US fines British Airways for refusing refunds due to pandemic
- June 2, 2023
- 0
US sanctions to the airline british airways To do not deliver returns to their clients for canceled flights in 2020 and for participating in fraudulent activities. In a
US sanctions to the airline british airways To do not deliver returns to their clients for canceled flights in 2020 and for participating in fraudulent activities.
In a white paper published today, Department of Transport announced a fine $1.1 million for “unfair and misleading practices” against consumers.
The document explains that March and November 2020The British airline said on its website that people whose flights were canceled or significantly delayed could “discuss refund options” by calling customer service.
Photo: Reuters
However, customers who called that number to ask for their money back were unable to speak to an airline representative and the issue persisted for “months”.
“british airways cannot maintain the proper functioning of telephone lines,” he stressed. Department of Transportwho received over 1000 complaints airline customers.
In addition, there was no way to apply on the site. request a refund and there was “misleading” information that led consumers to ask for a voucher instead of a return.
“Practices british airways they were unfair,” concluded the text justifying the fine, as consumers experienced “extraordinary delays” in receiving refunds or did not receive them at all.
Photo: Reuters
However, the document also includes airlines’ argumentswho attempted to defend himself by emphasizing that customer complaints should be viewed in the “context of a global pandemic that has resulted in an unprecedented number of flight cancellations”.
british airways further assured that in 2020 more than 2.8 million returnswhich, in his opinion, shows that “obtaining a refund was not unduly difficult”.
The airline also noted that 69% of canceled flights refundedto and from the USA between March 2020 and February 2021 for the amount $763 million.
At all, british airways He has 60 days to comply with US sanctions that force him to hand over $550,000 to the government and allocate the other half of the money for claimed refunds.
(EFE)
Source: Aristegui Noticias
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