Monica Eaton, CEO of Chargebacks911®, recently spoke with reporter Melissa Masters from the Tampa Free Press about major delays resulting from a power outage following a fire near London’s Heathrow Airport, and how this might reverberate throughout the global payments ecosystem.
The Tampa Free Press launched in April 2020. Headquartered in Hillsborough County, Florida, the digital platform is dedicated to delivering timely and relevant news content, with a focus on local issues, law enforcement, technology, and national news.
As reported in the piece, a fire at the main electrical substation for Europe’s busiest airport forced Heathrow’s closure for at least 24 hours. The airport is still closed as of this writing. And, the incident led to more than 1,300 flights being canceled, affecting a quarter of a million travelers.
“The stage is set for airlines to lose millions in reversed transactions, chargeback fees and penalties through disputes initiated by disgruntled travelers forced to find another way in or out of London,” Monica says in the piece. She goes on to explain that the frustration caused by the delays may lead some travelers to turn to their banks to recoup their funds.
“Some—whether through convenience or frustration—might opt to file a chargeback, believing it will be easier than trying to arrange for a refund,” Monica explained. “Especially for airlines whose refund policy does not extend to circumstances such as these.”
