COVID 19 Travel Agent Scams

[adwbkk]

In April this year just before COVID started up I booked some tickets to Australia for travel during Songkran through a travel agent run by a Brit in Bangkok.   Paid the fare got the tickets booked and then the airlines cancelled all flights.  A month or 2 after that they decided to refund paid fares and sent emails out advising of this fact.   Three months have now past and the travel agent, the Brit travel agent who promotes himself as being a farang and so better able to help farangs, has still not refunded to cost of the fares.   Many promises, many missed deadlines, but no refund.   I can see now that the only farang he helps is himself.

Has anyone else had this experience with a travel agent in the Sukhumvit 101 area?  PM me if you have, there is strength in numbers.

[Puchaiyank]

Unless the more expensive "refundable" airline tickets were purchased...it is unlikely the ticket money will be refunded...

 

Lost $1,000 to Delta because of being unable to fly within their time frame...no apology...read the fine print.

[adwbkk]

On 7/23/2020 at 6:50 PM, Puchaiyank said:

Unless the more expensive "refundable" airline tickets were purchased...it is unlikely the ticket money will be refunded...

 

Lost $1,000 to Delta because of being unable to fly within their time frame...no apology...read the fine print.

The airlines all agreed to refund the cost of the flights.   Because it was booked through a travel agent the money was returned to the travel agent.   This is confirmed by the airlines.

Problem is the travel agent will not return the money to me.

[robblok]

31 minutes ago, adwbkk said:

The airlines all agreed to refund the cost of the flights.   Because it was booked through a travel agent the money was returned to the travel agent.   This is confirmed by the airlines.

Problem is the travel agent will not return the money to me.

Goes to show that foreigners scam just like Thais do. Got dishonest people everywhere. I always laugh when people think that their countrymen (not saying your a Brit) are more honest then Thais. If that was the case there would be no criminals in the home country.

 

I hope you get the money back maybe put the police on this. 

[Puccini]

11 hours ago, adwbkk said:

The airlines all agreed to refund the cost of the flights.   Because it was booked through a travel agent the money was returned to the travel agent.   This is confirmed by the airlines.

Problem is the travel agent will not return the money to me.

Do you have the travel agent's promises to refund you in writing?

[damascase]

On 7/23/2020 at 1:50 PM, Puchaiyank said:

Unless the more expensive "refundable" airline tickets were purchased...it is unlikely the ticket money will be refunded...

 

Lost $1,000 to Delta because of being unable to fly within their time frame...no apology...read the fine print.

Yours seems to be a different situation. If the airline cancels your flight you are legally entitled to get your money back. If, for whatever reason, you are unable to take a flight you paid for, a (partial) refund depends on the fare conditions of your ticket. If you have the cheapest ticket - bad luck.

[dsf9]

Has the airline actually confirmed the refund to the agent? and that this has been paid out? 

 

Most people are waiting for refunds, it seems odd that the airline would email you directly regarding refunds? Based on what I've read I'd expect Emirates to complete their direct customer refunds for refunds request accepted up to end of May by end of September, I imagine OTAs/agents adding another several weeks. 

What airline?

[bermondburi]

Cancelled in March, got the money back 4 weeks later. Gulf Air.