Anyone booked a flight on Booking.com before?

[twiningb]

I've used it numerous times for accommodation and am generally happy with the service, and it's also stackable with cashback through Cashrewards/Shopback/etc.

Now they have multiple short-haul Lufthansa Group flights I'm investigating, cheaper than Lufthansa themselves, who in turn are cheaper than Amex Travel. (I would have liked to use my Plat travel credit, but it's not worth overpaying for the flight to do that when I can book VA or QF at the same fares as their own websites.)

Is there a reason to not use Booking.com for airfares?

 

[andye]

I've used it numerous times for accommodation and am generally happy with the service, and it's also stackable with cashback through Cashrewards/Shopback/etc.

Now they have multiple short-haul Lufthansa Group flights I'm investigating, cheaper than Lufthansa themselves, who in turn are cheaper than Amex Travel. (I would have liked to use my Plat travel credit, but it's not worth overpaying for the flight to do that when I can book VA or QF at the same fares as their own websites.)

Is there a reason to not use Booking.com for airfares?

Not done myself but...in common with most online agents, any changes (by yourself or airline) are likely to be difficult as they would control the booking.
I have had difficulties with seat selection, FF numbers etc with other OTAs

 

[dajop]

Is there a reason to not use Booking.com for airfares?

Only the same reasons that would stop you using any online travel agent. They are part of the same group (booking holdings) as priceline.com, cheapflights.com both well established online booking agents (other brands in the group are kayak, agoda and rentalcars.com, momondo and opentable),

 

[Bagpuss]

I've used it numerous times for accommodation and am generally happy with the service, and it's also stackable with cashback through Cashrewards/Shopback/etc.

Now they have multiple short-haul Lufthansa Group flights I'm investigating, cheaper than Lufthansa themselves, who in turn are cheaper than Amex Travel. (I would have liked to use my Plat travel credit, but it's not worth overpaying for the flight to do that when I can book VA or QF at the same fares as their own websites.)

Is there a reason to not use Booking.com for airfares?

Just wondering on your outcome here or anyone elses. Booking.com flights uses gotogate in which there are stacks of terrible reviews. Though reading number of reviews of people expecting free changes / changes at the very last minute.

Booking.com I believe is reputable booking option for accommodation and it appears they bought gotogate (etraveli) Gotogate parent Etraveli Group acquired by... |...

 

[twiningb]

Sorry, I had completely forgotten raising this. In the end we flew Austrian, and it looks like I booked through the website of their sister airline Swiss.

 

[MELso]

Have just booked a flight through Booking.com. As noted, it's branded as Gotogate.

Got the ticket number and PNR quickly. Just hoping nothing goes wrong before the flight now!

(Note also no cashback through Cashrewards)

 

[wendlle]

I'm looking at flights also and booking.com is quite a lot cheaper than going direct with the airline - a lot cheaper! But I've never used a 3rd party before.
I'm a little terrified.

 

[MELso]

Yeah - that's understandable and there are lots of negative reviews around OTAs (especially from COVID when many people had to wait months to get refunds, if they ever came at all). But there's a bit of selection bias at play - people who have a smooth experience don't tend to post positive reviews saying how it went hunky dory because it's just an airline ticket.

For me, while I have a very strong preference for booking directly, I will book through an OTA if either the price is great (as in 20-30% cheaper) or the OTA offers something the airline doesn't. In my recent case, I went with Booking.com because the particular combination of flights (LAX-PPT-NOU-SYD on the one PNR to have bags checked through) was not bookable directly through the airline.

 

[wendlle]

Thanks, yes it's always the way with reviews especially i find for airlines, no one takes the time to write anything positive - only when they have a bad experience.

For me the cost is over $1000 difference, I am not at all sure why.

 

[MELso]

Thanks, yes it's always the way with reviews especially i find for airlines, no one takes the time to write anything positive - only when they have a bad experience.

For me the cost is over $1000 difference, I am not at all sure why.

Possibly different booking classes (meaning different earn rates) or a mixed class service?

But I understand what you mean - I was looking at fares on FJ for my one way fare back from the US in January next year (so LAX-NAN-MEL) and while FJ themselves offered it for about $7k, Kiwi.com offered the flight for about $5k (which was still about $1.8K than the SB price from LAX-SYD with a VA business award to shuttle to MEL).

How is Kiwi.com offering the flights for $2k less than FJ themselves? Don't know... (At least the Aircalin flights I booked were also available - separately - through Aircalin themselves for about the same price.)

 

[latawiec]

I've used it numerous times for accommodation and am generally happy with the service, and it's also stackable with cashback through Cashrewards/Shopback/etc.

Now they have multiple short-haul Lufthansa Group flights I'm investigating, cheaper than Lufthansa themselves, who in turn are cheaper than Amex Travel. (I would have liked to use my Plat travel credit, but it's not worth overpaying for the flight to do that when I can book VA or QF at the same fares as their own websites.)

Is there a reason to not use Booking.com for airfares?

Never buy flights using Booking.com as it is via their partner GoToGate. Read flights reviews for booking.com and GoToGate on the productreview.com.au website.
These are the eye opening

 

[latawiec]

I've used it numerous times for accommodation and am generally happy with the service, and it's also stackable with cashback through Cashrewards/Shopback/etc.

Now they have multiple short-haul Lufthansa Group flights I'm investigating, cheaper than Lufthansa themselves, who in turn are cheaper than Amex Travel. (I would have liked to use my Plat travel credit, but it's not worth overpaying for the flight to do that when I can book VA or QF at the same fares as their own websites.)

Is there a reason to not use Booking.com for airfares?

 

[jackbee]

I'm looking at flights also and booking.com is quite a lot cheaper than going direct with the airline - a lot cheaper! But I've never used a 3rd party before.
I'm a little terrified.

Be absolutely sure that your information and flight details are accurate. If you make a mistake on anything, as I did, it is a nightmare getting a refund.

 

[knagelli]

If you make a mistake on anything, as I did, it is a nightmare getting a refund.

I completely understand what you are saying ; if we book any tickets using a third party aggregator like booking or for that matter any travel agent it is quite a tedious task for any changes/refunds irrespective of who makes those changes. I learnt it the hard way when I had to cancel my ticket and rebook a ticket as the charges being requested by the third party site were more than the new ticket price.

 

[latawiec]

Hi,

I'm looking at flights also and booking.com is quite a lot cheaper than going direct with the airline - a lot cheaper! But I've never used a 3rd party before.
I'm a little terrified

 

[latawiec]

Hi,
It is good that you are checking on a potential risk.

It is risky to buy flights tickets from OTAs as they outsource their services to other parties or partners. Many things could go wrong.

The best and safe way is to buy flights directly from the airline to minimize your risks.

If you like to know about experience from other unlucky travelers please check ie Booking.com or GoToGate.com on the productreview.com.au website. Do not make mistakes but learn from experience of others.

★☆☆☆☆ DO NOT book flights with GoToGate or Booking.com

When booking flights through Booking.com I did not realise they use a subsidiary company called GOTO

www.productreview.com.au

 

[Dorothy D]

I had to rebook my flight with booking.com (gotogate) and was told I had to pay a fee. Fine, I had expected that. But the flight details on the reissued ticket were incorrect so I panicked and called them back. The person I spoke to offered to refund the fee ($450) which I thought was nice but strange that it was so easy. It has been 4 months now and I still have not received that refund despite calling many times and the having the matter “escalated” to the finance department. I will never use booking.com again. Maybe to search for a hotel and then book directly with the hotel.

 

[AIRwin]

The person I spoke to offered to refund the fee ($450) which I thought was nice but strange that it was so easy. It has been 4 months now and I still have not received that refund despite calling many times and the having the matter “escalated” to the finance department.

Chargeback on your credit card?

 

[Bagpuss]

I had to rebook my flight with booking.com (gotogate) and was told I had to pay a fee. Fine, I had expected that. But the flight details on the reissued ticket were incorrect so I panicked and called them back. The person I spoke to offered to refund the fee ($450) which I thought was nice but strange that it was so easy. It has been 4 months now and I still have not received that refund despite calling many times and the having the matter “escalated” to the finance department. I will never use booking.com again. Maybe to search for a hotel and then book directly with the hotel.

Booking.com is fine for hotels etc. The issue is booking flights.
From what I can work out, gotogate was purchased by the company who owns and operates booking.com and they have simply incorporated it into booking.com without solving any of the underlying issues with gotogate.

 

[latawiec]

I had to rebook my flight with booking.com (gotogate) and was told I had to pay a fee. Fine, I had expected that. But the flight details on the reissued ticket were incorrect so I panicked and called them back. The person I spoke to offered to refund the fee ($450) which I thought was nice but strange that it was so easy. It has been 4 months now and I still have not received that refund despite calling many times and the having the matter “escalated” to the finance department. I will never use booking.com again. Maybe to search for a hotel and then book directly with the hotel.

Please be aware that Booking.com includes many other partners like GoToGate.com and therefore their service quality is deteriorating. They outsource their services to their partnership or other 3rd parties located even in India.
And please do not trust some reviews made by hired website agents/contractors providing commercial services for these TAs as these could be misleading.



Hence, based on my experience and also other customers included in the productreview.com.au or au.trustpilot.com or thustpilot.com I will not recommend their flight services.

If you like to know about experience from other unlucky travelers please check reviews for Booking.com
and GoToGate.com on the productreview.com.au
or on the "trustpilot" website.

Gotogate is rated "Poor" with 2.2 / 5 on Trustpilot

Do you agree with Gotogate's TrustScore? Voice your opinion today and hear what 13,413 customers have already said.

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