This happened just after Priceline.com got started. I followed there printed instructions and got a flight for my son as close to requested his destination as possible for that time of year. (Christmas) (Boise, ID to Casper, WY, going to Gordon, Neb.) I knew that it had to be a roundtrip ticket with no Opened Jaw (their lingo not mine) allowed. (I presumed that they met all dates confirmed).
A family emergency required him to drive a car to Gordon and leave it. I contacted the airline carrier and was assured that since he had bought a round trip ticket that it was his option not to use the first leg of the trip and that he could use the second leg, but no refund could be made. This was fine with me, as I was the one making the change, not the airlines. I bought the ticket, the airline got their money, all is well... NOT.
After my son left, I contacted the airline to confirm his return flight the day after Christmas and was informed that Priceline.com had cancelled his entire ticket. I contacted Priceline.com and after a three and a half hour wait, finally got a real person (at least they were exchanging oxygen, I do not know about being human). I was told that since my son did not use the first part of the ticket that the second leg was also cancelled. I told them that their rules say that if the carrier agrees that we can change the rules with the carrier directly. Priceline said that they reserved the option to not allow the airlines to work like that and in our case the cancelled flight was final.
I worked, and they were kind enough to allow me to repurchase my sons original seat on the return flight for a nominal cost. They was sorry about the problems with Priceline and said that they would look into it from their side. I never heard from them, but it was not actually their problem.in the end, I paid twice for the return flight and priceline got all of my money.
Ken
Redding, California
U.S.A.
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