Tips for Alitalia customers, part II

A number of Alitalia customers are obviously worried about what happens next if the carrier goes under. Many readers felt my last post didn't include enough about what to do if you're actually holding tickets so I responded in the comments. I'll run through them here.
Basically, you won't have a lot of options but there are a couple things to keep in mind. If you made your reservation with one of Alitalia’s code-sharing partners, they will likely be responsible either for rebooking or giving you a refund (although in my experience most carriers try hard to rebook for you). Technically, legal responsibility will rest on which airline is the ‘‘validating’’ or ‘‘issuing’’ airline, according to Edward Hasbrouck of the Practical Nomad. Generally that will be the one that took your reservation -- and your money. If you want to check to see who the validating carrier is, look in the "Issued By" box on your tickets.
If you book through either a Web search engine like Kayak or an online travel agent like Orbitz you're essentially booking directly with the airline itself. The sites bear no direct financial responsibility for your ticket. (Although since you pay a service fee to these online travel agencies, they will try to hook you up with the cheapest replacement flights they can -- but you will have to pay for them.).
If you paid for your tickets via credit card -- not your debit card -- you can appeal. The Fair Credit Billing Act gives you the right to have the charges taken off your bill because you're being charged for a service you did not receive.
According to the FTC, here's the procedure:

* Write to the credit card issuer at the address for "billing inquiries," not the address for sending your payments; include your name, address, account number, and a description of the billing error.
* Send your letter so that it reaches the credit card issuer within 60 days after the first bill containing the error was mailed to you.
* Send your letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you have proof of what the credit card issuer received. Include copies (not originals) of sales slips or other documents that support your position. Keep a copy of your dispute letter.
* It is important to send the letter to the correct company. In the case of Visa and MasterCard, you should send it to the bank that issued the card.
In the case of Alitalia, the Italian government is still trying to pull off an 11th hour rescue, and hopefully they will work something out.