********** BY BUDGETAIR AND QATAR AIRLINES

Budgetair expect ME to pay their service fee when it was not my doing that meant my trip was cancelled BY THE AIRLINE (who have refunded me less the money no doubt Budgetair earn) – this must be claimed BY THEMSELVES FROM QATAR AIRWAYS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CANCELLATION. And to describe the refund as ‘GOOD NEWS THE REFUND HAS BEEN APPROVED’ their email is beyond ridiculous. If the passenger must go through the hoops of ensuring a refund where applicable, then why do they believe this does not apply to the operating agencies??

Of course the refund was due FOR IT WAS THE AIRLINE CANCELLING THE FLIGHT WITHOUT ALTERNATIVE OR EXPLANATION and in doing so totally destroyed a family get together in the UK that had been planned for more than six months!!!! Why else would I accept the schedule that was offered – a 26 hour trip to Heathrow, and a layover period in Doha, on my return trip. which meant that I would depart Heathrow on 1st August, arriving back in South Africa on 3rd August!!! Due to the diplomatic crisis in the region, Qatar Airways aircraft are prohibited from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and United Arab Emirates airspace is the statement I found on the Qatar Web Page when I checked if I could find the problem. It is entirely disingenuous of both Budgetair and of Qatar to have accepted my booking AND MY CASH when there is absolutely no doubt that this information was out there at the time of my enquiry. I insist on balance due from my payment in sum of R1 370.00. Budgetair FAILED to protect my interests in taking a booking they already knew they could not fulfil. Eli Konstant (Ms)