Hello all fellow victims of the Air Australia debacle..
Just answering some questions for the many who emailed me re options on getting money back
Firstly it is imperative before you do a Credit Card charge back that you first look at your Insurance Options as most will cover or you can take it up with the Insurance Ombudsman.
Secondly many decline Travel Insurance as they are covered by their Credit Card Inurance so they should approach them first. This is one of the prmary events for which you should have cover.
If you do a Credit Card charge back to the airline as you had booked directly that of course is a wise move but there will be limited returns on that so again LOOK at what your Credit Card offers for Insurance. The bucket of money at the airline will be emptied quite quikly so INSURANCE... The money should rightly be there for people without insurance so be a good sport and make sure you are not grabbing funds that might have gone to someone with no other avenue. Again check your Insurance entitlements.
For those who chargeback to Travel Agents there may be a temporary return of funds until the dispute is received by the Agent to review. In the event you did have Insurance and not persue that then the Agent can decline the dispute based on the appropriate measures not being exercised by the client to redeem funds in what should be the first port of call - the Insurer.
Most agents will have a record of Advised Insurance - and Declined as response and most note as a normal part of their process that the client mentioned Credit Card Insurance or another company that they prefer over the one offered.
Everyone who takes Insurance and does not use this option for refund lets the Insurance company off the hook and for everyone who has ever been disappointed or short changed on Insurance I can't understand why anyone would let them duck out on this one. I'm sure anyone caught in the Brisbane Floods would say Amen to that..
From the perspective of the Agents
Act in good faith and book your ticket and take your payment
Then pay the Airline as this is a weekly process so money moves away swiftly
If then receiving the charge back it comes to the AGENT not Visa or Mastercard or Amex - they take money that is not with the Agent any longer under the dispute claus. Just brutal and unfair power from the Credit Card Companies who leave many thinking this has come from some mystery source of funds that is locked up for them to save your day..
Agents will be bleeding losses and very sad as all have acted in Good Faith. No one can really dispute this based on the brutal financial backlash of charge backs.
Anyone still considering their options and with a Conscience should look at Insurance and push for a better answer if told no coverage.
Further proof that there is cover where some were told there would not be is the BIG Insurance Giants like Covermore and Aussie Travel Cover had on their websites - NO COVER but in the Trade Releases yesterday Aussies giving full coverage and Covermore for some reason I don't understand are giving full payments to all those who took a policy prior to December 16th.. I believe a little push could get people with policies after that time their money. Insurance Ombudsman......
So back to the Credit Card companies and banks. I noticed many have had mixed responses from their banks. This is because they are a law unto themselves and each will have a different policy. In some cases from branch to branch...
In every case do not be rushed by someone trying to get rid of you - ask to see in writing where the negative answers may come from and then tell the Insurance OR Banking Ombusdsman.
As for the media... Sicken me how they tell half of a story. They are supposed to offer accurate News and they are having a ball with the sensational shocking aspect of it all. They already have much blood on their hands over misleading advice or lack of accurate advice and fianlly the newspapers... Ah those saints - they are the ones who spooked the herd in the first place reducing bookings and cash flow for the airline in the first place.
Easy to say now they were correct but if you throw enough mud long enough you can take down anyone or any business. Just watched it happen and based on so much inuendo.
Hope this gives some clarity as there is just so much in this and it just freaks me out that the Australian Travelling Public can remain unprotected by the powers that be after all the promises made after Ansett and Air Paradise. So easy to hold the funds in a Trust until travel is completed and no-one should be issued a permit to run an airline under any other condition.
And for the may who asked - My husband and four others are coming home on the rescue fare offered by Virgin for those stranded in Bali. This was $199 + baggage of $30 and will be claimed on Insurance.
Thanks Virgin.... Don't ruin it now by hiking up the fares... Right now they have pole position over the Brisbane based travellers with talk earlier this week by Alan Joyce himself that Jetstar may have to abandon Darwin - the transit from Brisbane to Bali so bleak outlook there. You can Google that - Monday night News and Sunrise I believe - channel 7.
Last but not least in defence of Putuh Les and some attack on him regarding the collapse of Air Paradise and him ignoring warnings/gossip per collapse... At the same time there was as much speculation around about AP as there was that Garuda would go bust. Garuda doing quite well thanks so who's whispers can you rely on????
Ok - now last but not least - I do bang on when I finally get a change to sit in front of BTF..
Air Paradise went down as a direct result of the bombing. Show me a company that can lose 99% if their clients in one week and stay afloat and I'll invest in that company with all I canbeg borrow oir steal... People can make comment all day long about how much money they had or did not have but history shows the events that took them down and it was not the bookeeping.
Happy Travels
Nicno xx