alt Hacker News> trick you into getting travel credit instead of a refund to the original form of payment
There are so many variables that go into the more complicated cases than assuming a "trick" is at play.
One of the biggest problems is people booking through 3rd party websites/cheap-online-travel websites and then trying to handle that purchase through the airline instead of the booking company they used. Even then -- before I starting flying frequently and learned paying ~$20 more directly from the airline solved a ton of headaches -- United would try to work with you to get the ticket released (not sure the terminology here) from the booking agent. But I have yet to experience a "trick" from United, or to a lesser extent of experience Southwest or Delta. Some lesser known and foreign budget airlines are another story.
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> of the biggest problems is people booking through 3rd party websites/cheap-online-travel websites
Sure but United (or whoever) chooses to sell them tickets and create those experiences.
Delta has a product called Delta Vacations, run by Expedia. All of these things are businesses decisions they decide to embark on with 3rd parties. They promote the integrations. They don’t have to do these things. I don’t mind if they do, of course, but I have 0 sympathy for them if someone has a bad experience on a 3rd party site selling their product.
If I buy something from Amazon it’s no different.
No. I'm talking about a case directly purchased and refunded on United's website. No complications or shenanigans. You're welcome to believe whatever you'd like, but I've booked enough flights with enough airlines to recognize shady practices when I see them. This is far from the only instance of it either. The only thing I'll give them credit for is they've gotten less shady over the years, but they still got ways to go, and you still gotta watch out for your back when you book with them.