[DontUseAirTransat]

We booked a one-month trip to London. We then added a car-hire deal through them with Hertz. We subsequently decided to stay the last week in London and not use the car. Hertz tell us that it would have been no problem to adjust the contract if we had booked with them direct, but AirTransat has the money and they are powerless. AT refused several times over to make what is a click-of-a-keyboard change in the contract. I have spoken to escalating levels of seniority, following up with e-mails and now they are not replying. All the responses I got were the same: "The Contract can't be changed." I have repeatedly pointed out that they are not in the carhire business, and they run the risk of alienating customers from flying again with them ever. I guess their hard-nosed attitude typifies the organization and, accordingly, if anyone asks my advice it will be never to use them. Heaven help anyone who wants to change a flight contract!
I would like to start a Small Claims action for them "Penalizing" us when they should address the issue through "Liquidated Damages", which, in the circumstances, should be Nil except for a modest admin. fee for clicking on a keyboard for 1 minute. Any advice please? I live in B.C. and I presume AT has to register to do business here.

[stonecold_1981]

did you pre-pay? if so, you have no options, since these companies (airlines brokering car rentals or rental care companies or other brokers) provide a lower rate for pre-paying and locking the deal.

[DontUseAirTransat]

Yes, we did pre-pay, unfort'ly (*never* to be repeated!)
As to "locking-in" there's a big difference between locking-in an air ticket (which is a designated slot for a rather unique commodity) and a car-hire which involves a highly liquid, ubiquitous and time-flexible commodity. It is no skin off AT's nose to change the deal with Hertz (who can easily re-let that can for the unwanted week from Gatwick Airport) whereas I cd understand AT's reluctance at trying to shuffle seats and dates around within the framework of a set flight schedule with fairly full planes.
Thanks for your input, however.
Yours,
DontUseAirTransat.

[DontUseAirTransat]

And now for the Return Journey saga ....
Thomas Cook Travel had hired an AirTransat plane for the return journey from London to Vancouver. I had booked a "Premium" seat at considerable extra expense so as to get more leg-room and a chance to lie-back & sleep.
All seats in the plane had their reclining mechanisms *locked* so that we had to endure a 10 hr. flight bolt-upright. The Thomas Cook flight staff said there was nothing they could do about it as it was an AirTransat plane.
I am writing to ask for them to return the premium I paid for the extra comfort of a "Premium" seat. Any bets out there?
BTW, the plane was 3 hrs late leaving, and was filthy. The seat-back pockets were like an archaelogical-dig with accumulated grot, and the floor around me hadn't been properly cleaned. The plane itself was old and decrepit-looking inside and out. The seat pitch, though "Premium" was little bigger than in Hard-**** section, so no leg-room relief there.
Folks, give yourselves a break and avoid anything to do with AirTransat whatsoever.
AirTransat is based in Quebec.

[DontUseAirTransat]

And now for the Return Journey saga ....
Thomas Cook Travel had hired an AirTransat plane for the return journey from London to Vancouver. I had booked a "Premium" seat at considerable extra expense so as to get more leg-room and a chance to lie-back & sleep.
All seats in the plane had their reclining mechanisms *locked* so that we had to endure a 10 hr. flight bolt-upright. The Thomas Cook flight staff said there was nothing they could do about it as it was an AirTransat plane.
I am writing to ask for them to return the premium I paid for the extra comfort of a "Premium" seat. Any bets out there?
BTW, the plane was 3 hrs late leaving, and was filthy. The seat-back pockets were like an archaeological-dig with accumulated grot, and the floor around me hadn't been properly cleaned. The plane itself was old and decrepit-looking inside and out. The seat pitch, though "Premium" was little bigger than in Hard-**** section, so no leg-room relief there.
Folks, give yourselves a break and avoid anything to do with AirTransat whatsoever.
AirTransat is based in Quebec.