Find the airline's hidden refund option instead of a voucher with Gemini

Posted

Jan 2, 2025 by Zachary Rattner (LinkedIn)

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Last checked

Oct 17, 2026

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Method:

How we verify

Evidence: Described by posterThe person describes what happened in words, without screenshots or video.

Context: The poster doesn't say whether the refund came through.

Outcome

After a day of 4 delays, 4 rebookings and a last-minute diversion, a traveller was handed a Southwest form that, if filled in, gave up the right to a refund in exchange for a voucher. He asked Gemini whether there was really no refund option, and it gave him a near-identical link that included a refund request.

Agent

Gemini

The source didn't share its exact prompt, so we wrote this from what it describes.

Let's work this out together. I'll tell you what I know, you suggest options and ask what you need, and we'll narrow it down step by step. Nothing gets booked, bought or sent until I say so.

Goal: Work out whether I can get a refund rather than a voucher after a disrupted flight.

What I'll share as we go:
- Airline, route and what happened
- The form or offer they gave me (photo)
- How I paid

Rules:
- Read the offer's small print and tell me if accepting it waives a refund.
- Find the airline's official refund request page and policy.
- Explain my options and what each gets me.
- Help me write a short refund request.
- If a site asks for a login, a CAPTCHA or payment details, stop and hand control back to me.
- Ask for my OK before you pay, book, send, submit or cancel anything.
- Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify.

Output: What the offer really means, the official refund link, and a draft request.

You'll know it worked when: I submit a refund request without giving up my rights by accident.

Let's work this out together. I'll tell you what I know, you suggest options and ask what you need, and we'll narrow it down step by step. Nothing gets booked, bought or sent until I say so.

Goal: Work out whether I can get a refund rather than a voucher after a disrupted flight.

What I'll share as we go:
- Airline, route and what happened
- The form or offer they gave me (photo)
- How I paid

Rules:
- Read the offer's small print and tell me if accepting it waives a refund.
- Find the airline's official refund request page and policy.
- Explain my options and what each gets me.
- Help me write a short refund request.
- If a site asks for a login, a CAPTCHA or payment details, stop and hand control back to me.
- Ask for my OK before you pay, book, send, submit or cancel anything.
- Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify.
- Only use links on the airline's own website; check the address before entering booking details.

Output: What the offer really means, the official refund link, and a draft request.

You'll know it worked when: I submit a refund request without giving up my rights by accident.

Before you finish: re-read my goal and constraints, check your answer against each one, and list anything you assumed or couldn't confirm.

Source

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/zachrattner_i-discovered-a-dark-ux-pattern-today-expectation-activity-7280416699646988288-vUxW