Alitalia Airlines Complaint - Uncaring and Insensitive Customer Service - Air Travel

Air Travel - Complaint

Review by travel fellow on 2007-10-23

I was asked by an 86-year-old neighbor who speaks very limited English to help purchase two tickets online so he could visit ailing relatives. He is retired and poor, and we tried to save money by switching dates around. When we bought the tickets, we found we had changed a 2-week trip to 1-week. I tried calling customer service twice, and their corporate office in NYC once, but they wouldn't waive the $440 change fees or let me speak to a supervisor. I'm unemployed, and I had to pay the fee myself.

They were rude, uncaring and insensitive, and I recommend people avoid flying on an airline that treats its customers this way.

Comments (7)

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Comments:

Posted by chris513 on 2007-10-24:

Was the $440 the difference in the fare to change the dates of the flight? If so, there really isn't much the airlines can do about it. If they have a penalty fee, though, they will usually waive it if you make the booking error the same day. Also, if you made the reservation through a third party (expedia, travelocity, etc.) airlines may sometimes refer you back to that same party. i do have to agree, though. there was no reason for them to be rude to you. hopefully this helps.

Posted by Lidman on 2007-10-24:

travel fellow, if this was a $440 change fees from Alitalia Airlines then you are 100% right in complaining that is one heck of a rip-off. I have never paid more then $100 to change a flight but they do try to do it now a day. Delta tried to charge me $760.00 to change a flight because it was close to a holiday (they said) and when I raised he11 they went down to $100.

But I have to agree with chris513 also.

Posted by travel fellow on 2007-10-24:

There was no difference in fare, just additional charges they wouldn't negotiate or waive. I've never been treated like this before, and I recommend people avoid Alitalia, a company who clearly has no regard or respect for its customers.

Posted by Ben There on 2007-10-24:

Was the two week stay more expensive to begin with? Alitalia only charges a $200 date change fee per ticket.

Posted by travel fellow on 2007-10-25:

The fare for the 2 week stay was exactly the same as the 1 week stay. The charge was $220 per ticket, or $440 total, and they refused to negotiate or waive the fees. Most unreasonable--

Posted by Ben There on 2007-10-25:

OK, it was 2 tickets. Airlines rarely waive fees anymore - did you call the very same day you purchased the tickets?

Posted by travel fellow on 2007-10-25:

I called within 24 hours, still no dice--