Canceled confirmed flight & leaves female stranded

On June 1, 2014 I missed the check-in for my flight from London Heathrow to Addis Ababa, Bole International Airport. While still at the airport, Saudi Arabian Airline representatives cancelled my flight before departure and told me the next available flight would be on June 9th. They told me all seats were full on earlier flights. When I reached a computer, I checked Saudi Arabian Airline’s website and saw that there were available seats on flights leaving London Heathrow to Addis Ababa the next day, and everyday for the month of June.


I called Priceline to see if they could help sort out my issue. I was transferred to Priceline’s travel services department who contacted Saudi Arabian Airlines on my behalf. Eventually Priceline’s Travel Services representatives were able to get Saudi Airlines to agree to changing my return date. At that point, Priceline informed me that since Saudi Arabian Airlines had made changes to my itinerary, I would need to contact Saudi Airlines directly for any matters concerning my new flight.


The Saudi Arabian Airline representative booked and confirmed a new flight for me on June 14th from London Heathrow to Addis Ababa via Jeddah. I did not have the money to pay the change fee at the time, so the Saudi Airline rep that confirmed my flight said I would need to call back before 11pm, June 5th to keep my booking.


In between June 2nd and June 5th I was in communication with Saudi Airlines multiple times everyday to check their standby policy. All Saudi Airline reps I spoke with said I had until 11pm, June 5th to pay for my new ticket.


At 9:30 am, June 5th, I called Saudi Arabian Airline’s UK call center to make the payment on my new ticket. I was told that whomever booked my new flight made a mistake, as well as the other Saudi reps who told me I had until June 5th to pay for my ticket.


Saudi Arabian Airlines is denying me the ticket they booked and confirmed with me on June 2nd. I realize Priceline is not responsible for the mistakes Saudi Arabian Airlines has made regarding the changes to my previously booked itinerary, but I am contacting you all to see if someone would intervene on my behalf. I am a single woman, with no money relying on the kindness of strangers to keep me during this time. I am also a Peace Corps Volunteer and am afraid I might lose my position if I am not on my confirmed flight back to Ethiopia on June 14th.


Thank you.