Kiwi
 

Any recent experiences or opinions on using this site?

An excellent site to search options - but would be hesitant to book through it.

It is quite risky. It combines carriers that are not collaborating. It is ok if you are willing to take a low price for a high risk of not making it. They say that they cover all flight loses that might arise but this is not possible. Mathematically it would create good loses for KIWI.

I'm trying to book a one way flight from Papeete, French Polynesia via San Francisco to Las Vegas.

The 8 hour one way flight on United from Papeete to San Francisco is a surprisingly affordable $245. Then there's a $65 flight from SFO to Las Vegas two hours later on Alaska Airlines, that would make it $310 ($335 with Alaska bag fee), though that's a real tight international-domestic connection on separate tickets.

If I try to book a single ticket all the way from Papeete to Las Vegas, United quotes me $600 on United metal and all aggregators like Kayak, Momondo, etc. are showing $600+ and don't combine the United flight with that Alaska flight.

Enter Kiwi.com. It's showing $360 total for Papeete to San Francisco on United and then San Francisco to Las Vegas two hours later on Alaska.

Is there any chance that this booking on Kiwi.com will be a single ticket, such that United will interline the bag to its interline partner Alaska, and I can just clear customs, drop my bag on the re-check belt, and walk to the domestic gate to make the two hour connection?

Or if I book on Kiwi, will these be separate tickets, and I'll have to go to the check in desk in SFO to re-check the bag, pay the checked bag fee, maybe miss my connection, etc. The kiwi booking page just says I may have to re-check bags, which any connecting flight entering the USA has to do, it doesn't mention if it's separate itineraries. I'm guessing separate tickets since no other aggregator offers the route.

I could just buy the United and Alaska flights separately myself for less than the Kiwi cost. But then I wouldn't get the "Kiwi connection guarantee," whatever that's worth. Or I can buy a later flight on Alaska for $113 with a more makeable connection. Not entirely sure what to do.

Thanks I didn't think of that. I haven't used a live travel agent in 15+ years. Why won't it come up on any online travel agent like kayak, expedia, etc.?

Yes, I did realize that. I'm trying to figure out if booking through Kiwi means separate tickets. In which case I'd be paying $50 more just for the Kiwi guarantee, which may not be worth much.

Thanks. Yes, I think I will avoid them.

Stay away. My European vacation was totalled after I was left stranded for 2 days by the kiwi "guarantee" - these people are the worst in the travel business. They have thousands of bad reviews on Trip Advisor. Don't do it!

Just to follow up the real travel agent route: does anyone have suggestions for using one in conjunctions with those Kiwi searches? I live in NY if that matters.

You could give propellertravel.com a shout. I have not used them to book a ticket as yet, but a fair few people on Flyertalk have and do use them. If you find the fare on Kiwi et al they can match or possibly beat the fare and/or give a more suitable itinerary to you.

I'd be happy to help or connect you with another agent if we're not a good fit.