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Consumer group criticises online hidden prices
Consumer champion Which? has advised customers to book through well-established travel agents or directly with an airline to avoid being caught out by some ‘too-good-to-be-true’ online deals.
A Which? investigation spoke to customers who ended up having to pay extra after they’d made a booking with an online travel agent or who found their booking did not exist.
The investigation found some small websites that have access to huge audiences through search engines offer attractive deals that don’t exist. The research concludes some firms may be tricking customers with ‘best prices’ that come with demands for more cash after they make the booking.
One woman described feeling ‘blackmailed’ when Checknfly demanded an extra £79 the day after she booked a £415 return flight to Vancouver.
Another customer who booked a flight to India with Gotogate got to airport to find out he was not on the list.
Which? also criticised some OTAs for poor customer service, according to Mirror Online.
Rory Boland, travel editor at Which? said customers should do a Google search to look for feedback on companies offering ‘too-good-to-be-true’ prices.
He added: "If you’re unsure, book direct with the airline or a well-established travel agent."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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