Three weeks ago, I had to take an international flight. Arriving at the airport, I found my office had booked the flight, but not actually bought the ticket. Luckily, good old Barclaycard Visa came to the rescue, I bought a ticket at the check-in desk, and I was soon heading into the skies.
The thing is - three weeks on - the air ticket (which was well over a thousand dollars) doesn’t seem to have shown up on my credit card account, which I check online.
So what do I do? Call the airline in the country I’m now in (which is where they’re based)? Call the airline in the country I bought the ticket (which will be an expensive international call)? Call my credit card company (another expensive international call)? Wait?
Thing is, I don’t want to get into trouble for someone else’s or some computer’s glitch. Nor do I want someone else getting into trouble for forgetting to put the charges through properly. Also it’s a return ticket, and I don’t want the return flight getting cancelled.
So how long do these things usually take? They checked my card validity at the airport first. Then they swiped it on one of those manual carbon-paper things. How long should it be?
I would wait until you get your Visa statement…
I’m assuming that the airline agent got authorisation for the charge (which probably ‘reserved’ the amount of the ticket) and then ran the charge slip. Sometimes these manual slips can take a bit to ‘clear’ through the card issuer.
Should the charge not appear on your next Barclaycard statement I would write a letter to the Airline, including a COPY of the receipt you were given , along the lines of:
Dear Sir/Madame:
I would respectfully draw your attention to the enclosed charge which has yet to be reflected on my Barclaycard account. As so much time has elapsed I fear that perhaps in your dilegent endevour to provide such excellent service to your patrons that this paper record has somehow gone missing. If you would be so kind as to look into this matter and see that I’m am charged for my ticket at your earliest convienence I would be most appreciative.
Looking forward to my next pleasant flight on your airline,
I remain
Faithfully yours,
istara
Be sure to copy your bank manager and alert anyone who may collect your mail that you are expecting some free airline coupons in the post.
