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FLIGHT TICKETS AND FARESThe price of any journey by air is based on a range of factors. Different airlines charge different prices for the same trip. And an individual airline will charge different prices for the same flight. For example, the price will usually be different according to how far in advance you book, and you will usually pay more if you want to be able to change your reservation if you need to. Peak hour flights are always more expensive; many routes are also seasonal with fares varying considerably at different times of the year.Fare RestrictionsAs a general rule, an airline’s cheapest fares are sold on a use-it-or- Lose-it basis. You cannot change to a different flight and you cannot get your money back if you do not fly. Nor can you pass your ticket to someone else (see “transferability” below).Some travel agents have arrangements with airlines under which the return reservation can be changed for a fee (but not the outbound Reservation). But full flexibility (to be able to change flights or to cancel and get a full refund) comes at a price that is considerably higher than the low fares that airlines tend to feature in their advertising. Many airlines offer a range of fares with varying degrees of flexibility or penalties for changing the reservation. Until recently, most of the cheaper fares were available only for return reservations where the outbound and inbound flights were either side of a Saturday night. This is gradually changing, with more airlines beginning to offer lower fares without the Saturday night requirement. But whatever the price and conditions of a ticket, airlines are for the most part free to decide for themselves how much they charge. Prices are generally not regulated by governments. TransferabilityWhatever the type or price of a ticket, it will usually be non-transferable. That is, it cannot be passed to someone else if the person named on it (or in the reservation system) cannot use it. This is not really an issue for fully-flexible fares because they are refundable. In the case of restricted fares, some airlines now offer a credit (but not a refund) for use for a new reservation.Some airlines will do this routinely, whatever the reason for the passenger not being able to fly as originally intended. Others will allow a credit only under exceptional circumstances. Unfortunately, they do not say exactly what this means, but the general tendency appears to be to accept reasons such as bereavement, illness, redundancy, etc., such as are usually specified in cancellation clauses in typical travel insurance policies. Refunds of Taxes, Fees and ChargesMost airlines list certain taxes and other charges separately in this way if you do not use your ticket – even if your ticket is otherwise non-refundable.Unfortunately, however, there is no specific law under which they are required to refund these charges. Nor is there any law that prevents them from charging an administration charge for processing the refund. We have seen cases where the administration charge exactly equals the amount of tax being refunded! In any event, airlines do not routinely refund taxes, fees and charges to passengers who do not travel. You have to ask. UK Air Passenger Duty (APD)The UK’s Air Passenger Duty (APD) (usually listed in a box labelled “UK” on the ticket or confirmation) is payable on all sectors of a journey originating from a UK airport, with certain exemptions for connecting journeys and for the Scottish Highlands and Islands. The legislation that brought in the Duty does not deal with the issue of refunds when passengers do not use their tickets. But the AUC has long argued that, as an airline is required to pay the money over to the Government only for passengers who actually travel, passengers who do not travel should get their duty back. Most airlines no refund the duty on request.
Trading Standards Division, 3rd Floor, Wallasey Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey, Wirral CH44 8ED
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