Point of no return

By THIS IS MONEY
Updated:

 

IN MARCH we went to a music festival in Texas. We booked our journey through Dial A Flight. But it could only get us outward flights on March 15 and our accommodation started from March 16.

I told Dial A Flight I would solve the problem - meaning I would find some other transport to get there on March 16. However, when we were ready to return from Austin, we were told our tickets were not valid as we had not used them to travel on the outward flight. I had to buy replacements costing £712.10 to get us home.

I was not told before travelling that by not taking the first leg of the flight it would make void the rest of my ticket. I think I am entitled to compensation but Dial A Flight disagrees. JH

Daily Mail's Margaret Stone replies: IN YOUR defence, many people are probably unaware that if a passenger fails to take the outward leg of a flight then the return would be made void.

But travel agents and airline reservation desks do know this, and in my mind there is little doubt that had you given more explicit information about your plans (to travel to Austin by other means), you would have been told of the consequences.

Dial A Flight's terms and conditions make a specific reference to the fact that both outward and return legs should be used. But on both the website and documents, this information is tucked away. However, there does seem to have been a genuine misunderstanding on both sides.

I am happy to report that Dial A Flight has agreed, in the interests of customer relations, to offer you a 50% refund on the costs of the additional flights and a cheque for £356.05 is on its way to you. All told, I think that this is a satisfactory outcome.

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