Why You Should NOT Book flights with Booking.com or GoToGate.com

[aikman]

Has anyone noticed Agoda (which is one of the subsidiaries) undercuts Qantas domestic airfares? Ive tried it a few times and its worked well though again I didn't need to change the flights or anything like that

Very interesting. I'll deposit this in the knowledge bank for future use.

 

[Pyrus]

Because sometimes OTAs have volume discounts that make it worth while.

I used Aunt Betty (subsidiary of Fright Centre) to book tickets to Bali, considerable saving over going via the GA website. It was close enough in that I wasn’t expecting to cancel or change.

Trip.com is also good for flight bookings, never had an issue, and customer service seems to be good for folks I know that have needed it.

As for hotels… Agoda is usually super cheap in Asia. And I can’t be bothered calling the hotel. Only exception is Hilton, book direct for the status benefits.

When it come to Aunt Betty, think carefully. Buyer beware.

If everything goes to plan, possibly not a problem but if you want to change something, be prepared for additional charges of exceptional magnitude.

I booked a return flight to Bangkok and paid extra to be able to cancel the flights. The total return flight was around $690, around $345 each way. I paid extra to be able to change things, This is what it says:

Refundable flights

100% money back on your flights if you cancel for

Accident & illness

Lost or stolen documents

Transport disruptions

Family or home emergency

Severe weather

And many more...



I had a need to change the return leg. This is when the drama started.

Firstly you are supposed to be able to make changes online….well I could not, every time I tried they said I had to contact them direct. No email address, no way to reply to their previous booking emails. So you have to phone them. Not a problem if you are in Australia, at least not a huge problem. Much more a problem if you are in a foreign country and you have to pay overseas call charges. I ended up ringing them and had to wait 46 minutes on hold with ridiculous annoying music. Then when I finally got through and told them I wished to change things, I had to wait another 6 minutes for them to come back and say I could change the flight.

Then I was told there would be a fee to change the flight, I asked how much and they came back with $150 to change it, plus $140 admin fee, plus $340 for some other fee. Total $630 total for the return journey, almost double the original fee. To make matter worse, my travel companion was on the same flights, same airline, he booked direct with the airline, so he changed his flights for $150, via email, no problem.

So said I would cancel the flight and get a full refund, that is when the truth comes out…they will still charge you an additional fee for cancelling. When I referred to the extra charge I paid to be able to cancel, they said that it doesn’t work that way, it is an insurance fee, you need to claim it all back from their insurance arm.

That extra you pay is nothing more that extra insurance which most of us already have.

No discussion, no consideration, no way to change plus an hour of overseas phone call from a foreign country.

I will never, ever use Aunt Betty again.

 

[AuSammy]

I will never, ever use Aunt Betty again

Agree. We got burnt by them as well and would not consider if they were the only agency on earth.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

When it come to Aunt Betty, think carefully. Buyer beware.

If everything goes to plan, possibly not a problem but if you want to change something, be prepared for additional charges of exceptional magnitude.

I booked a return flight to Bangkok and paid extra to be able to cancel the flights. The total return flight was around $690, around $345 each way. I paid extra to be able to change things, This is what it says:

Refundable flights

100% money back on your flights if you cancel for

Accident & illness

Lost or stolen documents

Transport disruptions

Family or home emergency

Severe weather

And many more...



I had a need to change the return leg. This is when the drama started.

Firstly you are supposed to be able to make changes online….well I could not, every time I tried they said I had to contact them direct. No email address, no way to reply to their previous booking emails. So you have to phone them. Not a problem if you are in Australia, at least not a huge problem. Much more a problem if you are in a foreign country and you have to pay overseas call charges. I ended up ringing them and had to wait 46 minutes on hold with ridiculous annoying music. Then when I finally got through and told them I wished to change things, I had to wait another 6 minutes for them to come back and say I could change the flight.

Then I was told there would be a fee to change the flight, I asked how much and they came back with $150 to change it, plus $140 admin fee, plus $340 for some other fee. Total $630 total for the return journey, almost double the original fee. To make matter worse, my travel companion was on the same flights, same airline, he booked direct with the airline, so he changed his flights for $150, via email, no problem.

So said I would cancel the flight and get a full refund, that is when the truth comes out…they will still charge you an additional fee for cancelling. When I referred to the extra charge I paid to be able to cancel, they said that it doesn’t work that way, it is an insurance fee, you need to claim it all back from their insurance arm.

That extra you pay is nothing more that extra insurance which most of us already have.

No discussion, no consideration, no way to change plus an hour of overseas phone call from a foreign country.

I will never, ever use Aunt Betty again.

I hear you!

Which is why I pointed out that the booking was close in and I did t expect to make changes.

But that being said… there can be additional fees levied by travel agents to make or change bookings. That’s how they make their money. And it has to be a careful consideration before buying. But those fees and charges are disclosed.

Most complaints about travel agencies are because people don’t expect things to go wrong, so don’t bear in mind the additional charges if they do

 

[CaptJCool]

I hear you!

Which is why I pointed out that the booking was close in and I did t expect to make changes.

But that being said… there can be additional fees levied by travel agents to make or change bookings. That’s how they make their money. And it has to be a careful consideration before buying. But those fees and charges are disclosed.

Most complaints about travel agencies are because people don’t expect things to go wrong, so don’t bear in mind the additional charges if they do

For independent minded travellers, they can in most instances book their own flights direct with an airline.

However, many have busy lives and use T/A because they do it well AND help sort out delays or flight cancellations. Like others have said in the case of voluntary cancellations it can be a dogs breakfast of extra fees and charges.