GERMANY - what OTA do you recommend?
Nov 29, 2016, 4:00 am
#16
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,404
But airlines have the advantage, that nobody will be able to play "pass the hot potato along"-game.
With bad OTA, they usually refer you to the airline for any changes and the airlines refers you back the OTA. Nobody's willing to do anything. If the airline you fly on, is at the same time your OTA, you avoid this problematic altogether.
That said, if you really want service, you get a great travel agent, who's just a call away and can change things for you.
I use:
With bad OTA, they usually refer you to the airline for any changes and the airlines refers you back the OTA. Nobody's willing to do anything. If the airline you fly on, is at the same time your OTA, you avoid this problematic altogether.
That said, if you really want service, you get a great travel agent, who's just a call away and can change things for you.
I use:
- OTAs for short/cheap trips
- well expierienced and good OTAs or the airline for longer trips
- a proper travel agent for trips where nothing is allowed to go wrong
Nov 29, 2016, 9:53 am
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Bregenz, Austria
Programs: AA, BAEC, Alaska, Flying Blue, United, IHG, Hilton
Posts: 2,950
I tend to agree with WorldLux on this one.
The more parties there are in a chain of supply, the more opportunity they have to pass the buck.
At least when you deal direct, you only have one party to argue with.
I don't mind even dodgy OTAs for a quick intra-Europe hop, but I tend to stick with the airlines or the really big names for anything more complex.
The more parties there are in a chain of supply, the more opportunity they have to pass the buck.
At least when you deal direct, you only have one party to argue with.
I don't mind even dodgy OTAs for a quick intra-Europe hop, but I tend to stick with the airlines or the really big names for anything more complex.
Dec 9, 2016, 1:54 am
#18
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: BRU
Programs: LH (SEN), IHG (Plat Amb)
Posts: 498
First, they are not reachable by phone (I needed several times more than 45 minutes to talk to a person instead of a computer) or e-mail (no e-mail address or contact form on their website).
My last bad experience with them was a flight cancelled by the airline for technical problems. Two months later I still have not got my money back. Airline says call your TA and TA says we need to check with the airline.
Also, no ebookers.de customer service rep I have talked to seems to be aware of the concept of getting full refund for cancelled flights. Which results in phone calls of 1,5 hours that bring absolutely nothing. I ended up challenging the transaction with my credit card company. So BEWARE. You may find better rates, but when something goes wrong you are in trouble.
Dec 10, 2016, 11:45 am
#19
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Bregenz, Austria
Programs: AA, BAEC, Alaska, Flying Blue, United, IHG, Hilton
Posts: 2,950
Indeed. I have this experience with ebookers.de
First, they are not reachable by phone (I needed several times more than 45 minutes to talk to a person instead of a computer) or e-mail (no e-mail address or contact form on their website).
My last bad experience with them was a flight cancelled by the airline for technical problems. Two months later I still have not got my money back. Airline says call your TA and TA says we need to check with the airline.
Also, no ebookers.de customer service rep I have talked to seems to be aware of the concept of getting full refund for cancelled flights. Which results in phone calls of 1,5 hours that bring absolutely nothing. I ended up challenging the transaction with my credit card company. So BEWARE. You may find better rates, but when something goes wrong you are in trouble.
First, they are not reachable by phone (I needed several times more than 45 minutes to talk to a person instead of a computer) or e-mail (no e-mail address or contact form on their website).
My last bad experience with them was a flight cancelled by the airline for technical problems. Two months later I still have not got my money back. Airline says call your TA and TA says we need to check with the airline.
Also, no ebookers.de customer service rep I have talked to seems to be aware of the concept of getting full refund for cancelled flights. Which results in phone calls of 1,5 hours that bring absolutely nothing. I ended up challenging the transaction with my credit card company. So BEWARE. You may find better rates, but when something goes wrong you are in trouble.