Most Reliable airline!

So Airlink prides itself as an the most reliable airline!!! Well, lets see on the 18th November we made a booking with Airlink to fly from Port Elizabeth to Durban, no other airlines flies to Durban that early, this to attend Rotary's oldest Durban branch 100th year anniversary, the function, a luncheon, was held at the Elangeni hotel from 12h00 to 14h00. Stay overnight at an hotel and fly back on another airline Sunday 26th. This morning the 25th January we arrived at the Port Elizabeth airport just before 07h00 after about an hour drive from St Francis Bay and like everyone else waited for the boarding call. The boarding time was at 07h45 around 08h00 all passengers were informed of a boarding which around 08h20 were informed that the delay was due to a technical issue with the plane and that a technician would fly from Johannesburg to Durban depart 10h00 arriving around 12h00 to attend to the technical issue. Us like all the other passengers were told that nothing could be done apart maybe wait and or fly on an other plane leaving around 16h30 and as compensation we would be given a meal voucher!!! We returned to St Francis Bay as it was pointless to carry on with our journey.

Has anyone ever attempted to get a refund from an airline? After a few calls was told by the Johannesburg office that the tickets would be refunded, however the request had to come from the agents that made the booking. Well after sometime was informed by the agent that that the only refund we will receive is taxes on the tickets and no option of a credit voucher for a future flight! Our first experience with Airlink and will certainly be our last! Oh and the same applies with the other airline even if cancelling in advance but the cheek is if you do cancel your paid seats gets allocated to another paying flyer.