Has anyone ever filed a dispute with your credit card company for a charge related to travel? I have tickets with Air Canada for July travel. As you know, AC is under bankruptcy protection. I hope they will emerge from it with an improved business plan. However, I wanted to know what my options are, if any, in the worst case scenario (liquidation/cancelled flights). Can I file a dispute with my credit card to get a refund for services I paid for but not delivered by the merchant? Are there any time limitations? What are your experiences with Master card/Visa or American Express?

Yes, you would be able to dispute the charges for products/services not delivered as promised.
You should not have any problems getting your money back. That's when a CC shines as opposed to cash. With cash, you're on your own and also the lowest point on the totem pole of creditors looking for their money in a liquidation situation.

That said, I don't think AC will go out any time soon.

In January, 2001 we booked (and paid for on Visa) a Renaissance cruise scheduled to depart September 29, 2001. Renaissance went bankrupt Spetmeber 25. We wrote to Visa, and our account was credited the full amount within three weeks.

we had the same experience than previous poster "abram". our credit card reimbursed us after we sent in the receipt and the credit card bill. the refund was on our next bill. i believed it's some federal law that says credit card companies have to pick up the tab if a service, paid by credit card, was not delivered.
abram: were you going to french polynesia as well?? we were soooo bummed when the cruise line went out of business!

Our cruise was to the Mediterranean. We're finally doing it in October of this year on Oceania, which uses two Renaissance ships.

On FlyerTalk someone posted quotes from the Mastercard spokesman and the Visa spokesman. The Mastercard spokesman sounded much more positive about refunding money in the event of bankruptcy. The Visa guy was more equivocal. I have no idea how that relates to reality, though.

I also have overseas tickets on Air Canada in July. In my case I bought them in February on Mastercard.

If you pay for merchandise, services, or travel with a credit card and the product is never delivered or provided, you are generally not subject to the 60 day limit on disputing the charge.

Even though the reason is bankruptcy people often claim that the situation falls under fraud for which there is no statute of limtations. This is not a dispute of quality of goods and services but rather anyone who takes money (including the credit card company) is responsible for refunding it if no goods or services at all are rendered.

Usually the situation does not go so far as a fraud claim because the refund is made promptly.

Travel tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm

I think one needs to consider that there are differnt forms of bankruptcy.

In a chapter 11, which is what some of the airlines are in now, the airline reorganizes. Although they may rid themselves of debt, they still operate. In this case, your flight may stil go as scheduled and I don't believe you could get compensation.

Sometimes ths stock of a company in a CHapter 11 bankruptcy becomes totally worthless although the company may actually survive and become healthy again.


In a Chapter 7 filing, the company liquidates. In that case, you might qualify for a credit through your credit card company.

If you paid by check you could be out of luck.