How to dispute airline and travel fees
Airline fares look cheap until the seat, the bag and the change fee arrive. When the airline cancels, many travelers still pay fees they should not.
If the airline cancelled or changed your flight
If the airline cancels your flight, or makes a major change, and you choose not to travel, you are generally entitled to a refund of the ticket, not just a voucher. Ask for it in writing. Add any seat or bag fees you paid for a service you did not use.
Seat and bag fees
If you paid for a seat and were moved, or paid for a bag that was lost or delayed, ask for those fees back. Keep your boarding pass, bag receipt and any claim number.
Change and cancellation fees
Check the fare rules you bought. Some fares allow a free cancellation within 24 hours of booking if you booked well ahead. If you changed because of an airline schedule change, say so.
Other travel fees
The same steps work for travel agencies, tour companies and cruise lines. Compare the price you were quoted with the final charge.
What to put in your letter
- Your confirmation code, flight date and route.
- What the airline did, such as cancelling or changing your flight.
- The fees and fare you want refunded, with amounts.
- What you want: a refund to your original form of payment.
If they say no
Write to the airline's customer relations and then file a complaint with the federal transportation department's aviation consumer office. If you paid by credit card, dispute the charge for a service you did not receive.
Want the letter written for you?
Fight That Fee reads your bill, writes your dispute letter, and tells you who to send it to and what to do next. $9.99 to start. Follow-up letters are $2.