If I'm right you will see the correct charge in a couple days
You are correct. The "charge" on the debit card was probably a "preauthorization" -- which looks and feels EXACTLY like a charge on a debit card, in that it makes your funds unavailable. The good news is that it will be "returned" to your checking account in a period of 7 to 10 days.
We run into this all the time at the hotel. We have finally gotten to the point where we actively recommend AGAINST using a debit card to reserve a hotel room, because it has the exact same effect as described in this post.
Example: You reserve three nights at the hotel. The total for the reservation is $400. We preauthorize your card for $400.
If it's a credit card, you never know it happened. The preauthorization takes away $400 from your available
credit, which is usually many thousands of dollars.
If it's a debit card, which is linked directly to your checking account, the preauthorization instantly FREEZES $400 in your checking account -- EVEN IF THE CARD CAN BE USED AS A CREDIT/DEBIT CARD.
Why? Because that's the way your bank wants it!
Why? Because they make money on the "float". This money is the money that is being "held" for us, which means you don't have it anymore, and I don't have it until you check in. So who has the money?
Answer: YOUR BANK. And they get to play with it, and do!
IMHO this is one of the biggest scams in America. On any given day, this "float" is many BILLIONS of dollars, all being used, interest free, by banks. It is exactly the same as if you gave your bank an interest free loan -- and no one knows anything about it.
If you think I am aggravated by this, you would be right. We get yelled at at least once a week by someone who simply did not understand how a debit card worked. They can end up bouncing checks, and screaming at us, even though we are very, very careful to explain the potential consequences of using a debit card to hold a room.
Moral of the story: Never, ever, EVER use a debit card to reserve a hotel room. Or buy avgas.
And since this was such a depressing post, I think I will share a nice picture from this evening's flight.
Here's Mary, about to grease a landing tonight in tough, windy conditions...