Etihad Airways: business class upgrade ignored; no refund yet
I had economy class tickets to travel from Dallas-Fort Worth to Abu Dhabi and then on to my destination by Etihad Airways for August 18, 2017. At the gate in Dallas-Fort Worth I purchased upgrades to business class for both legs of my journey. I paid about USD 2500 for it. A couple of hours after I purchased the upgrade, the flight to Abu Dhabi was cancelled because of technical problems with the aircraft. Etihad rebooked me on another flight for the next day. However, they rebooked me in economy class and they completely ignored the upgrade I had purchased a few hours earlier. I flew the rebooked itinerary the next day in economy class.
I have contacted Etihad customer service three times requesting a refund of the money I paid for the upgrade. The response I get each time is that they have no idea when the money will be refunded but that the money will be refunded "in due course". It has been a month since the cancelled flight and I still have not received a refund.
How can I escalate this issue either to someone within Etihad who can act on this quickly or to some independent authority who can make Etihad move faster on this? Do I have any options other than going to a small claims court? In case it is relevant, I live in the U.S.
Does Etihad ever refund money in such cases - has anyone been in a similar situation with Etihad?
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Are Etihad refunding flights?
Guests in the US. If you've booked at least seven days in advance of your flight, you'll receive a full refund if you cancel within 24 hours of purchasing the ticket. To request a refund, please speak to our Global Contact Centre or visit an office near you.How do I complain to Etihad Airways?
contact dutymediaofficer@etihad.ae. For all other enquiries, please call +971 600 555 666 in the UAE or get in touch with one of our Global Contact Centres.Is it worth to upgrade to Business Class?
Business Class offers every passenger the chance to feel important. It gives those who have to work while they fly the ability to work with enough space to do so. There is simply more of everything in Business Class, so if you don't absolutely need it and it's going to break the bank, it may not be worth it.What happens if Etihad cancel my flight?
If you cancel your Etihad Airways flight within 24 hours from the scheduled departure of your flight, then a fee of $100 to $400 will be charged as a Etihad Airways cancellation fee. You can also make a cancellation request after canceling your flight ticket.how to get an airline upgrade | budget travel tricks
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