[dearsunnysandra]

I was completely screwed over by Delta airlines upon boarding my flight, My 4-month holiday of which I have worked my ass of to save for was 1) reduced to a 2month holiday because of ''Delat's fear of me being sent to Argentina as an illegal swedish immigrant'' and for thïs ''help'' i received by Delta I only had to pay $1400 USD. So my holiday now is until February instead of May. They charged me this amount of money to change my return flight to fall within the 90 day tourist visa although they changed the return to ends of february when my visa would have expired at the ends of march. I was never told of this, the agent simply changed the flight. He took my visa after telling me ''there may be a service charge''. I was aware of this as he was given the visa as the service charge is normally 250USD. Upon arrival checking my bank acount, Delta had charged me $1400 USD. How is this ever possible? Why was I charged this much money without being informed? And why change my return to February when I intended to return in May??? Can someone please tell me what I can do and how delta will deal with the situation.

Below is a copy of the formal complaint letter I sent to delta airlines.

___________________

would like to make a formal complaint with regards to a flight between Washington DC -Atlanta, Atlanta-Washington DC (see flight details below).

Yesterday upon check-in the travel agent asked whether I had a valid Argentinian visa. I replied that I had the regular tourist visa and that upon arrival in Argentina I was going travelling around Chile, Uruguay and Brazil and as such I would have the 90-tourist visa updated to another 90 days. I even told the travel agent that I had proof that I was going travelling around those countries and that I had pre-paid tours and hostels. I have previously traveled to Argentina with a different airline and have never been denied to board because of this situation. It is not my first time in Argentina nor South America and I have never had any problems so far nor have been denied boarding my any other of the many different airlines I have flown with.


This travel agent told me that the only way I was going to be allowed to board was if he made a flight change so that my return would be within the 90 days. He was talking on the phone for approximately 15-20 minutes typing on the computer and whilst he still had the phone he told me that 'there may be a service charge of 250$'. He asked for my visa card and so he was given the visa card. He put in all the details and then told me he had changed the flight.


He then told me he had changed the ticket to the 22 February although he had not even asked me for an option or informing me that he had changed the ticket from the initial return flight which was on the 3rd of May to now being the 22 February.


I have just recently landed in Buenos Aires and have checked my bank account of which it states that a fee of 9481 SEK = 1383 USD has been deducted from Delta airlines. Namely, instead of the 250$ service charge a sum of 9481 SWEDISH SEK has been charged. I was never told that I was going to be charged this amount. The initial price I paid for the whole ticket was 8544 Swedish SEK. Namely, I was charged a fee larger than the initial ticket price of which I was never informed of. This in addition to the fact that I have been changed my return to leave next month. It does not make any sense as to why I would agree to let the travel agent change my return to the 22nd February for that sum of money when I want to return in May. This only shows that had I been told the information that my return would be in February for that sum of money I would have clearly said no to such an offer. I would have had it changed to at least March as if the reason for changing the return is for visa issues I would have to return in March to fall within those 90 days.

Upon landing in Argentina I have also consulted the immigration authorities which told me that had I arrived in Argentina with the initial ticket with the return date on the 3rd of May I would have been granted only 90 days, however I would have been able to thereafter either go to the immigration authorities to have my tourist visa extended or, as I had specified to the travel agent, had this renevewed by going travelling around the region, e.g. by crossing the border to Chile as was in my case. I once again would like to stress that I go to Argentina quite frequently and have never had any problem neither with the immigration nor been denied entry or boarding because of the matter. It does surprise me that Delta does not provide any such information to their customers that if they feel that each customer is travelling with unsatisfactory visa documents, they will be denied boarding.


In Buenos Aires there is nothing but the number of a call center. There is no one to physically discuss this mistake with. In the airport the only person who would be the right Delta representative is only there from 4pm. I have already tried to call several times without a reply.

I have also called the call center to ask whether I can have my ticket changed to the initial flight date namely the 3rd May 2012. The travel agent (Manuel Arellano) checked the flight details and told me I could change the flight for the service charge $250 as in this moment there would be no fare difference to pay. How is it possible that I can now change my ticket to return on the 3rd of May, however yesterday I had to pay more than a thousand dollars to change the return ticket from my initial 4-month holiday to have this suddenly reduced to 2-months? I would never have agreed to this firstly if I know that this would cost me that sum and secondly if the travel agent had told me that it would be changed to the ends of February.


I am sure that it makes perfectly logic that someone wishing to travel abroad for 4 months would not suddenly agree to have their ticket reduced to half that time for that amount of money? Secondly, the travel agent told me he was changing the return for pure visa requirements. He told me that this had to be within 90 days. So why was I not informed that my return ticket was changed to return not even within 60 days? (I.e. return changed from 3rd May 2012, to return instead on the 22 February 2012).

I do not see how I could change my return ticket now by calling call center and paying another 250$ and that there is no problem with this, however yesterday I was put under heavy pressure to completely change my ticket and for this not being informed of the 9481 SEK = 1383 USD amount of money it would cost. Yesterday I was told that they could not let me fly as this is the responsability of the airline to check the visa of each passenger. I perfectly understand this and I of course happily agreed to the travel agent yesterday for finding a solution and changing my ticket to return within those 90 days and paying the service charge he mentioned it would cost me. This I did more than gladly as I of course did not want to miss the flight and loose out on everything I have paid and booked for in advance during the 4 month holiday in south america.

However, from that point on I was misled and not given the information with regards to dates nor price.


I have to say that I am incredibly disappointed and have lost a sufficient amount of money meant to be used whilst I am travelling. I feel as though I have been completely ripped off. I was never given the right information of the charges Delta would incur me and not even a good solution as I now have a return ticket for practically next month although I have planned everything, booked tours and places to visit during a 4-month holiday. I even have to call call center and change my return once again to May and pay another 250$. This only means I have paid 1383 USD +250USD to really just travel on the same day,ie. 3rd May 2012. I am sure that it is comprehensible my frustration, stress and disappointment at this point.

I would like to have a reply from someone in charge of the mistake and to have the whole sum of money reimbursed which I was unawaringly charged of. I would also like to have someone explain why I was changed my return ticket to the 22nd February when I intended to return on the 3rd May? If the problem was that I did not have the required visa arrangements and had a return later than the 90 days, then why did they not change my return to fall at least in march which would have made a lot more sense?

[jimworcs]

I would notify your bank immediately that you challenge Delta's right to levy this charge. If Delta advised you only of a $250 charge, then they were not authorised to take any more funds out. If however, they said there was a $250 charge, plus fare difference, then they were authorised. It is never advisable to travel with US based airlines for long haul international travel. They operate complex local monopolies in the US and as a result have lost touch with any sense of customer service. Delta is one of the worst offenders and is widely loathed. I would always travel with a non US based carrier when travelling.

Delta are however, entitled to ensure that you are not going to be refused entry, as many countries levy a charge or fine on the airline if you are refused entry. They had the option of telling you they would not accept the booking and refund your money if you did not have a valid visa that covered the entire stay. However, they are not allowed to arbitrarily amend your booking, and charge you for the priviledge.

[dearsunnysandra]

I could finally get ahold of someone yesterday. I feel completely ripped off. A lady with no sympathy whatsoever, the supervisor, told me all she could do was give me a refund of $126 dollar and change the return ''free of charge'' to the ends of march. A complete joke. She was talking as though she was doing me a favour.

So I've basically lost 1300 dollars + I have to pay 250 dollars MORE to call again and change my ticket so I can go back on the return I initially contracted for.

Oh and the lady made it ''a requirement'' I show my visa at the Delta desk at the airport.

All this because they were worried about my visa when authorities down here told me specifically that I would have had NO WORRIES at all to enter the country on the ticket I initially had booked for.

Speechless.

[NewJerseyDevils]

I know if I landed at Stockholm and told a Swedish border agent after 2 months 29 days I was going to spend a day in Denmark to reset the visa I would be detained and sent back on the next flight to the US.
I would look into a visa that would support your visit and contest the charge with your credit card company.