‘I am owed €530 by Aer Lingus since early April. I can't afford that'
A reader called Emer ended up booking not one but two flights for herself and her family to the same destination at the same time through no fault of her own and has struggled for weeks to have the problem resolved.
'On Thursday, April 3rd I attempted to amend an Aer Lingus flight booking online,' her mail begins. 'This was a flight for four people and I was amending the flight for us to fly a couple of days later than originally planned.'
The cost to amend the booking came in at €430 but, she writes, the transaction would not go through due to an error on the Aer Lingus website. She sent us a screengrab of the error message she was getting.
She authorised the payment with her bank several times but the Aer Lingus page kept stalling and no email came through to confirm that the modification had been successful.
READ MORE
'I rang Aer Lingus customer service [and] after a long wait I spoke to a member of their team who confirmed it had not gone through, and then charged me €530 to amend the booking as it cost more to do it over the phone.'
She did point out that the only reason she was making the booking over the phone was because of an issue with the Aer Lingus website but the representative said their hands were tied and there was nothing they could do.
She paid the fee and was less than impressed a day later when she saw two separate Aer Lingus transactions appear on her credit card – one for €430 and another one for €530.
She realised that – contrary to what she had been told by the Aer Lingus employee the online transaction had been processed as well as the phone transaction.
'I have spoken to customer care on the phone four times and have been promised a refund of €530, the double-charged amount. They said I could expect it in five days. I also have two complaints with Aer Lingus, both in early April, which I have quoted numerous times on the phone to customer care. The average wait time on the phone is 40 minutes so I can't afford to ring daily as I work full-time. I've also tried their WhatsApp service but the bot said to contact customer service.
'So I am owed €530 by Aer Lingus since early April. I can't afford to have that amount outstanding on my credit card and I can't understand this lack of action on their side for their clear and obvious, and on record, error. I have also contacted the IAA, but honestly feel like I'm losing my mind.'
Her frustration is entirely understandable and when we contacted the airline it was quick to hold its hands up.
'Aer Lingus sincerely regrets that this customer experienced difficulties when attempting to modify their flights online,' a spokeswoman said. 'While our website's 'Manage Trip' function typically allows customers to make changes seamlessly online, we acknowledge that, in this instance, they were unable to do so and were inadvertently charged twice in error. We have processed the full refund for the duplicate charge and sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Is it worth my while to give half my inheritance to my husband to avoid tax?
I just want to confirm my understanding of the position around deed of variation/family arrangement with wills in Ireland. I am due to inherit €30,000 from my brother-in-law and I am wondering if it is worth my while to gift my husband half, in order to avoid tax ? Ms C.L. When someone draws up a will, they generally have two things in mind. First, they want to take care of those closest and dearest to them; second, they want to minimise how much of their estate gets taken in tax. READ MORE There's an industry of lawyers and tax advisers making a very good living servicing this demand – as evidenced by last week's article about wealthy individuals in Ireland buying farmland to avail of an inheritance tax loophole while it lasts. This can be a game of cat and mouse. New reliefs are introduced, advisers notice they can be used entirely legitimately but not in the way the Government originally intended to benefit their (generally) wealthy clients and, over time, amendments are brought in to try to restore the measure to its original purpose. But what you are talking about is a much longer established structure called a deed of variation, otherwise known as a deed of family arrangement. Anyone who has been in the UK might be more familiar with it as, in that jurisdiction, it can be a very useful way of effectively rewriting someone's will – at least in relation to any inheritance you are in line to receive – to take account of changed circumstances, such as the arrival of children, grandchildren or in-laws since the will was originally drafted. It can also be used in intestacy where the absence of a will might mean, for instance, that a cohabiting partner could otherwise be left with nothing. [ Wills and spouses: Why you cannot just cut a wife out of your will Opens in new window ] In the UK, such a deed of variation must be in writing and must be signed within two years of the original benefactor dying. One of the advantages is that rather than being seen as you inheriting and then passing some of that benefit onwards, the benefit you allocate to anyone else under such a deed is considered as coming to them directly from the person who has died. So what does that mean for you? Well, while there is a lot of similarity between the law here and in the UK due to our shared heritage, there are some significant differences too, not least in relation to inheritance. For instance, while, in the UK, the tax liability is on the estate of the dead person, in Ireland, the liability rests with the individual beneficiaries depending on the amount involved and the beneficiary's relationship with the dead person. In-laws are considered as 'strangers' in terms of inheritance. As such, they come under the lowest category C tax-free threshold And there is a key difference of approach also when it comes to deeds of variation. While there is nothing stopping you exercising a deed of variation to gift your husband half of what you are inheriting from your brother-in-law, it will have no impact on your tax liability. In Ireland, as Revenue has confirmed for me, as far as liability for Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT or inheritance tax) is concerned, you will be considered to have taken the full €30,000 inheritance from your brother-in-law with your husband being seen as taking a subsequent €15,000 gift from you. Now, in practical terms, that raises no tax bill for your husband as gifts and inheritances between spouses are exempt from inheritance. But it could have tax implications for the recipient of your largesse if you were looking to have a friend benefit, for instance. And it does mean you will face a tax bill. In-laws are considered as 'strangers' in terms of inheritance. As such, they come under the lowest category C tax-free threshold – currently €20,000. So you will face a 33 per cent tax bill on at least €10,000 of this inheritance – €3,300. It could be more if, as would not be unusual, you previously received an inheritance – or, indeed a gift of more than €3,000 in one year – from a friend, in-law, cousin or more distant relation. They all come under category C and that €20,000 tax-free limit is a lifetime one extending back to cover any inheritance or large gift received since December 5th, 1991. That leaves you with two choices: you can accept the inheritance and pay the tax due on anything over your tax-free threshold, or you can disclaim the inheritance. However, that second option is an all or nothing one. You cannot just disclaim €10,000 of the €30,000 so that you stay within your tax-free limit. You will be giving all of it up. Nor have you any right, if you disclaim, to influence where the inheritance goes. That will be determined by the wording of the will. The money would most likely go to other beneficiaries under a residuary clause – a clause governing the distribution of any assets not specifically allocated to any person or institution. The bottom line is that, if the intention is to reduce your tax bill, a deed of variation will not do it and, of course, you will have incurred legal costs in getting advice on and drawing up any such deed. Please send your queries to Dominic Coyle, Q&A, The Irish Times, 24-28 Tara Street Dublin 2, or by email to with a contact phone number. This column is a reader service and is not intended to replace professional advice
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Value of sanctions against Irish landlords for breaches reaches highest rate ever, RTB figures show
The value of sanctions against Irish landlords for breaches of rental law has grown to its highest rate ever, according to new figures released by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). In 2024, it published 75 sanctions with a total value of €238,299. This is almost four times higher in monetary value than what it gathered in 2023, at €64,360. In July 2019, the RTB was given new powers to investigate and sanction landlords who engage in breaches of rental law, known as improper conducts. The significant increase in the value of sanctions issued against landlords last year came amid renewed focus within the RTB investigations unit on a smaller group of landlords seen to be repeatedly breaching rental laws. READ MORE In a statement to The Irish Times, the RTB said the work 'involved detailed investigations into complex company structures and rental arrangements that were designed to avoid detection and enforcement of rental law'. 'It involved prolonged investigative work to access properties, serve legal documents and to find tenants who were willing to speak with the RTB's authorised officers,' the spokeswoman said in response to questions. 'These investigations into deliberate and repeated offenders saw the RTB's independent decision makers award higher levels of sanctions than previously seen,' the board said. Among those sanctioned in 2024 was Marc Godart and his company Green Label Ltd, with eight different sanctions amounting to a total of €26,100 in penalties for various breaches, including failure to register a tenancy. [ Under the eye of landlord Marc Godart: how a tenant who objected to CCTV surveillance was evicted Opens in new window ] Another notable case from 2024 was that of Anuj Katyal, who received a sanction of €15,000 for a failure to comply with rent pressure zone (RPZ) requirements at an address in Liffey Valley Park, Lucan, Co Dublin. Landlords John and Patricia Keeling also received a sanction of €15,000 for a failure to comply with RPZ requirements at an address in Derham Park, Balbriggan, Co Dublin. The RTB has published 36 sanctions to date in 2025 with a total value of €102,490, including its highest value single sanction yet on a Dublin-based landlord. Sweet Home Accommodation Ltd, run by Renato Passos, was fined €22,000 for a breach of rental laws at six city centre properties under his control. Investigators established he had failed to register 20 tenancies in properties on Leeson Street, Middle Abbey Street and Upper Abbey Street. During the course of its investigation the RTB discovered Brazilian students were being targeted through language schools and on social media about properties Mr Passos did not actually own but was sub-letting. Investigators found there was extensive overcrowding at multiple properties run by him, with bunk beds crammed into makeshift apartments, mattresses laid on floors and livingrooms converted into bedrooms. In one property, there were 15 people sharing one kitchen. Former tenant Julia Langneck, who lived at a property sublet by Mr Passos on Bolton Street in Dublin 1, told The Irish Times 'it was not really human at all, it was really terrible'. She detailed sharing a room with four other people, all in bunk beds, and paying almost €400 a month in rent. When the house became infested with bedbugs and the landlord asked for tenants to pay to have them removed, Julia decided to move out. However, Mr Passos withheld her deposit. This led to her taking a case against him with the RTB, which ordered him to pay the deposit and damages as part of its dispute resolutions process. The RTB subsequently began its own independent investigation into Mr Passos when media reports detailed serious overcrowding and unstable tenancies in properties he was leasing on Leeson Street. This investigation then led to the €22,000 sanction.
Irish Times
21 hours ago
- Irish Times
Trinity Summer Series 2025: Stage times, set list, ticket information, how to get there and more
The Trinity Summer Series kicks off this week, with the Norwegian electropop artist Aurora headlining the first of seven nights of music in Dublin city centre. Thousands of people will descend on the Trinity College campus to attend the run of gigs, which has been in place since 2017. Read on to prepare yourself for the events. Who is playing? Sunday, June 29th: Aurora with support from Jack Kane Monday, June 30th: The Teskey Brothers with support from The Heavy Heavy Tuesday, July 1st: Simple Minds with support from KT Tunstall Wednesday, July 2nd: Weezer with support from Teen Mortgage Thursday, July 3rd: Rag'n'Bone Man with support from Simple Things Saturday, July 5th: Amble with support from David Keenan Sunday, July 6th: Marti Pellow with support from Wallis Bird What time should I arrive? Gates open at 7pm, with the show starting at 7.30pm. Organisers aim to avoid queues outside the venue, so attendees should arrive 30 minutes before the show starts. Remember to give yourself an extra two hours of travel time, as delays around traffic and entry are inevitable. How do I get to and from the gig? Trinity College Dublin is located at College Green, in the middle of the city. You can enter the campus at the Lincoln Place, on Nassau Street/Westland Row; or via the Science Gallery gate, on Westland Row/Pearse Street. READ MORE As traffic is guaranteed, you are advised to walk, cycle or use public transport to get to the venue. Fortunately, the campus is highly accessible given its location. Travel by bus: Dublin Bus offer a wide range of routes that service TCD. The 11, 37, 38 (A/D), 39(A) and 70 buses all stop at Nassau Street, which is a five-minute walk from the entrance. You can plan your journey with Transport for Ireland here . Travel by Dart: The nearest Dart station to TCD is Pearse Street, which is just over a 10-minute walk from the site entrance. The latest trains should be leaving Pearse Street around 11.30pm on the night. Travel by Luas: The Luas green line stops at Dawson Street both northbound and southbound, which is only a five-minute walk from the TCD entry. The northbound Luas also stops at Trinity directly. Travel by car: There is no public parking in place for the Trinity Summer Series, and organisers advise attendees not to park illegally or in residential areas. If you must drive to the gig, utilise one of the city centre car parks and look to book a space in advance. Are there any tickets left? Tickets for the full list of concerts are available to purchase on Ticketmaster here . Several gigs are already sold out, but it is worth checking the site for resale tickets in case you get lucky. There is a box office at the concert entrance. Remember to download your tickets to your phone as there may be internet or connectivity issues at the venue, and with Ticketmaster's live barcodes, screenshots may not work on the day. What is security like? The events are strictly over-18s. Bring an official form of identification with you: a passport, Garda age card or driver's licence. Security checks will be in operation, and everyone will be subject to a search. You are advised not to bring large bags/backpacks, as you may experience delays or be refused entry. Flag poles, glass or cans, umbrellas, alcohol, e-scooters/e-bikes, flares, professional cameras and audio recording equipment will not be permitted. What does the weather look like? Met Éireann says temperatures are expected to be around average for early July, which means there should warm evenings throughout the week. There may be some rainfall, so packing a light jacket or poncho would be wise. A full forecast can be found here . Trinity is a standing, outdoor venue, so consider wearing boots or runners.
