Are Refundable Airline Tickets Fully Refundable?
Would it surprise you that purchasing “refundable” airline tickets from some major airlines and/or Internet travel sites are not actually fully refundable? It shouldn’t, because they aren’t. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of consumer complaints online regarding “refundable” airline tickets that are, in fact, not fully refundable.
For example, Continental Airlines allegedly sells “fully refundable” tickets at a premium price to consumers. But if and when that consumer purchaser decides to cancel the airline ticket and get a refund of his or her “fully refundable” ticket, he or she is allegedly charged a $400 fee. Other major airlines also sell “refundable” tickets that include a cancellation fee amounting to hundreds of dollars, sometimes equaling the amount of the ticket purchased.
Moreover, Internet travel sites, like Priceline.com and others, also allegedly sell “refundable” tickets that are not truly refundable. One consumer complained that he purchased a “refundable” ticket from Priceline, attempted to cancel his ticket and was charged a “cancellation fee".
Consumers purchasing airline tickets sold to them at a premium price as “fully refundable” or “refundable” should be able to cancel their tickets and receive the full price paid for that ticket. Unfortunately, the practice of charging a “cancellation fee” for a ticket that is sold as “fully refundable” is a common practice in the airline industry and on Internet travel sites. These tickets are sold with little or no disclosure informing purchasers that should they decide to cancel their “refundable” tickets, or change travel plans, they will be charged a substantial “cancellation fee.”
If you purchased “fully refundable” or “refundable” airline tickets and were charged a “cancellation fee,” please contact us to discuss your legal options.