Airline confirmed my seats but no credit card charge?

[ghworker2010]

I booked premium economy seats 2 weeks ago and used my credit card from back home. I called them to confirm we are all sitting together and she moved us to a new seat allocation. She said its all confirmed etc. Just checked my credit card and have not been charged. 

 

Is there normally a delay to debit funds for flight booking online? Although the flight is not for a few months it would be annoying if we rocked up to the airport and were denied check in. 

 

I presume I should just wait and see what happens. Anyone else been in this situation. Ive always been charged right away within a few days when booking anything online. 

[OneEyedPie]

1 minute ago, ghworker2010 said:

I booked premium economy seats 2 weeks ago and used my credit card from back home.

I would call your credit card provider at the earliest then, if required, phone the airline.

[batata]

what airline is that, some do accept the seat reservation and charge later, 2-3 days prior to flight departure or maybe you are a lucky one and they will void the charge....

[scottiejohn]

Did you do the booking online?  If so have you got an "E-ticket/Boarding Pass"?

If so I might just keep quiet!

[OneEyedPie]

4 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

If so I might just keep quiet!

Nice idea in practice, but like the OP states he most certainly doesn't want to arrive at the airport to find his flight void and subsequent holiday devastated.

[seajae]

if booked online you should have etickets issued and an email confirmation, if not I would be asking for an email with the confirmation of the booking and the etickets attached,

you should  at least a receipt from the airline

 

[CGW]

7 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

If so I might just keep quiet!

Why, what's the point of becoming a "thief" for a paltry sum? 

[OneEyedPie]

6 minutes ago, CGW said:

Why, what's the point of becoming a "thief" for a paltry sum? 

+1.

 

The OP raises a very good point and should be taken seriously.  An airline booking fee is taken immediately or at the very least the sum is reserved on his statement.  

 

He also booked at the prevailing rate of the day.  If it's subsequently void due to a technical error then he'll have to book at the prevailing rate at the time of the subsequent booking which could be significantly higher, though could be lower.  

 

Personally, I wouldn't risk hanging about as two weeks isn't normal.  I could have cancelled my credit card during the aforementioned two week window.  

[CGW]

6 minutes ago, OneEyedPie said:

Personally, I wouldn't risk hanging about as two weeks isn't normal.  I could have cancelled my credit card during the aforementioned two week window.

I would guess, and that's all it is a guess - that the airline has put a "block" on the card to guarantee them payment - quite common.

[OneEyedPie]

6 minutes ago, CGW said:

I would guess, and that's all it is a guess - that the airline has put a "block" on the card to guarantee them payment - quite common.

But that would be visible on your available balance and / or pending transactions.  Like I mentioned in an earlier post, phone the credit card provider for clarity.  

[CGW]

15 minutes ago, OneEyedPie said:

But that would be visible on your available balance and / or pending transactions.  Like I mentioned in an earlier post, phone the credit card provider for clarity.  

Not necessarily, you can ask if they have put a block on it, not always visible, as you say a couple of phone calls would clarify.

[OneEyedPie]

1 minute ago, CGW said:

Not necessarily, you can ask if they have put a block on it, not always visible, as you say a couple of phone calls would clarify.

It's 100% visible particularly on a transaction that's two weeks old.  If my credit limit on my credit card is £1000 and a pending transaction is £500 then my statement will show £500 of available balance.  You can't draw more than your available limit, but you know that.  

 

I've also stated on more than one occasion on this thread to call the credit card provider but the OP states he's only called the airline to enquire about seating arrangements.  Jeez.  

[CGW]

3 minutes ago, OneEyedPie said:

It's 100% visible particularly on a transaction that's two weeks old.

I see what you are saying, to be honest I have never looked that closely, I travel a lot and prefer to pay by debit card, they will block the amount that they figure you will be charging, never looked to see if it shows, certainly doesn't show on statements, often I will book with a credit card and pay with a debit card to stop this.

[quandow]

Call the airline immediately. Something got mixed up in the translation. You should have received an IMMEDIATE confirmation of e-ticket AND charge to your credit card. At this time you have no reservation.

Edited May 13, 2019 by quandow
spelling

[OneEyedPie]

6 minutes ago, CGW said:

I see what you are saying, to be honest I have never looked that closely, I travel a lot and prefer to pay by debit card, they will block the amount that they figure you will be charging, never looked to see if it shows, certainly doesn't show on statements, often I will book with a credit card and pay with a debit card to stop this.

No problem and thanks.  I see what you mean but this transaction is two weeks old.  Even if the OP had booked then immediately went to spend on another transaction that breached the credit limit then it would result in the OP overspending on his limit.  The credit limit is definitive.   

[Katipo]

Confirming the booking and issuing tickets are two different things. You can receive a confirmation email, seat assignment, and booking number, but this does not mean your ticket has been confirmed. If you haven't received an email with your ticket, call the airline to check the status.

[cardinalblue]

My 20 year experience here is the airline charges your account immediately....I use both my visa and American Express cards and last week used my Amex card and there it was within 24 hours.....

 

you need to follow up...

[Happystance]

They will be more than happy to immediately cancel those tix once lack of payment is discovered.

 

Either gamble big time or follow up. Easy peasy.

[Bangkok Barry]

46 minutes ago, Katipo said:

You can receive a confirmation email, seat assignment, and booking number, but this does not mean your ticket has been confirmed.

 

So you believe they send a confirmation email for something that isn't confirmed? Really? What would be the point of that?

[Kevinphall]

Ex travel agent here.

 

Many agents don't take the payment until the flight has been "ticketed".

 

It's possible for agencies to reserve seats without payment until the ticketing deadline. The deadline varies depending on the seat class, but a premium economy seat without accommodation booked would usually not be very long, maybe 3 days.

 

It's possible to have an e ticket and PNR number even tho the seat hasn't been ticketed (so can still be released).

 

Call whoever booked it and ask if your seats have been ticketed yet. If they have you have nothing to worry about. You would still be liable for the fare though (even if they noticed no payment months after travel) and it's unlikely you would ever get a freeby. Unlikely not impossible.

[Bangkok Barry]

If you have a booking reference from the airline then check your status on their website. If you don't then you probably don't have a booking. As the employee gave you a seat assignment though I guess the booking must be there.

I once had a domestic flight on Air Asia that was never charged.......????. As the above post says, it can happen, although obviously it is as rare as a smiling Thai immigration officer.

Edited May 14, 2019 by Bangkok Barry

[lagavulin1]

The least you should have is a booking number. Sign into the airlines Web page and input this Into the manage my bookings tab. Normally can do this with only the number and lead bookers surname. 

No booking number? You need to react as others here suggest. 

[Happystance]

2 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

.... it is as rare as a smiling Thai immigration officer.

Funny, I've been in and out of the country 8 times now and each time I've been greeted by a smiling IO.

I can't imagine what y'all are doing wrong...

 

[Briggsy]

Once a charge did not appear on my credit card statement for 4 months. I thought I had got away with it. That was in Spain.

Very recently I used my credit card in China and it didn't come through for a week.

I would check the booking status and ticket number. If both appear as confirmed on the website, I would just relax, the credit card charge will appear in due course.

[thecyclist]

If he has got a digital booking confirmation plus an e-ticket, which has a reservation code, go to the airlines website and put in your ticket code and it will show whether your flights are booked /confirmed. Print out the e-tickets, and don't worry about the rest. The worst that can happen (and it probably will) they will notice the mistake (theirs not yours) and let you know. Best case scenario you get a free ride. 

[Katipo]

7 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

So you believe they send a confirmation email for something that isn't confirmed? Really? What would be the point of that?

Yes, they do. I am looking at one in my inbox at this very minute, and also looking at the separate email that contains my ticket (Thai airways). It's to confirm that you have made a booking, not that the ticket has been issued. Sometimes people make a booking to lock in a price/seat, but don't pay for and issue the ticket until later.  It's a legacy system from when people used Travel Agents more frequently.

[Bangkok Barry]

10 minutes ago, Katipo said:

Yes, they do. I am looking at one in my inbox at this very minute, and also looking at the separate email that contains my ticket (Thai airways). It's to confirm that you have made a booking, not that the ticket has been issued. Sometimes people make a booking to lock in a price/seat, but don't pay for and issue the ticket until later.  It's a legacy system from when people used Travel Agents more frequently.

 

I remember those wonderful days.....