Got home from work yesterday to find a letter from Airline Network saying that British Midland have advised them that for all bookings made before 21st June, all tickets must be issued by 28th June. Therefore Airline Network need us to to pay in full by Monday for our trip next March!. The letter goes on to say that if we don't pay in full by Monday that the booking is automatically cancelled.
I rang them last night when I got home from work - but their office had closed by that time.
Arriving home this evening from work I opened the front door to find two more letters from Airline Network. Both identical to the one I got yesterday.
I rang them again - and managed to get through. The explanation for the three identical letters was that the system had stuck - and that actually four identical letters were produced and so I will probably get another one tomorrow!
I asked their agent for an explanation and he told me that BMI have just changed the contract with them and they found out on Monday. He confirmed that indeed I do have to pay in full by Monday so they can issue our tickets or else our holiday is cancelled automatically. He also confirmed that that would still have happened even if I had been away this week and not received the letter before Monday's deadline.
I explained that we are due to go on holiday in less than 2 weeks and that the sort of money they want us to pay is not insignificant, and not particularly easy to find.
He was sympathetic and suggested that I consider cancelling and they could see if they could find alternative flights. I wasn't too keen on that idea! We have (I explained) booked our accommodation in Orlando (including PBH) and have also arranged to stop over in Washington DC on the return journey. He agreed it was unlikely we would be able to get the same sort of arrangement.
I asked to speak to his manager - but he had just left for the day - unfortunately! Then he suddenly came up with a suggestion - I could pay just the cancellation fee (£125 per person) which they would have to pay to the airline should we decide to cancel. This would then allow them to issue the tickets to me and I could pay the rest of the balance in January! What a good idea I thought! Even better, as I have paid £305 deposit - I only need to pay an extra £70 and the cancellation charge is covered. Marvellous!! I wonder why I had to ask for the manager before he had this idea!
Just goes to show - don't take the first answer you're given!
Julie
Julie
I rang them last night when I got home from work - but their office had closed by that time.
Arriving home this evening from work I opened the front door to find two more letters from Airline Network. Both identical to the one I got yesterday.
I rang them again - and managed to get through. The explanation for the three identical letters was that the system had stuck - and that actually four identical letters were produced and so I will probably get another one tomorrow!
I asked their agent for an explanation and he told me that BMI have just changed the contract with them and they found out on Monday. He confirmed that indeed I do have to pay in full by Monday so they can issue our tickets or else our holiday is cancelled automatically. He also confirmed that that would still have happened even if I had been away this week and not received the letter before Monday's deadline.
I explained that we are due to go on holiday in less than 2 weeks and that the sort of money they want us to pay is not insignificant, and not particularly easy to find.
He was sympathetic and suggested that I consider cancelling and they could see if they could find alternative flights. I wasn't too keen on that idea! We have (I explained) booked our accommodation in Orlando (including PBH) and have also arranged to stop over in Washington DC on the return journey. He agreed it was unlikely we would be able to get the same sort of arrangement.
I asked to speak to his manager - but he had just left for the day - unfortunately! Then he suddenly came up with a suggestion - I could pay just the cancellation fee (£125 per person) which they would have to pay to the airline should we decide to cancel. This would then allow them to issue the tickets to me and I could pay the rest of the balance in January! What a good idea I thought! Even better, as I have paid £305 deposit - I only need to pay an extra £70 and the cancellation charge is covered. Marvellous!! I wonder why I had to ask for the manager before he had this idea!
Just goes to show - don't take the first answer you're given!
Julie
Julie
