Airline Networks: A Scam?

[UKPhil]

We've got flights booked for next April with Delta. We booked through Airline Networks who we've used before without problems. We paid £150 per person deposit with the rest due in February. Then suddenly we get this today by email:

"I am contacting you with regards to your Delta Airlines flights.
Please be advised Delta have brought in a new ticket deadline of the
27th December.
This means we require payment in full for your flights by the 27th
December or your flights will automatically be cancelled."

So we phoned Delta and they know nothing about any new ticket deadline. Airline Networks however insist that it is true. This comes hot on the heels of a "pay now and avoid the £50 fuel surcharge we're about to slap on you" offer.

The bottom line is that I don't keep a couple of thousand pounds sitting around in case something like this happens and couldn't pay now even if I wanted to. I will speak to ABTA\ATOL and Trading Standards on Monday as there is nothing in the original agreement which suggests they can do this.

It smells rather like a last ditch attempt to gather in some cash before impending doom.

 

[paulh]

sorry you have to pay so much at this time of year.Only i am surprised you didnt have to pay in full at booking as sheduled flights,have to paid in full when booking unlike charters.
Paulh

 

[UKPhil]

Only i am surprised you didnt have to pay in full at booking as sheduled flights,have to paid in full when booking unlike charters.
Paulh

?

This will be (would have been?) our 15th trip. We've always flown scheduled (usually Virgin or BA) and NEVER paid until 2 months before departure.

 

[Richard Bruvofetc]

?

This will be (would have been?) our 15th trip. We've always flown scheduled (usually Virgin or BA) and NEVER paid until 2 months before departure.

Have you flown a scheduled airline as part of a holiday package (eg with hotel or flydrive)?

For example, when I booked BA 2006 we booked flight+hotel. I paid a deposit and then the balance approx 2 months from departure. This year (for next year's holiday) I booked flights only and paid in full at the point of booking.

With Virgin Holidays this year, we went flydrive and again paid a deposit and then the balance approx 2 months from departure.
If I had gone with Virgin Atlantic (for next year's holiday) I would have had to pay up front as well (plus they are £100/ ticket more expensive than BA).

 

[paulh]

Sheduled in full if you have booked flight only.Deposit if part of a package.and as like you have been going for a long time, always had to pay in full for scheuled.Let me know who you book with make it cheaper for us
Paulh

 

[wayneg]

Airnet do allow deposit only on some Scheduled flights but in all the years I have used them I have never come across any, alway pay upfront and certainly never seen this offer on Virgin or BA flights. http://portal.knowledgebase.net/psi...2&cpc=ULxOCA443pLs513Q14X530vupP4TwfI6dt2WKi7
Downside to deposit only is as it states in the above link, they can increase price at any time until final payment is made, unless states otherwise in your t&c's with them.
Have you fully read the t&c's entered into with Airnet? is there anything in there about it? There could be something that allows them to ask for the money early.

 

[UKPhil]

Well whatever your "norm" is, I have an invoice that says payment is due in Febraury. Yes, I have read the terms and conditions. Yes, they can increase the price but that is not the problem. They're changing the payment date and there is nothing to say that may happen.

Are you suggesting that because you've agreed to pay in full at the time of booking that what they're doing to me is fair?

 

[paulh]

I know your angry with having to pay it all sooner than you have too,we we would if we thought we didn`t have too as well.We are all trying to answer your OP,sorry if you dont like the replys.
Paulh

 

[wayneg]

Well whatever your "norm" is, I have an invoice that says payment is due in Febraury. Yes, I have read the terms and conditions. Yes, they can increase the price but that is not the problem. They're changing the payment date and there is nothing to say that may happen.

Are you suggesting that because you've agreed to pay in full at the time of booking that what they're doing to me is fair?

I am not suggesting that at all, no. I am saying if you have read t&c's and you are correct then you fight for it. I have never had a problem with Airnet but I always pay when booking, I use them numerous times a year for hotels and flights but mainly car hire 4 or 5 times a year.
I have about £3,000 paid out for flights in the next 12 months, if I saw deposit only I would probably do it also unfortunately all mine are pay upfront.
Hope you get a result on Monday, they can't change the rules without good reason

 

[aaronandterri]

we have booked virgin flight only and only payed a deposit through our t/a gent.

 

[wayneg]

we have booked virgin flight only and only payed a deposit through our t/a gent.

How did the price compare with booking direct with Virgin? Did you have to pay more to do it this way?

 

[aaronandterri]

no in fact we got them cheaper, they was 555 on v/ a site and we paid 439 adult for next april.

 

[paulh]

we have booked virgin flight only and only payed a deposit through our t/a gent.

was this a flydrive or have you got flight only?
Paulh

 

[juliebro]

We booked scheduled flights with Airline Network one year, but only paid deposit on booking. It was a few years ago and we don't remember all the details, but are fairly certain we were suddenly asked for the full payment earlier than we had expected. We refused and threatened to cancel and book alternative flights. I seem to recall they backed off.

Sorry we don't remember any more than that.

Had a couple of problems with Airline Network about 3 years ago which we had trouble in getting resolved, so we don't use them any more. However. I do know that many people have used them with no probs whatsoever.

Julie

 

[wayneg]

no in fact we got them cheaper, they was 555 on v/ a site and we paid 439 adult for next april.

Neighbour of mine got a similar price for this Easter just gone thru an agent. I booked Miles and Money at £291 but they got a fairly good deal for school hols(a lot better than direct). I don't really understand how because Virgin are supposed to have a policy where you can't book cheaper than direct.
Who did you use?

 

[aaronandterri]

we used a company called charter travel, our flights are fully booked now,we had to get mum and dad on a diffrent flight when they decicded to join us as there was no seats left for them.
i have seen them on v/a for more than 600 after we booked, i suppose that was when there was a few seats left, we have booked car through them but it wasnt a fly drive or a condition of the flight that i had to book the car they was just very good prices for the car, i was even able to use the apd vouchers given to us by virgin last year, childrens flights were 369 .£

 

[wayneg]

.
we have booked car through them but it wasnt a fly drive or a condition of the flight that i had to book the car they was just very good prices for the car, i was even able to use the apd vouchers given to us by virgin last year, childrens flights were 369 .£

It is possible to book a Fly drive with Virgin but not take the car, in effect making it flight only. Can easily be done on their website(don't see why an agent can't do the same) but with you using APD vouchers I think that confirms you booked flight only as I don't think they are valid against packages or flydrives.