In which I’m seriously freaking out.

Friday, I ordered tickets at Delta.com for my upcoming trip to see Amma in Dallas with Teh BF. The website told me there had been a problem and asked me to call customer service, which I did.

I was told that there had been a problem with my credit card, probably due to a transaction size cap, and that I needed to call my credit card company to release the transactions.

I did so; my card rep told me she saw two transactions in the amount of $319.41 each from Delta and to call the airline back.

I called Delta back; the representative said he now saw the transactions and he released my tickets, which I could then see on the website. I printed out my itinerary.

Today I went to double-check on my tickets… and they were gone.

I contacted Delta via live chat and was told that my payment had failed. I logged into my card’s web site and could clearly see two transactions, but since Delta couldn’t find them I was advised to call my card company. And I was told that I’d have to book my flights again, since the reservation no longer exists.

I checked kayak.com and Priceline, and the flights I want no longer exist. They’re booked. Fucking great.

I called my debit card company, and they assured me that they do show two pending transactions in the amount of $319.41 each from DELTA ATLANTA GA US. The transaction numbers are 000638 and 000639 respectively, processed on 5/15/09 at 7:45 pm Central time.

Okay, well, Delta can’t see those. Can I have the funds released back into my account so that I can rebook my tickets, please?

Uh, no. Can’t release the funds back into the account without a statement on letterhead from the merchant who has attempted to process the funds. In fact, I need a “Request to release transaction” letter faxed to (512) 532-8323, Attn: Reference #9611641287, containing the transaction numbers above, and verbiage stating that the merchant authorizes release of the funds!

I do not have enough money to buy new tickets while I wait for the pending status to expire on the $668.82 that Delta somehow misplaced (probably through the agency of a failed connection that resulted in their system never receiving the ack from my credit card company). By the time I have my money back, I won’t be able to book flights to Dallas for anywhere near that price. We’ll end up flying out of Dallas at six in the morning and suffering four-hour layovers, and we’ll probably have to pay $500 each for the privilege.

If I can get Delta to fax the release (yeah, right), I’ll have my money back in 24-48 hours (which may still be too late to book at a decent price). If I can’t, I won’t have access to my money until the pending transactions expire… in a minimum of seven days, probably more. (I almost wish I had an actual credit card; if I did I’d just buy the tickets again and worry about it in a week or two when the original funds are released back into my account. But I don’t. So I’m just going to have to hope for the best when I can finally try again to book our flights.)

I understand that, with the vast amount of card transactions happening every instant, once in a great while there’s bound to be an error. But did it have to be a big ticket transaction? Couldn’t my last attempt to buy contact lens solution have failed instead?! I could totally have lived without $8.49 for a week or so.

Excuse me while my fucking head explodes.

Update: I called Delta last night, and they were very nice and agreed to fax the necessary letter. I still don’t have reservations, but I’ll have my money back Thursday.