I have to share this article with you because when I read it, I thought everyone should know about this. It’s a crappy situation to be in, but what’s worse is that I hear about this happening a lot! It’s about a couple who booked online, only to face unconfirmed flights because their tickets were not issued! Unbelievable, I know. But the thing is, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard of this happening. Check out the full story here:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/05/17/bc-flightcancelled.html
It’s true: beware of online travel sites that promise amazing cheap prices! You could be paying double in the long run, and deal with so many headaches in the process.
What Should I Look For?
If you do not see the “IATA” symbol on the travel website, stay away! “IATA” is the International Air Transport Authority, and if you’re booking on a website that is not a member of IATA, they can’t ticket your reservation. You don’t want to be caught in a position where a 3rd party company could be issuing your ticket – or worse off, not even issuing it at all and you dealing with the consequences when you check in for your supposed flight!
What’s this about Price Changes?
Another thing that could happen is, you want to book a flight, and you go through the whole booking process. You get to the final page, and now you get a message saying your price has changed! Why does this happen? Prices are never guaranteed until your ticket is actually issued. Meaning, the price can change at the very last minute. The online travel sites lure you in with the lower prices, but the clincher is, that price likely is not available!
How Can I Avoid This From Happening?
Simple. If you book online, make sure the company you’re booking through is a member of IATA. Also, ensure that you will be on top of your reservation from beginning to end, and that also means reconfirming your flights 72 hours prior to your departure. Or, better yet, you can always book through a travel agent. Our job is to be here for you and take care of your trip from start to finish, and you don’t have to worry about any hassles at all.
I’m not trying to use this as a plug to use a travel agent, but more as an awareness to just be careful when you think you’re getting an amazing deal online. Use your gut instincts: if you think a price is too good to be true, it probably is.
