GOT THIS INFORMATION FROM A NAIJABLAB READER.....
For those of you who go on-line to book what you think is cheap ticket deals, watch out for the one they call TRAVEL TROLLEY. Do not touch them with a batch pole. They ripped me off. I had booked a London-Lagos flight with them on Virgin Atlantic, rather than go straight to Virgin. I was stupid. I thought they were cheap. They are an Indian Group, or so.
Problem started when I got suddenly admitted into hospital before my travel date. I called them to ask for compassionate grounds to change my flight date. They showed no sympathy, and bluntly refused to book me on another date. They insisted I had to pay penalty. I called Virgin Airlines. Virgin claimed that because I have not used the ticket at all, I needed to go to the Agents, Travel Trolley. I was now stuck with these 'Asian robbers'. I asked Virgin Air how much I would normally pay for penalty of date change. They said $125.
I called Travel Trolley and spoke to a man, whom I thought was a gentleman...not knowing he was a desperado. He promised to find me the cheapest penalty amount to pay. He first scared me by saying there was hardly any seats because it is summer time, but that he would try for me. He kept me on the phone for almost 30 minutes. Came back and said I had to pay £265 before getting a new travel date. I was shocked. This meant I had to pay that amount times 4, because I was travelling with my wife and two adult children. I was quick to tell him that Virgin had told me it was $125 per ticket (not even £). He was quick to tell me that I had no choice because the ticket was issued by them.
I had bought their ticket on line months earlier because they were way cheaper than buying direct from Virgin Atlantic. Buy now I seriously regret my decision. Penny wise...pound foolish, you may say.
I am writing this mail to NAIJABLAB to warn other Nigerians to be careful not to fall into the same trap. I hasten to add that this may not have been the case if I had stuck to my scheduled date....but I think it is still worth mentioning, because nobody knows tomorrow. I never ever thought I would be in a hospital bed when I booked the ticket.
I think these Travel Agents need to be more flexible. And I blame Virgin Atlantic for giving them the sole power to levy and collect penalty fees on tickets that are issued for travel on their Airlines. There is no basis for that....and trust Indian people to capitalize on this lacuna. Virgin Atlantic too is constructively culpable....it shows their level of disrespect for us Nigerians. And yet they enjoy our money. Their Staff have been known to be very rude when speaking to Nigerians on the phone. What a big shame!!! I am pained. Nothing would normally make me travel on Virgin or British Airways, because of their RUDE attitudes to Nigerians. But this time I had to succumb because I was travelling with my family, and my wife particularly cannot stand flights with change-over connections. She has a phobia for Air Flights, and flying in general. I hate TRAVEL TROLLEY. They are bad news for any one who wishes to change his travel dates. They have no business being in the Travel Agency business. The only trolley they should be pushing is FOOD TROLLEY.
NIGERIANS... PLEASE BEWARE OF SHADY TRAVEL AGENTS AS YOU EMBARK ON YOUR JOURNEYS TO NIGERIA THIS SUMMER. They only like you for your money. I believe they cannot stand us for one minute.
Dr. Adebayo Alade.
(UK).
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