Policies for refunding unused flight hours

K

KevinJH7

Well-Known Member
Hello,

I was just wondering what the policy at your FBO or college is regarding refunds for unused flight hours.

For example,

At my college we prepay the expected cost of the flight curriculum. As you fly, money is deducted from your account. I ended up finishing ahead of schedule and had about $1000 left in my account at the end. According to the school, I am only refunded for variable costs that I did not use such as fuel and maintenance. As a result, I am only getting refunded $400.

I think this is pretty much robbery but I just wanted to know if it is something most places do.

Thanks for you help and sorry for annoying you about this!
 
So you are penalized for completing the program in LESS flight hours? I would go and do more flights.

I have had multiple accounts at multiple FBO's and they all work about the same. Any money refunded is subject to the non-discounted rate for the aircrafts I rented. Other then that I got ALL my money back.

You need to review your agreement/contract with them.
 
The school took all of the money out of the account and sent a $400 check so I have no money in the account to fly more. I asked if they would put it all back into my flight account so that I could fly but they said the account is closed after you finish the course.

Essentially it is punishment for finishing early, they don't mind charging you the full rate for overages but they won't refund you the full rate for underages.

I have to say I am getting frustrated with the program and their ideas.

Thanks for the info!
 
At my college's flight program, as of last school year, they gave a 100% refund on unused money in the account. I would assume it's still the same this year, although I'm not there.

At the current place I'm instructing (independent flight school at a private airport), we give 100% refunds for unused money.

I would make your school show you in writing where you agreed to this policy of partial refunds. I agree, getting $400 back out of $1000 is robbery. Unfortunately, if you signed for it somehow, there's not much you can do now. But if they can't show you anything in writing...I'd say you have a good case for small claims court.
 
It is stated in the course catalog that you will only be refunded for "variable costs" so I definitely would not have a case for something like that. I am trying to fight it but I do not realistically expect to get the money back since it's in the catalog. Mostly I am seeing what else is out there.

Thanks
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Do you plan to do more training with them? Tell them you really would go ahead and leave the money for it if that was true. Did you happen to put it on a credit card???? You should contact them as well if you did.

What school is this, and do they have a website to review? PM me the info if you want.
 
ATP pro-rates their refunds in such a way that the sum of all the pro-rata is a significent amount more than the actual course cost, in my estimation to dissaude people from dropping out as you won't get much back if you drop after the instrument portion of the ACPP. ($350/hr for a seminole is the rate, I think. Plus ground, sim time, $200/wk for apartment, etc.)
 
At WMU (when I was there, anyways), money left over was rolled over to the next course, and when you either finished or dropped out you got 100% back.
 
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