rant: Online Travel Agency suck; buy direct!

[andylawcc]

perhaps they were isolated incidents, but I have nothing but bad luck with the customer service from online travel agencies like Travelocity and Expedia (Orbitz is an exception, so far)

Booking flights was a breeze, don't get me wrong, but if a problem comes up, like changing/cancelling flight, applying credits from a previous cancellation, and getting invoices, they are the bain of your business existance.

meanwhile, I have plenty of compliments towards the CSR from individual airlines: Delta and Virgin Atlantic, both provided above-average-to-excellent customer service in more than one occassion (called Delta 4 times, VA twice). United was pretty good too.

in addition, much to my surprise and dismay, those online agencies do NOT offer better prices than buying directly from the airlines website. This begs the question: why bother with them?

anyone wanna add their praise and rant?

 

[tm37]

I use the travel agents to find the best deal then buy direct.

Seeing as I am in MN usually I fly NWA

 

[L1FE]

Corporate Expedia's customer service is great with dedicated lines for individual companies. Guess that doesn't cross over to the consumer side...if you're flying for business, does your company have a preferred vendor?

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: L1FE
Corporate Expedia's customer service is great with dedicated lines for individual companies. Guess that doesn't cross over to the consumer side...if you're flying for business, does your company have a preferred vendor?

oh, i guess our volume is not big enough
so how much sales do I need to qualify for the Corporate account?

 

[sciencewhiz]

http://expediacorporate.com/daily/brochure/qualify.asp

 

[LS20]

orbitz seems to have the best prices of all the vendors for international...but or most (domestic) travel, you are right, the airlines own website are much better... i usually go through them and they give some perks also

 

[Rastus]

Travelocity reamed me twice.

First time, outbound flight was OK, but they stranded me in an intermediate city with no ticket on the return flight. I had to buy a more expensive one-way ticket at the counter on the same flight to get home.

Second time, outbound flight was OK, but I had to wait 12 hours at the airport on standby to get home because the airline didn't even know who I was. I also had to rebuy the ticket at the counter.

They even had the balls to call my cell phone while I was stranded to ask me to participate in a survey.

Never again will I buy online from a third party. Direct only for me.

 

[spidey07]

Agreed. When I travel I pick up the phone and work with an agent or two. Cheaper and more flexible. Online is neat, but picking up the horn and working with them is cheaper and easier.

 

[Slew Foot]

Ive had to call Southwest a couple of times to change a flight, never had a problem.

 

[Brainonska511]

I always buy direct. The only time I haven't is through American Express Travel because they offer 2x the points when you book through them.