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US Airways Complaint - US Airways Is Fraudulent - Free Travel Ticket not FREE
Free Travel Ticket not FREE - Complaint
PHOENIX, ARIZONA -- USAirways has horrible customer service and they do NOT back their promises. Last summer, I gave up my flight, the last flight of the night, while traveling with my infant son in return for a "free roundtrip ticket." What they did not tell me, nor was it printed on the ticket, was that "free round trip" really ment subject to USAirways releasing the tickets. I called to book my "free round trip ticket from Phoenix to Louisville, KY, in February.
At that time I was told that the "free ticket class may not be released and even if it was, which no one could predict either way, that the release would not occur until five weeks before the scheduled departure date. So, I called back in March, I was told the same thing. I called back mid April, and the tickets were unavailable, so I plugged the number in m phone and began to call and check on the flights every other day. I called on May 17th, and the tickets that were going to be released were released or USAirways decided not to release them. I tried 3 days before and 3 days after my desired June 26 departure date. They did however, have a return flight on my desired departure date, June 28th.
My only option was to use my "free roundtrip ticket" as a credit towards the purchase of a flight. They only give $200 credits in exchange for the free roundtrip ticket. So the agent priced out my trip at $684 - so by using my "free roundtrip ticket" all I had to do was PAY $484. So, I tried to book the free return flight and purchase the incoming flight elsewhere. I was told I could not do that either. One way free tickets were not available, the had to be round trip. So I asked if I could book a roundtrip and just use the return flight - NO! If I didn't come to the first flight, I would lose the return flight. So I asked if I could book a flight with the first flight going from Louisvile to Phoenix - no free flights were available.
USAIRWAYS SUCKS AND THEY ARE FRAUDULENT - THEIR FREE FLIGHTS ARE NOT FREE I GAVE UP MY SEAT FOR NOTHING IN RETURN
At that time I was told that the "free ticket class may not be released and even if it was, which no one could predict either way, that the release would not occur until five weeks before the scheduled departure date. So, I called back in March, I was told the same thing. I called back mid April, and the tickets were unavailable, so I plugged the number in m phone and began to call and check on the flights every other day. I called on May 17th, and the tickets that were going to be released were released or USAirways decided not to release them. I tried 3 days before and 3 days after my desired June 26 departure date. They did however, have a return flight on my desired departure date, June 28th.
My only option was to use my "free roundtrip ticket" as a credit towards the purchase of a flight. They only give $200 credits in exchange for the free roundtrip ticket. So the agent priced out my trip at $684 - so by using my "free roundtrip ticket" all I had to do was PAY $484. So, I tried to book the free return flight and purchase the incoming flight elsewhere. I was told I could not do that either. One way free tickets were not available, the had to be round trip. So I asked if I could book a roundtrip and just use the return flight - NO! If I didn't come to the first flight, I would lose the return flight. So I asked if I could book a flight with the first flight going from Louisvile to Phoenix - no free flights were available.
USAIRWAYS SUCKS AND THEY ARE FRAUDULENT - THEIR FREE FLIGHTS ARE NOT FREE I GAVE UP MY SEAT FOR NOTHING IN RETURN
Comments:
Posted by chris513 on 2008-05-21:
hate to say this, but I know the voucher you have because I have received one before...it says on the voucher, tickets are subject to availability....there should be an option for a dollar amount off of a ticket...that might be your best option...but yeah, those vouchers suck.
Posted by Ben There on 2008-05-21:
These free tickets that you get are similiar to Frequent Flyer tickets, so the space to book one can be hard to find. This year in particular free seats are even harder to get as airlines are reducing the number of planes in the air by about 20%.
USAirways has done nothing "fraudulent" as you have claimed - it is perfectly legal to offer something for free with a "may not be available" note. Also remember that June is peak summer season so everyone is flying - Winter and Fall outside of holidays are much better times to hunt for free seats.
USAirways has done nothing "fraudulent" as you have claimed - it is perfectly legal to offer something for free with a "may not be available" note. Also remember that June is peak summer season so everyone is flying - Winter and Fall outside of holidays are much better times to hunt for free seats.
Posted by KenPopcorn on 2008-05-21:
I think it is fraudulent in the sense that when they are trying to entice you to give up your seat, they are not disclosing the fact right then and there that there are severe restrictions on the use of the voucher. Knowing that up front would make one much less likely to be willing to give up a seat, and so they will not disclose it. Perhaps fraudulent may be too strong a word, but they are certainly being less than forthright.
Posted by Ponie on 2008-05-21:
My niece makes out like a bandit on these 'give up your seat for a free roundtrip ticket' offers. She's usually first one at the desk when this is announced. She was ticked one time when they wouldn't accept her because her return trip was not non-stop. (Don't know what difference this would make, but I guess it does.) These tickets are very good for people, like my niece, whose business and personal life are such that they can pick up and leave on a moment's notice.
Posted by Ben There on 2008-05-22:
Everytime I have seen an airline hand out a voucher for getting bumped, they have the customer read and sign a little card that includes something along the lines of "subject to availability". If this was not the case and the agent said "here is a free ticket to use on any flight whenever you want", that would have been fraudulent. However, I don't think this happened... Just because there are not free seats on the exact dates that this poster wants during the middle of high season does not mean that flexible travels wouldn't give him a range of dates during low season.
Posted by lunaan on 2008-05-24:
It does state on the back of the voucher that seats are subject to availability, but the airport employees don't tell you that. Some of them don't even know those seats are limited. They don't book the flights. I have spoken to a few gate agents who had no idea what the terms of those vouchers were. Not your fault that they are clueless, but if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always, always, always read the fine print.
Posted by jseger9000 on 2008-06-05:
I have to agree with the poster. I am going through the same problem myself. I can tell you that at the time the vouchers are offered there is no mention that the vouchers can only be used on a very, very limited basis.
Also, since the only way to see what is printed on the voucher is to go ahead and accept the voucher, I don't think fine print is a very good solution. To get to that point you had to already accept the deal, (in our case, disembark our original flight) and have the voucher printed.
Also, since the only way to see what is printed on the voucher is to go ahead and accept the voucher, I don't think fine print is a very good solution. To get to that point you had to already accept the deal, (in our case, disembark our original flight) and have the voucher printed.
Posted by dpotull on 2008-06-24:
Just another deceitful, deceptive American company doing what they do best...lie, and they say America's best days are ahead of it...ROTFLMAO!
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