In February I booked and paid for business class tickets Adelaide-London return through Helloworld, Port Augusta, South Australia. The booking was with Oman Air, but the Adelaide-Kuala Lumpur sectors outward and return were booked on Malaysian Airlines flights. The return flight from London to Muscat (WY0102 on 23rd July) was delayed due to technical problems, but Oman Air ground staff in London assured me the connection in Muscat would be made. The flight arrived in Muscat at about 0845 and the connecting flight to Kuala Lumpur (WY0823 scheduled for 0905 departure on 24th July) was still on the ground, but passengers transferring to that flight were not allowed to board. Instead, we were told we would need to catch the next flight - WY0821 at 2050 on the evening of 24th July. This meant my payment of AUD140 for the first night of a three night hotel booking in Kuala Lumpur would be forfeited. On arrival in Kuala Lumpur on the morning of 25th July, I received an email from the travel agent named above saying that there were now two tickets showing for my onward flight to Adelaide: one was for the flight I had booked, MH139 on 27th July. For some reason, Oman Air had also booked me onto the flight on Wednesday 31st July without my knowledge and without being asked. When I visited the Malaysia Airlines Office in Kuala Lumpur I was told they were unable to confirm my original flight or cancel the new flight as the tickets were issued by Oman Air. At this point I contacted my travel agent who made arrangements with Oman Air on 25th July for me to travel as planned on 27th July. When I went to check-in at the Malaysia Airlines counter at 5pm on 27th July, I was told that I would need to go to their ticket office at the airport who said I would need to get the ticket number from Oman Air otherwise I could not take my seat. The staff at Malaysia Airlines ticketing eventually contacted Oman Air on my behalf and were told my seat was taken and I would either need to travel in economy on the same flight or travel on the flight on 31st July. By this time it was approaching 8pm and the Oman Air counters were open and I was able to talk with a member of staff who contacted the Muscat Office to see if the issue could be resolved. It could not and I was left with only one option as I needed to be back in Adelaide on the 28th as planned. So, I was forced to downgrade to economy as a result of Oman Air cancelling my ticket on the seat I had booked in business class back in February. Obviously, I will expect compensation from Oman Air for the difference in ticket price I had paid for and the economy ticket price. I would also like to know what possible reason Oman Air would have to cancel my booking for the 27th and replace the ticket with one for the 31st July. I am absolutely appalled by the total ineptitude displayed by whoever decided to take this action and by the stress I was subjected to over four hours as I tried to resolve an issue over which I had received no information or consultation. In view of the comments above, I should be grateful if you could let me know what compensation I can expect for the forfeiture of the payment for the first night of my hotel room when I was not able to stay there, and more importantly for the downgrade to economy class from the business class seat I had purchased. I will look forward to your reply in the near future. Regards David Hankinson