We’re not saying the rest of you are dumb, but when physicists from CalTech can’t manage to make travel arrangements without getting stuck with hundreds of dollars in “change fees,” there might be a problem with the website. And by problem we might mean “scam.” And by scam, we might mean, “policies designed to increase fees by being deliberately confusing and overly restrictive.” In this case, Sean, a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Physics at the California Institute of Technology, was trying to book a new ticket with money from a credit on a previously canceled ticket, which is much harder than identifying the unified field theory.
orbitz
Orbitz Hides Flex Search
By 11.9.06
For some reason, and we really can’t imagine what that reason might be, Orbitz has cleverly hidden its “Flex Search” feature. As far as we can tell, it’s only accessible through the sitemap. In any case, it’s not actually gone, so here’s a link to it. We are so punk rock.— MEGHANN MARCO
Orbitz Misprices Tickets and Holds Your Credit Hostage
By 9.25.06
Reader Kristin gets the double whammy of poor service from online travel agency Orbitz.com.
Orbitz Customer Cancels Reservation For Spite
By 8.22.06
Even with Orbitz’s notoriously inept customer service – behind that facade of campy commercials and flash games, there’s…more facade – this is a new one. Reader Missdona booked a room at the Bellagio hotel last week. Yesterday, the price dropped $20. She tried to lock in the lower rate but was unable to online and the phone people consistently put her on long hold only to disconnect her or refused to help. She decides to cancel and book with the hotel direct. A phone rep tells her that cancelling will cost $25.
UPDATE: Trifecta of Crappy Airplane Stories, +1
By 6.1.06
Here’s a first, Justin writes about one of the very same extreme flight delays that another reader wrote in about!
Fly First Class For Cheap
By 5.8.06
There’s no need to lead an on-board mutiny or deploy Macchivelian mind-tricks, here’s how you get first-class airplane seats for cheap.
Consumers Speak: OrbitzMisunderstanding Sends Pop on Wedding Day Adventure
By 1.24.06
Update: A couple of you have written in to criticize our framing of this complaint, pointing out that this was not an error on the part of Orbitz or America West so much as a failure of planning on the part of those involved. You’re right. We do read every complaint before posting them, but we didn’t think this one through. Apologies. (We still enjoyed the story, however.)
