BestFares: Is it worthwhile?
Sep 23, 2000 | 4:50 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Knoxville, TN, USA
Posts: 19
BestFares: Is it worthwhile?
Rookie flier here. Been looking at Bestfares.com seem to advertise terrific prices. Anyone tried them out and have some feedback?
How can they get such great fares?
Does one accumulate ff miles if booking via them?
How can they get such great fares?
Does one accumulate ff miles if booking via them?
Sep 23, 2000 | 5:16 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,222
Hi puppypaws.
Questions about bestfares.com get asked pretty regularly on these boards, and most people here don't seem to care for the site much. Try reading through these threads; they should answer your questions.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/002304.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/001657.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/000060.html
Questions about bestfares.com get asked pretty regularly on these boards, and most people here don't seem to care for the site much. Try reading through these threads; they should answer your questions.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/002304.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/001657.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/000060.html
Sep 23, 2000 | 5:42 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Knoxville, TN, USA
Posts: 19
Many thanks, Kitty Hawk. I appreciate the information.
I signed up so we could get tickets for my husband. His mom was just diagnosed with cancer, and he needed to get to LosAngeles on short notice for her surgery. He said he was on hold for 15 minutes before anyone answered. Once they answered, you could here people yelling in the background about where they were going for lunch...very unprofessional. Nonetheless, if all goes as planned, he will get to LA for $260, instead of $1770 as listed on Travelocity.
I signed up so we could get tickets for my husband. His mom was just diagnosed with cancer, and he needed to get to LosAngeles on short notice for her surgery. He said he was on hold for 15 minutes before anyone answered. Once they answered, you could here people yelling in the background about where they were going for lunch...very unprofessional. Nonetheless, if all goes as planned, he will get to LA for $260, instead of $1770 as listed on Travelocity.
Sep 23, 2000 | 6:56 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Manhattan, NY
Programs: USAir AA Hilton
Posts: 3,567
I will tell you that if you can painfully plow through their information on site (because there is nothing resembling search functions), and then call their reservations number.. get put on hold, wait 20 minutes for someone to pick up, you better be prepared to make your decision then and there because God forbid you want to think about it and call back! Another 20 minute wait at best and no chance of getting the same person to complete the reservation.
Yes, you can get some good fares - usually on TWA I find. But for me the hassle exceeded the savings.
Yes, you can get some good fares - usually on TWA I find. But for me the hassle exceeded the savings.
Sep 23, 2000 | 9:45 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: See pitflyer
Posts: 1,620
Try www.lowestfare.com if you want comparable TWA fares without a membership fee.
As I have commented in the past bestfares.com is a waste of money. I wasted my own $55 or whatever on it a couple of years ago. Wasted!
As I have commented in the past bestfares.com is a waste of money. I wasted my own $55 or whatever on it a couple of years ago. Wasted!
Sep 24, 2000 | 9:00 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2000
Programs: UA 1PMM,AAG; usedtobeelite
Posts: 2,500
I also found Bestfares membership of no value. However, I obtained a written pledge of a 30 day money back guarantee and decided within the 30 days. I suggest that anyone who wants to sample should keep track of the days and decide within the first month. Then cancel if so inclined.
Sep 24, 2000 | 11:00 am
#8
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: PDX
Programs: TSA Refusenik charter member
Posts: 16,126
I was actually able to make good use of my membership, but it was mostly through flukey circumstances. What galled me is that I paid for a one-year membership but they automatically renewed it at 10 months and retro-dated the membership date by two months. When I called them about gypping me by 60 days they said they always do it that way. 
[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 09-24-2000).]
[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 09-24-2000).]
Sep 24, 2000 | 12:17 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Represa CA
Programs: Hilton LTD, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Amb/ LTTE, AA LTP, Avis PC, National EE, Seabourn DE
Posts: 3,109
I too got sucked into a second worthless year. It's easier just to change credit card numbers to avoid future billings. It's a good way to cleanse unwanted subscriptions/automatic billings from your system.
Sep 24, 2000 | 2:07 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,218
Originally posted by essxjay:
What galled me is that I paid for a one-year membership but they automatically renewed it at 10 months and retro-dated the membership date by two months. When I called them about gypping me by 60 days they said they always do it that way.
What galled me is that I paid for a one-year membership but they automatically renewed it at 10 months and retro-dated the membership date by two months. When I called them about gypping me by 60 days they said they always do it that way.
Sep 24, 2000 | 6:02 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Programs: NW Platinum, Hilton Silver, 3 stays from Starwood Platinum!
Posts: 771
Yup, I got that automatic billing for the second year, and when I called to complain...no one answered the phone. I had called to cancel earlier in the year, and was told "cancellation must in writing". If you do get someone on the phone, it's a looooong wait, and they are not nice, and they don't know about their own specials. A lot of hype. So for two years, I never bought one plane ticket, but would read the magazine. Tom Parsons talks a lot, but you don't get your money's worth.
And a 30 day money back guarantee? I wouldn't trust them with my credit card number.
And a 30 day money back guarantee? I wouldn't trust them with my credit card number.
Sep 24, 2000 | 7:33 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2000
Programs: UA 1PMM,AAG; usedtobeelite
Posts: 2,500
Not trusting them is why I waited until I had an email stating I would have a 30 day money back guarantee. Even then I had to write to the credit card company to make sure it was recorded as getting credited. The phone calls, the waits, the low fares no longer available, they make it such a hassle to use them why do people do it? Plus, it seems their one plus...the snooz or lose....is posting later and later, as if they are holding back.
Sep 25, 2000 | 10:46 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1P; HHonors Silver
Posts: 2,686
I'm pretty sure we know where "such great fares" come from ...
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/002139.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/002139.html