BYOJet ripoff

[MikeG]

I just thought I'd share a negative experience I had with BYOjet - I booked a flight to Sydney for Friday afternoon. I was supposed to drive up with the Mrs and the kids Thursday night, but I've got some work I need to do from Canberra on the Friday.
I checked it carefully, to make sure the flight fit with work and with getting to Sydney in time for dinner, and then booked it. I might add that the price of the ticket was around $150. Next day I received an Itinerary for JULY - obviously some sort of error right? I contacted them about it, and they say I need to pay them $180 to change the flight. I explained it was their error, and they are persisting that this is a non refundable flight.


Avoid BYOjet if you don't want to be screwed around.

I've since booked another flight direct with QANTAS and as usual the process was quick and painless. That will teach me to try and save a few $$$ by going another avenue.

M

 

[BAM1748]

Thanks for posting. Can't say I've even heard of them.

 

[downtheback]

Chargeback and move on unfortunately. A lot of these 3rd parties OTA's are terrible, which is why I either book direct, or at a TA in person

 

[bsb]

Was it actually cheaper than buying direct?

 

[MikeG]

Was it actually cheaper than buying direct?

Yes, oddly - sounds fishy doesn't it? I did find it via Skyscanner, so its possible that the dates got screwed up when they interfaced, and that the dates shown at confirmation were somehow erroneous. (I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, but it does sound kind of dodgy).

 

[Bolthead]

Yes, oddly - sounds fishy doesn't it? I did find it via Skyscanner, so its possible that the dates got screwed up when they interfaced, and that the dates shown at confirmation were somehow erroneous. (I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, but it does sound kind of dodgy).

I have often seen this mob on Skyscanner and wondered if anyone has ever used them. They often are the cheapest. This has confirmed my theory. I use Skyscanner all the time but I have never booked via any of their referral links.

 

[SteveSYD]

This tactic is not unique to BYOjet. There is another OTA which appears on Skyscanner searches called Direct Flights who operate similar scams. The business model seems to be all about luring in customers with cheap prices and then charging outrageous fees to change flights( which are actually flexible when one checks conditions ) or selling passenger more expensive flight claiming that original fare is not available for changed date, (when in fact they are.)
I know of several people who have complained to Skyscanner about these tactics, but the repeat offending OTAs continue to appear in search results.
So be very wary of booking flights through the cheapest OTAs on Skyscanner , especially if there is the possibility that one may need to change flights.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I just thought I'd share a negative experience I had with BYOjet - I booked a flight to Sydney for Friday afternoon. I was supposed to drive up with the Mrs and the kids Thursday night, but I've got some work I need to do from Canberra on the Friday.
I checked it carefully, to make sure the flight fit with work and with getting to Sydney in time for dinner, and then booked it. I might add that the price of the ticket was around $150. Next day I received an Itinerary for JULY - obviously some sort of error right? I contacted them about it, and they say I need to pay them $180 to change the flight. I explained it was their error, and they are persisting that this is a non refundable flight.


Avoid BYOjet if you don't want to be screwed around.

I've since booked another flight direct with QANTAS and as usual the process was quick and painless. That will teach me to try and save a few $$$ by going another avenue.

M

Did you actually get a confirmed itinerary from BYOjet for the real dates you wanted ie tomorrow?

Qantas could look at the history of that pnr and tell you if it was ever booked for Apr which I doubt. As others have said I would call the credit card company and do a chargeback because BYOjet have failed to provide the service you paid for ie flights in April not July.

I'm not sure what proof the cc company requires from you to prove that you booked April and were given July as it sounds like you may only have an itinerary for July.

 

[PaulST]

I've used BYO jet a few times without problem. I personally find lastminute.com.au the cheapest, on the two occasions I've used them with reasonably complex international itineraries. Otherwise I usually book directly with the airlines.

 

[Mattg]

This is just ridiculous. How can they get it so wrong, then charge you more than the cost of the ticket to change it?

Did you book directly on the Skyscanner website (via BYO jet), or on the BYO Jet website? And did you double-check the date before making the payment? (I'm not trying to say that it's your fault, but trying to understand how this could be possible.)

 

[MikeG]

Searched on sky scanner, it redirected me to BYOjet, checked dates times and paid. Received the confirmation by email the next day and I noticed the dates were wrong.

 

[Mattg]

Wow. I just did a Google search on the company and this came up - BYOjet Reviews - ProductReview.com.au - the majority of reviewers have given them 1 star and there are so many similar complaints. How are they still in business?

 

[MikeG]

I have a complaint in with Fair Trading ACT.

 

[Mattg]

I have a complaint in with Fair Trading ACT.

Please let us know of the outcome.

 

[Franky]

When you click on 'cheap flights' at the top of the AFF Home Page, it brings up the Skyscanner booking module, perhaps that needs looking at?

 

[jetpack]

Here's a bit of trivia. BYOjet is majority owned by Flight Centre.

 

[straitman]

Here's a bit of trivia. BYOjet is majority owned by Flight Centre.

That possibly explains a few things. Flight Centre is not really flavour of the week on AFF.

 

[MrHyde]

I have used BYOJet in the past and had no issues. However, I went in with eyes fully open and checked what the change fees would be. I knew beforehand that the chances of changes would be low, so could take that risk.

These days, I've also go into the habit of taking screenshots of every page when buying anything online - far too many stories of things changing that was not asked for. I have a plugin called Awesome Screenshot in Chrome that I use. Click a button and an image of the whole page is captured that I can download and store on my machine.

 

[Bolthead]

I have used BYOJet in the past and had no issues. However, I went in with eyes fully open and checked what the change fees would be. I knew beforehand that the chances of changes would be low, so could take that risk.

These days, I've also go into the habit of taking screenshots of every page when buying anything online - far too many stories of things changing that was not asked for. I have a plugin called Awesome Screenshot in Chrome that I use. Click a button and an image of the whole page is captured that I can download and store on my machine.

Thanks for the Plugin info.... it works well. Just the thing I was looking for.

 

[Cynicor]

BYOjet was fine the single time I have used them. I tend to use wholesalers such as this for JAL fares, because their own website just doesn't work.