Julia Somerville: As devoted rugby fans, the highlight of the year for Mike and his wife Edith was booking tickets to see Scotland play Wales in the Six Nations match in February.
Mike: We were delighted to find that we could book a direct flight from Edinburgh to Cardiff but surprised to find that the price was £583 for two people return.
Julia Somerville: But, Mike’s excitement was short lived. Not long after making the booking he was diagnosed with an illness, which ruled out travelling to Cardiff.
Mike: Understood the tickets were non-refundable. But, we did have the option to transfer them to another person. So, my son, who loves rugby, I decided to transfer the tickets to him.
Julia Somerville: Mike knew that there would be a £160 charge to change the names on the flight tickets. But, when he called the airline they told him he’d have to stump up a further £231. They said it was to cover a rise in the seat price since he’d made his original booking. So rugby mad Mike feels he’s been left with a pretty big penalty. Just for changing the name on his tickets. The price he’s paid works out at £2.29 per mile for his flight.
Mike: So in the end two flights from Scotland to Wales return ended up at £975 which is absolutely outrageous.
Julia Somerville: For the same price the family could have travelled from Edinburgh to Cardiff and back again in a chauffeur driven luxury car with a bottle of bubbly thrown in.
Mike: I wish airlines were more transparent in the way that they charge. So, people can actually see what they are paying for.
