted OAT a number of periods. They continue to keep telling me that it can take time to get a refund from the airlines. I think that going on 4 months is way much too extended of a wait around. I drive a refund from OAT to my account of $650, 50 % of the spherical-journey ticket. Can you help me?

— Margaret Carroll, Livermore

Solution: If you experienced a ticket in high quality economy, you really should have sat in top quality overall economy. Cathay Pacific could have been additional proactive about notifying you, and the refund must have been automatic and much, substantially more quickly.

But an plane change — or “equipment change,” in airline parlance — is not a bait-and-swap. It comes about pretty routinely when a airplane is not performing accurately, or the airline desires to accommodate more passengers. Nonetheless, I believe Cathay Pacific may possibly have alerted you when you checked in and offered other solutions, such as rescheduling you on a flight with high quality economic system.

By the way, high quality financial state is kind of a misnomer. All overall economy course seats really should have a minimal total of legroom and amenities, particularly on a 12-hour flight. Quality economic system is a lie, if you talk to me. They should just simply call it financial state course and get rid of the tiny seats that you experienced to endure for 50 % a day.

You were proper to get in touch with Overseas Adventure Journey in crafting. It offered you the Cathay Pacific enhance. And you’re also ideal that 4 months is way also extended to wait around. If you’re even now on hold just after a thirty day period, you can escalate your scenario in producing to a manager. I listing the names, numbers and emails for Overseas Adventure Travel on my nonprofit advocacy site at www.elliott.org/business-contacts/grand-circle-vacation/.