'My daughter died before our dream holiday but airline won't refund her ticket'
A grieving mum is trapped in a £2,800 battle with an airline over their refusal to refund a ticket after her daughter’s untimely death.
Patricia Dugas and her beloved daughter Tina, both from League City, Texas, had spent months excitedly planning a trip to Paris.
They had both been saving up and working extra jobs just to afford it and were set to fly out in May, celebrating Tina's birthday on the trip.
But their dream getaway turned into a horrific nightmare after the 32-year-old was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer before they were due to leave.
After being diagnosed in March, Tina’s stomach cancer rapidly got worse and she tragically died on May 18.
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Patricia Dugas and her daughter Tina Dugas (abc13)To add to Patricia's grief, Air France are now said to be refusing to refund her daughter's ticket - a refund Patricia says she should be given.
The mum had adopted Tina from Ukraine when she was just three years old and it had been just the two of them.
Speaking to ABC 13, Patricia said: "We were very close, and I just remember the love she had for me and the love I had for her … right now, it's so tough, and I am so sorry she suffered so much."
She described the last four months of dealing with doctors and insurance companies as “so horrible”.
She added: “Now that she is gone, I am dealing with cleaning out her apartment, closing bank accounts and all those things.
The devastated mum described the 'heart-wrenching' aftermath of her daughter's death (abc13)"It's heart-wrenching, it's heart-wrenching. I, of course, have cried on the phone and just want my money back because she's gone.”
In total the flights cost around £2,800 but Patricia and Tina didn’t get refundable tickets or have insurance.
Under the circumstances, Patricia says her daughter’s plane tickets should be refunded in full and insists it's not about the money but just about “what is right”.
Patricia has sent countless emails, including her daughter’s death certificate in vain to try and win the money back.
Patricia has been offered a voucher for her own flight but has claimed Air France have refused to refund her late daughter's (abc13)Instead, she has reportedly received the tax on her ticket and was offered a voucher for her own flight - which she is yet to receive.
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She described it as “gut-wrenching” and “grossly unfair” and promised to keep fighting for what she thought was right.
One day she said she may revisit Paris, she said.
A fundraising page has been set up to help Patricia and has raised over £5,700.
Air France have been approached for comment.
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