Thinking of this transaction as a reseller/wholeseller will only muddy the point. This is more akin to an agent/principle relationship (Hence the name travel AGENT)

Expedia is acting on behalf of the travel provider. Expedia doesn’t independently set prices or policies or anything. Its like when you buy a house. If something goes wrong, the real estate agent doesn’t refund you the money then works it out with the other side.

By comparison, if Expedia were a consolidator, i.e. where it actually bought the ticket for itself then resold the ticket such as Hotwire or Priceline, then you would be dealing directly with them, not the travel provider.

If this is true, then why are the customers still dealing with Expedia instead of dealing with the airline directly? This doesn’t make complete sense.

Generally speaking, contracts or legal agreements between a business and their affiliate or reseller would “force” the former to refer the latter’s customers to them. If the business “helps” the customer like, say, take over their product concerns, the reseller or affiliate might “accuse” them of “stealing their business” and “breach of contract” unless the terms indicate such.

I’ve noticed that for some businesses, their point of view (POV) is to let their affiliate or reseller take care of certain issues. Sure the business can handle it, but only if they choose to.

One can argue that how Expedia does business with Scandinavian shouldn’t be relevant. Unfortunately Expedia, or some companies for that matter, doesn’t always have the luxury of arguing something with its partner or so.

How to force the issue, you got me.

Disagree. The customer booked with Expedia, not with Scandinavian, and how Expedia does business with Scandinavian should be irrelevant to the customer.

But why did Expedia get involved in this in the first place?

From the article: “…we were told that this penalty fee can be requested back from the airline…”.

If this is true, then why are the customers still dealing with Expedia instead of dealing with the airline directly? This doesn’t make complete sense.

First, Its Carver not Carter

Second, while the sister’s death is a covered event, the OP still needs to be mindful that there may be other caveats with a Travel Insurance policy.

Thirds, most policies cover only 75% of the costs. So if the OP spent more than $1200, then the policy wouldn’t have given him the $300 in dispute

Fourth, calling the OP cheap and not bright is still a cold hearted thing to do.

I think Chris was saying that whoever was holding onto the money would be the one who would be responsible for any interest, penalties, etc.

So if you paid Expedia for an airline ticket it would be the airline who would have to pay interest if the refund was delayed, unless the airline sent a timely refund to Expedia. In which case, Expedia would then have to timely send a refund to the customer.

First its Carver, not Carter.

Second, the point remains that although the death of the family member is covered, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t other restrictions in effect that must be considered. As an attorney, I read contracts daily and I see loopholds all the time.

Third, many policies only cover 75 percent of the cost. So if the OP paid over $1200 for the trip, travel insurance would NOT have gotten her the $300 in question.

Fourth, insulting the OP under these circumstances remains hard hearted.

I’ve admittedly never tried to do Registered Mail to a foreign address. I’ve had to do a fair amount of it in the US. You know your life is getting complicated when you find yourself doing Registered Mail more than once or twice a year.

And then you go further and state that TRAVEL COMPANIES should be fined if the airlines choose not to refund the money back to the customer within 30 days?

“What if there were a law that said travel companies had to pay interest on customers’ money they held for more than 30 days?”

I enjoy your columns but I must ask: Have you started on the egg nog early this year? The AIRLINE held the money, not Expedia.

(no I don’t work for Expedia and have had my own share of problems with them, but this just seems ridiculous)

Why should the Travel Company be fined for the airline’s slow refund process?

Family member means your or a traveling campanion spouse, domestic partner, child, spourse’s child, daugter-in-law, son-in-law, brother, sister, mother, father, step parents or step sister/brother, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, legal guardian, caregiver, legal ward, or domestic partner of any of the above.

All good travel insurance policies sold by travel agents generally carry the same wording. It is best to know what you are talking about before responding to something in error.

I would appreciate your letting me know if their reply is a valid one.My booking number is 2101328. Thank you.

Marvin Perton

Kudos to Seppala and to Chris Elliott for holding their feet to the fire.