My wife, oldest son and I are headed to Zimbabwe to hunt leopard/sable with SSG Safaris in just a couple of weeks. Tonight my son called and said he can't go. Do to the diminishing economy, he can't leave his business that long and expect it to survive. I'm really going to miss him on this safari, but I'm also a bit miffed about loosing the $2,700 in non-refundable airfare I bought on his behalf!

Ouch... Perhaps its transferable????

Dang. Bummer is right.

Damn shame sorry you have to go through this.

Very sad to hear this.

How come you are loosing the air fair?

With our airline tickets we get the option of cancelling, we only lose about $50?!

sorry to hear that

take along one of your friends that have never been to Africa and change his life forever.

Your son is going to regret that decision.

I have noticed that those who are gifted trips to Africa don't seem to appreciate it as much as those who pay their own way. I wonder if he would have canceled if he had paid the $2,700 himself.....

Sorry if I sound cynical, but I have been in similar situations.

I am more than bloody sure that there is someone who would love to take advantage of that ticket.

Scott:

Knowing you and some of your family (and looking forward to the dinner we have planned in Jackson this summer!) I know it about killed your son to cancel. He wouldn't do that if he thought he had any real options.

As to the ticket, I had to cancel a trip to Tanzania last year, but I was able to talk Delta into a credit for a trip within 12 months of the purchase of the cancelled flight.... so I'm on my way to Zimbabwe on May 31st. Unfortunately, the re-booking usually must be in the same name as the prior flight (but don't give up yet!). Call the airline and beg, whine, moan, cry, etc.

Here's another option that might work. If your son uses the credit for a flight somewhere cheaper than the Zim flight, he just may be issued a credit for the remaining value that is transferable to anyone. That was offered to me before Sandy gave me the go-a-head to get my butt to Africa again.

I'd call the airline and ask for customer service. If (and it is a big "if") you get the right person (and if you don't, ask for a supervisor... they have more authority), you may be surprised what they will do for you.

I'd be glad to talk to you about my latest journey through the airline maze if you want to call.

It took me several hours, but I finally got booked to a different destination and saved myself a bunch of money and my change fees weren't but $200 or so.

Saeed, there are so many "classes" of tickets, even in the same class, it boggles the mind to consider which are (and which are not) non-refundable, re-issuable, penalty free, etc. If you read the restrictions/penalties on a "y" class Delta ticket, for instance, plan to spend 30 minutes trying to understand what you've bought (and you still won't know for sure).

Happy Easter Everyone!
As a business owner, I am also staying home this year.
It's killing me, but I know it's the right thing to do for me.

Don't be too miffed with your son...although he will regret it eternally! Unfortunately it is a sign of the times and this Obama economy in which we try to live these days. I too have had to postpone Africa plans due to the economy...or as I put it the Obomony.

Taking my father to Africa with me was one of the best things I have ever done or experienced.

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:
I have noticed that those who are gifted trips to Africa don't seem to appreciate it as much as those who pay their own way. I wonder if he would have canceled if he had paid the $2,700 himself.....

Sorry if I sound cynical, but I have been in similar situations.

It's called responsibility. Sometimes hard choices must be made.

Judge, good advice.

quote:

Originally posted by JBoutfishn:
It's called responsibility. Sometimes hard choices must be made.

+1

One possibility is to take a wounded vet from the sand box with you as an observer. The airline would have a hard time turning that one down.

465H&H

Delta customer service ( who were very nice by the way ) suggested I e-mail Delta via their web page compliment/complaint link and follow-up with a phone call on Monday to their corporate office.

I have done that. We will see what happens.

Hate that Scott...I know you were looking forward to the family trip. Man I fly Delta almost exclusively, and whenever I have to cancel a ticket, I always get 12 months credit (and I think a $150 change fee).

I will go, I will go ... Pick me pick me!!!!

Bummer is right. My son and I are scheduled for August at Omay North. His first trip. I am really looking forward to it. My business has slowed down as well, but I'm going anyway.

BTW, I left two new trail cams and a Caldwell field pod with Nixon, just for Leopard hunting.

Good Luck

SBT-

airline reps. have quite a bit of autonomy & "lattitude" re:decisions they can make...Don't stop at the 1st "no" Hang in there, keep calling (and waiting on hold, I know) but you'll eventually get a rep. whose personality, job position, agreeability, etc. will be in your favor & they'll work something out...A cash refund won't happern, but use of the ticket at a later date, with a fee, is likely, from my experiences...Best of luck!

What! No refund on a non-refundable ticket?
The nerve of some airlines.


Being nice will likely get you something from them. Most customer service people are so used to getting cussed and yelled at on the phone often turn out to be rather generous when someone nice comes along.

Good luck.

Scott,

Sorry to hear about your son having to cancel. I am sure this was not a easy decison for him.

Good luck on the sable and leopard.

I am looking forward to a report.

Hartley.

I never think I can leave my business.

But then I remember the world's cemeteries are filled with indispensable people.