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Brat

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#156055 17-Nov-2014 21:52
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A public service announcement that will save you time and money.

Cheapoair.com is an American-based travel agency (although almost everyone who works there is based in India).
They offer great deals however have also attracted a great amount of criticism for some time.

My wife booked a flight without reading said critiques and when one of the airlines cancelled their flight and proposed another one, she thought she could call Cheapoair and get things sorted...
In short, this proved to be the worst travel experience of her life.
Over a month of being placed on hold, transferred to others and then being told "I will email/call you tomorrow" to no avail passed before she mentioned this to me.

I found the afore-mentioned reviews and thought all was lost (many do not get details corrected or their money back).

After splattering some comments about on their Facebook page, etc. (quickly removed), it appears that they only answer to the Better Business Bureau in New York who, the day after I contacted them, had a reply from Cheapoair and two days later all was sorted.

So...IF you or someone you know has the misfortune of booking a flight through them AND something goes pear-shaped, make a single call to Cheapoair and then raise a complaint with the Better Business Bureau as doing anything else appears too be a waste of time and money.

To do this, visit http://www.bbb.org/new-york-city/ and then enter "Fareportal" (Cheapoairs' parent company) into the search. Click on the File a complaint link and follow your nose.


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johnr
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  #1177636 17-Nov-2014 22:03
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Just the name alone puts me off using them they may as well have in bold the word trouble



freitasm
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  #1177640 17-Nov-2014 22:09
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NSFW language:








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Elpie
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  #1177665 17-Nov-2014 22:29
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Orbitz is as bad. My daughter was booked and ticketed on a non-existent flight through Orbitz and asked Mum to help her sort it out. It was an absolute nightmare. She was booked from NZ to Canada via Sydney. The first stage, to Sydney, was legit. The next wasn't. Orbitz was not forthcoming so since Qantas was one of the airlines involved, I contacted them. Qantas doesn't have the greatest reputation but they were incensed that Orbitz was ticketing flights in their name and stepped in to sort it out. After almost two weeks of hours on the phone each day the money was refunded. 

 

 



ckc

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  #1177689 17-Nov-2014 23:30
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Cheapoair sounds like something from Father Ted.

Batman
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  #1177713 18-Nov-2014 06:53
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Is this thread for real?

Actually I remembered a colleague booked a boutique hotel thru wotif but apparently it didn't go thru, so wotif took his money and hotel gave the room to someone else

I usually triple check any online bookings

Elpie
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  #1177714 18-Nov-2014 07:01
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joker97: Is this thread for real?

Actually I remembered a colleague booked a boutique hotel thru wotif but apparently it didn't go thru, so wotif took his money and hotel gave the room to someone else

I usually triple check any online bookings


Heh, I usually check Wotif then call the hotel and ask if they can beat that price. They always have, either by lowering the price, upgrading the room, or adding a breakfast and parking. Third party online sites are good for price checking but I rarely use them for anything else.

 
 
 

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  #1177723 18-Nov-2014 07:55
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Yes, I never use Wotif, coz the prices are high!

Never thought of calling the hotel directly though - thanks for the tip!

meesham
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  #1177758 18-Nov-2014 09:12
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Elpie: 
Heh, I usually check Wotif then call the hotel and ask if they can beat that price. They always have, either by lowering the price, upgrading the room, or adding a breakfast and parking. Third party online sites are good for price checking but I rarely use them for anything else.


Last time I stayed at a hotel booked through Wotif the person at reception told me to do exactly that.

E3xtc
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  #1177761 18-Nov-2014 09:23
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yeah those agencies (wotif, expedia, etc) just skim pretty much all the profit from the business for the operators, so they would be keen as mustard to circumvent them.

johnr
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  #1177772 18-Nov-2014 09:40
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Elpie:
joker97: Is this thread for real?

Actually I remembered a colleague booked a boutique hotel thru wotif but apparently it didn't go thru, so wotif took his money and hotel gave the room to someone else

I usually triple check any online bookings


Heh, I usually check Wotif then call the hotel and ask if they can beat that price. They always have, either by lowering the price, upgrading the room, or adding a breakfast and parking. Third party online sites are good for price checking but I rarely use them for anything else.


I do the same thing, It's always cheaper going direct

BTR

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  #1177783 18-Nov-2014 09:54
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You get what you pay for. I have always thought cheap and good don't belong in the same sentence. Also why would you book international flights using a overseas travel agent, it just sounds like you are asking for problems.


Thankfully you got your problem sorted.

 
 
 

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freitasm
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  #1177789 18-Nov-2014 10:04
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  • Cheap
  • Good service
  • On time

Pick only two...




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Brat

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  #1180091 20-Nov-2014 13:29
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Wife saw how much cheaper it was than using anyone else and at that point reason left the room...  ;-)

Lesson learnt but it was almost a seriously expensive lesson...hence I thought I'd mention the resolution process.

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  #1180173 20-Nov-2014 14:53
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I've found Expedia excellent. We've booked all kinds of things through them, and it's often cheaper than booking on the hotel website. Every flight and every hotel has gone through no problems, but we do check with the hotel or airline a few days after we make the booking.

richrdh18
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  #1180208 20-Nov-2014 16:22
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We've actually just used Air New Zealand booking service for local flights, taxi from AP to hotel and for booking the Hotel/Accom as well.  I thought they would rip us a new on as far as cost goes, but it is actually quite reasonable.  Going up for the Stones concert 2moro and they found us a 2 bed appt to stay in downtown Akl.  So those prompts for cars, taxis / accom offered after you book your flights I used to think were just a marketing ploy to get more and more out of you are not a bad deal. The Mrs also spoke with the person at their service desk and she was very helpful in holding and booking the accommodation.  (obviously Air NZ hold some rooms back in a downtown apartment block) 

I would definitely use them again.   Plus i'd rather pay a bit extra to make sure i get to my destination with everything sorted.

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