Do Canadians use Orbitz to book tickets?
May 112011 | 9:58 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 31
Do Canadians use Orbitz to book tickets?
Hi,
Just wondering if anyone uses Orbitz to book travel? It's a US website and I heard alot of bad things about it. for examplehidden chargesdelivery feesetc. Is it reliable for Canadian to Orbitz?
Just wondering if anyone uses Orbitz to book travel? It's a US website and I heard alot of bad things about it. for examplehidden chargesdelivery feesetc. Is it reliable for Canadian to Orbitz?
Last edited by didiy; May 112011 at 10:44 pm
May 112011 | 11:46 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: UA GoldFairmont PlatinumStarwood GoldHilton GoldHyatt Platinum
Posts: 280
I booked probably 5 flights in the last year through Orbitz. My only bad experience so far was the one time I decided to book a flight + hotel package instead. It was a pretty good deal at probably 20% less than the same on Expedia. At leastthat was the price on the final Checkout page.
After checking outI looked under the My Trips area in Orbitz and it showed that I was charged 20% more than what I had seen and agreed upon at the checkout. I checked my online bankingand sure enough I had paid more than the actual checkout price.
Clearly a technical errorI called customer support (hold time of about 15 minutes)and they believed me and I didn't have to send in a screen shot or anythingso I assume it was a known issue. They refunded the entire amount back to me and told me to try againand gave me a $50 voucher for future use.
I tried again the next day - exact same story. This time when I called I told them and this time the agent refunded the difference to me of what I claimed and what I was chargedand gave me another $50 voucher.
So all in allI can't complain about their customer support. Hold times were poorbut in the end I got what I wanted at the price I wantedwithout having to make a fussand I got $100 in vouchers.
Alsounfortunately with OrbitzI don't believe you can see what fare bucket you are booking into until AFTER you make the booking and have an airline confirmation code.
After checking outI looked under the My Trips area in Orbitz and it showed that I was charged 20% more than what I had seen and agreed upon at the checkout. I checked my online bankingand sure enough I had paid more than the actual checkout price.
Clearly a technical errorI called customer support (hold time of about 15 minutes)and they believed me and I didn't have to send in a screen shot or anythingso I assume it was a known issue. They refunded the entire amount back to me and told me to try againand gave me a $50 voucher for future use.
I tried again the next day - exact same story. This time when I called I told them and this time the agent refunded the difference to me of what I claimed and what I was chargedand gave me another $50 voucher.
So all in allI can't complain about their customer support. Hold times were poorbut in the end I got what I wanted at the price I wantedwithout having to make a fussand I got $100 in vouchers.
Alsounfortunately with OrbitzI don't believe you can see what fare bucket you are booking into until AFTER you make the booking and have an airline confirmation code.
May 112011 | 11:47 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: UA MP
Posts: 768
May 112011 | 11:52 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: UA GoldFairmont PlatinumStarwood GoldHilton GoldHyatt Platinum
Posts: 280
GenerallyI agree. But sometimes it's cheaper to find a flight with discount travel agents since they're more free to mix and match flights. Not the best mileage earning opportunities possiblybut I'd rather save a hundred or two than earn a few extra miles.
May 122011 | 1:07 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SEA
Posts: 1,887
Not sure if it's the same for Canadian residents but in the US I've found Orbitz to offer significant flight+hotel savings when combined with coupon codes. The code 200ENTERTAIN saved us a lot on trips to Mexico and the Carribean. In one case it got us airfare from SEA to PVR and a 4 star all inclusive for 1 week for about $600 each. ^
May 122011 | 3:48 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AMEX AC CX UA AA DL
Posts: 3,015
Booked flights from YYZ to Asia with stopovers which AC website just couldn't handle. Consolidators were more expensive. Didn't have any problem.
But supposedly if you need changes or whateveryou'll have to call themnot the most convenientand you'll have to pay in addition to airline charges.
But supposedly if you need changes or whateveryou'll have to call themnot the most convenientand you'll have to pay in addition to airline charges.
May 152011 | 5:17 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Across the lake from ITH
Programs: AC 75KHilton diamondetc.NEXUSGOES
Posts: 173
Booked flights from YYZ to Asia with stopovers which AC website just couldn't handle. Consolidators were more expensive. Didn't have any problem.
But supposedly if you need changes or whateveryou'll have to call themnot the most convenientand you'll have to pay in addition to airline charges.
But supposedly if you need changes or whateveryou'll have to call themnot the most convenientand you'll have to pay in addition to airline charges.
I agree that if you can book a flight on the AC web site you should do itbut Orbitz can do stuff they can't. Alsothe air+hotel packages are often good valuebecause they combine hidden prices that the airline and hotel wouldn't publish separately.
May 162011 | 11:43 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CXDLNexus/GEAPEC
Posts: 11,045
You can make changes directly with the airlines. Sometimes the airline will charge you a phone feebut it's generally less than Orbitz' change fee. I've done it.
I agree that if you can book a flight on the AC web site you should do itbut Orbitz can do stuff they can't. Alsothe air+hotel packages are often good valuebecause they combine hidden prices that the airline and hotel wouldn't publish separately.
I agree that if you can book a flight on the AC web site you should do itbut Orbitz can do stuff they can't. Alsothe air+hotel packages are often good valuebecause they combine hidden prices that the airline and hotel wouldn't publish separately.
Some airlines will make changes for your orbits bookings but many will not.
Orbitz will charge a change fee for them as well as the fee charged by the airline.
Be ready to handle weather and IRROP issues on your own since many of these fares are booked as consolidator/wholesale discounted fares.
If you are in a family or group be ready to sit in middles seats away from each other.
These are experiences from my extended family. YMMV
May 162011 | 8:59 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75SPG PlatHH peon-by-choice (ex Gold)
Posts: 8,090
Yeahyou might pay (a little) more through the AC website or through a TAbut you'll look like a hero when IRROPS hits. And it will hitone day.
May 172011 | 3:00 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CXDLNexus/GEAPEC
Posts: 11,045
Probably my single reason not to use Orbitz or any other consolidator. Not only are you SOL with IRROPStheir T&C's are usually much more restrictive.
Yeahyou might pay (a little) more through the AC website or through a TAbut you'll look like a hero when IRROPS hits. And it will hitone day.
Yeahyou might pay (a little) more through the AC website or through a TAbut you'll look like a hero when IRROPS hits. And it will hitone day.
Family reunion trip three years ago: Frugal brothers booked their families via Orbitz on a similar itinerary to my direct with airline where i have top status. Bad weather around SEA/YVR forced cancellation of last TPAC flights. They slept on the floorchairs in YVR while DL put my family of four into a suite at the Marriott SEA along with buffet breakfast and dinner voucher.
May 172011 | 5:21 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: New York City
Posts: 4,021
Probably my single reason not to use Orbitz or any other consolidator. Not only are you SOL with IRROPStheir T&C's are usually much more restrictive.
Yeahyou might pay (a little) more through the AC website or through a TAbut you'll look like a hero when IRROPS hits. And it will hitone day.
Yeahyou might pay (a little) more through the AC website or through a TAbut you'll look like a hero when IRROPS hits. And it will hitone day.
May 172011 | 7:38 pm
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CalgaryAlberta
Programs: Hyatt DiamondFairmont PlatinumAeroplan DiamondHHonors GoldSPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
I like Orbitz's mini golf game.. and baseball game to boot.
So is Orbitz prices all in Canadian? Or do they charge US prices?
So is Orbitz prices all in Canadian? Or do they charge US prices?