Possible free plane ticket?

vg88

I booked an airline ticket with China Southern. Filled all details out went to payment and it said payment rejected. Bank showed that payment went through and got into contact with the airline who said there was a glitch in the system.

We agreed that I still wanted the flight through emails with an agent and I sent them over my flight details for the certain flight. So I got emailed the flight itinerary with a working PNR on their website.


Here's the thing, the money for the flight has been refunded into my bank account so technically there is no payment but I have a guaranteed seat. In this space of time also got a new debit card so there is no way of a charge coming back onto the card.

Have I got a free flight or should I be expecting them to cancel ticket/get in touch? :D

mel.b

Many years ago I booked tickets for 4 people on Singapore airlines using my credit card. They held payment and then the money appeared back on my card. I'd say about 5 months later they actually took the money - don't know what happened or why it did, but they'll catch up with you eventually to take the money.

vg88

mel.b wrote: »

Many years ago I booked tickets for 4 people on Singapore airlines using my credit card. They held payment and then the money appeared back on my card. I'd say about 5 months later they actually took the money - don't know what happened or why it did, but they'll catch up with you eventually to take the money.

Do you mind me asking did they take the money before or after the flight? As I have a new debit card I don't think they can get anything back.

mel.b

It was before the flight.

vg88

Hopefully nothing will happen as the flight is in 3 months. I'll update this post if anything happens

steve-o

If you have a ticket number (13 digits, starting with 784) then you are confirmed (though they can later cancel it if they spot a payment problem). Did they send the ticket number, or can you see it online?

vg88

steve-o wrote: »

If you have a ticket number (13 digits, starting with 784) then you are confirmed (though they can later cancel it if they spot a payment problem). Did they send the ticket number, or can you see it online?

I got sent it through an agent with itinerary. The itinerary does include payment so imnot too sure how to take.

The advice here is great, but I'm wondering if they'll chase payment before or after the flight.

vg88

Fred Swanson wrote: »

They can kill the ticket at any time if they spot the payment issue.

I presume they'd try to address it first before killing it as their system glitched during booking.

vg88

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I meant their customer online agent.

They asked if I wanted a refund or reissue, which I asked for a reissue and they reissued it. It wasn't the easiest situation and I went through 3 of their agents with 20+ emails and eventually got there.

redcup342

moloner4 wrote: »

I meant their customer online agent.

They asked if I wanted a refund or reissue, which I asked for a reissue and they reissued it. It wasn't the easiest situation and I went through 3 of their agents with 20+ emails and eventually got there.

Once they balance their books at the end of the month they will spot the missing money. Then they will try to bill the card, if it fails they'll hold the ticket.

vg88

To update I got an email from the customer service this morning, seem like a really great bunch of chinese fellas if this happens .

Dear passenger,
Thank you for writing to us.
sorry for the delay in replying ,we check your reservation X have been reissued successful ,the ticket number is X ,have a ncie day.
Thank you for selecting China Southern Airlines.

vg88

Update if anyone is interested. Took the flight 2 months ago and seemed to have been put into economy plus going over.

Most important part was I never got charged for this flight.

Apart from that they were a terrible airline and messy to fly with. Using CDs on computer for safety info to a Chines security officer acting like a body guard on the flight.