Turkish Airlines Website - be careful!

MaggieAndBernie



Joined: 26/07/2008
Posts: 2012

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 18:30

Went on thy.com last night to book flights for Bernie to fly out for Christmas/New Year. Went through all the long winded booking process, entered credit card details.....site crashed! Didn't manage to get booking ref before screen went blank so rang up Credit Card Co this am to check and, sure enough, the transaction had gone through! Rang Turkish Airlines who told me there was no booking - "but you've charged me for it!" I said, "oh well we'll be refunding in 7 to 10 days, You'll have to book again" I was told, Can you believe that? They can take my money instantly with the click of a mouse but it takes them 7 to 10 days to give it back?? Undeterred I tried again - funny the price had now gone up by £30....got as far as last time and....Yes You've guessed it....crashed again AAAAAaaaaaarrrrrggghhh! Got on the phone to Thy Reservations, made the booking over the phone, got a reference and then she said I'd have to go to Terminal 1 at Manchester Airport to pay! Continued.....

MaggieAndBernie



Joined: 26/07/2008
Posts: 2012

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 18:35

I pointed out that they'd already got two payments off my credit card and couldn't they take it out of them? No she said we can't take payment over the phone. So, I have till Monday 17th at 4pm to drive 100 miles to Manchester Airport, pay for b****y carparking, then go pay for flights otherwise they'll probably have sold out those dates or the price will have gone up again. In 7 to 10 days I may or may not get my 700 odd pounds refunded In the immortal words of Victor Meldrew "I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!" Last word....WHY?????

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 18:37

Exactly - Why?

hattikins


Joined: 17/02/2008
Posts: 2793

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 18:41

Hi Maggie

I had a similar experience when trying to book flights for 27/12/08, tried twice then gave up. The following morning I had a security call from my credit card company to say that someone had TRIED to book flights twice on my card in Turkey. I have checked with the credit card company and no transactions have actually gone through thank goodness. In the end I booked the flights through Opodo and saved about £10 on the cost of the flights.

After all your problems I hope you really enjoy your first Christmas in Cyprus.

MaggieAndBernie



Joined: 26/07/2008
Posts: 2012

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 18:57

Well unfortunately for me they tried & succeeded! I might try Opodo now and if successful I'll save myself a nightmare dash to Manchester! Thanks Carol!

hattikins


Joined: 17/02/2008
Posts: 2793

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 18:59

Let me know how you go on and if I can help at all, we live about 15 miles from Manchester Airport if that,s any use to you.

Cheers Carol.

MaggieAndBernie



Joined: 26/07/2008
Posts: 2012

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 19:35

Well I've just booked with Opodo - a few quid more but totally hassle free! now I just need to hope I get my dosh back out of Turkish Airlines. Just wanted to warn others, you're quite right Carol - far better to book through another site - ah well you live & learn eh? Many thanks for your help and also the kind offer!

hattikins


Joined: 17/02/2008
Posts: 2793

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 19:40

Glad you got sorted out Maggie and hopefully you won,t have to wait too long to get your money refunded, now look forward to your holiday, six weeks tomorrow for us, roll on !!

MaggieAndBernie



Joined: 26/07/2008
Posts: 2012

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 19:42

Well I'm 3 weeks Sat and staying for 6 weeks - I won't want to go home at all after all that time! Whoooopeee!

MaggieAndBernie



Joined: 26/07/2008
Posts: 2012

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 20:13

Just checked with Halifax. Turkish Airlines have taken payment for 2 flights totalling £756.98 and also ATTEMPTED to take for two more!! Apparently I will get it all refunded next week but that's not the point. Moral - always book with an agent like OPODO or NetFlights whatever but NEVER direct with Turkish Airlines. Unbelievable or what!

MaggieAndBernie



Joined: 26/07/2008
Posts: 2012

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 12:07

Pushing this back to the top as people may be booking flights this weekend!

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 13:44

We may be a little slower and do charge some small service fees but we don't take your money twice as at IAH the systems are manual so we can try to give real personal service to real people like you.



It is not only THY but many airlines direct booking systems - that is why we have links on our flightholiday site to people like Opodo.



Tom