9 days to go, travelocity still a nightmare!

cinnyb · Post by **cinnyb** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:47 pm

Hi. I've posted a few times about my son's wedding coming up in St. John in less than two weeks. We bought tickets through travelocity in October and they changed the itinerary for the fifth time in Jan., getting to St. Thomas later and later everytime.

Well, since it is getting so close and I hadn't heard anything I thought I should check and make sure all is well. First, couldn't access the site-my trip ID number is invalid???

So, I made the call to them and after listening to their automated message saying we were leaving from JFK on departure instead of Syracuse I had to call them. (That is a long drive--no way.) Stayed on phone for two hrs. Thought it was all set, asked for my etickets to be sent.I was quite happy because we were arriving earlier than the last change. What I got was a note from the airlines that Tanu (from travelocity) thought I would like the new itinerary sent to me, which Delta said in the email they can't guarantee! So, no e-ticket verification. Nothing from travelociyt from that whole phone call. Plus, now our departure dates that were fine are totally screwed up.

One last thing, just heard from someone who went to Hawaii thru travelocity. When they went to depart, e-tickets in hand, the airlines had no record of them!! Had to buy new tickets to get back to NY and so far travelocity no help.

I will call travelocity again then call airlines and verify with them, but can you believe this headache? Advice or sympathy welcomed.

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:00 pm

Good luck getting this unfutzed. You may need to deal directly with the airline to get things smoothed out.

We had some challenges with tickets booked on Orbitz. We did save $800 going that way, but it gets pretty intense when you are traveling with a 10 year old and you can't get seats assigned.

Our challenge was that Orbitz bought tickets from United that were a US Air codeshare. Orbitz does not give the record locator number for the tickets that are purchased, so you can deal directly with the airline. Orbitz can't do seat assignments because its a code share.

Solution?
- Call United, talk to agent to get record locator number for United flight AND US Air's record locator number for the codeshare
- Call US Air with the US Air record locator number and attempt to get seats assigned, repeatedly.

Going directly with the airline presents some challenges. In my case, I'll go with the cheapest tickets that get me there in an acceptable timeframe. The more people I'm moving around the more price sensitive I get.

Cheers, RickG

cinnyb · Post by **cinnyb** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:17 pm

Thanks, Rick. I thought them getting married down there was such a great idea, and right now it seems questionable. My 90 year old loving Grandmother is on the brink, my daughter is trying to resolve an ear infection and I have to leave my loyal 9 yr. German Shepherd.

I know things will work out, just right now it is tuff.

Greenskeeper · Post by **Greenskeeper** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:28 am

If it makes you feel any better, even booking directly through the airlines will not guarentee seats. I had booked seats together 9 months before our trip and when my tickets came, lo and behold the flight times had changed and the seats weren't together. When I called customer service I was told to "ask for reassignment at the gate- it can be resolved there." BIG MISTAKE. I was fine out of Boston but on our flight home, each of my 11 year old twins was seated between 2 strangers on a late night flight. When I asked for seat reassignment (I had no problem with 1 adult/1 child together) a snarky customer service rep told me "everyone is travelling with families- there isn't much we can do". My husband stepped back and let me go into "mama mode". I asked the rep if he and the airline was willing to take responsiblity for my children if any harm were to come to them while they were most probably asleep and separated from an adult. In short time he was able to resolve the issue. The kicker is on the entire flight, there were only 4 kids and 3 of them were in our party.

snorkeler525 · Post by **snorkeler525** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:52 am

Greenskeeper wrote:If it makes you feel any better, even booking directly through the airlines will not guarentee seats. I had booked seats together 9 months before our trip and when my tickets came, lo and behold the flight times had changed and the seats weren't together. When I called customer service I was told to "ask for reassignment at the gate- it can be resolved there." BIG MISTAKE. I was fine out of Boston but on our flight home, each of my 11 year old twins was seated between 2 strangers on a late night flight. When I asked for seat reassignment (I had no problem with 1 adult/1 child together) a snarky customer service rep told me "everyone is travelling with families- there isn't much we can do". My husband stepped back and let me go into "mama mode". I asked the rep if he and the airline was willing to take responsiblity for my children if any harm were to come to them while they were most probably asleep and separated from an adult. In short time he was able to resolve the issue. The kicker is on the entire flight, there were only 4 kids and 3 of them were in our party.

Yep, we've learned that lesson - they change seats, flights, aircraft, and times frequently So, now I check my flights monthly up until a month before and then I check weekly.

DELETED · Post by **DELETED** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:05 am

DELETED

chrisn · Post by **chrisn** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:46 pm

I booked through Expedia. First time I have ever done it like this. They have changed departure/arrival times a couple times. Of couse it was pushed back but not an unreasonable difference.

I make sure and call the airline directly though to confirm and reconfirm and reconfirm every once in a while. More frequently as the trip gets closer.

cinnyb · Post by **cinnyb** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 2:23 pm

On the phone with travelocity again today for two hours, most of which was on hold. My hubby walked in while I was sitting there and he said he would call airline direct. Some helpful customer service woman at AA had us arriving on St. Thomas earlier than travelocity had ever mentioned in all their changes, plus she figured out the Delta problem. Now ,we are leaving from Syr.instead of JFK. Hope this works out, but I do feel much better today.

I guess if I can offer anyone any advice, it is to deal directly with the airlines (although I know they change things, too), but be warned of travelocity...never again! And, always heed seasoned forumites advice.

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 2:33 pm

After having my own horrible experience with Orbitz, and reading everyone else's problems with other online booking services, I can tell you I will use them to search for flights, but I will NEVER book another ticket through them. I will ALWAYS book directly with the airline. Too many people in the middle make for the possibility of that many more mistakes!

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:18 pm

Yep, just one thing - some itineraries can only be booked by an intermediary. If I wasn't cost conscious and trying to keep up a two trip a year pace (and trying to sneak in #3 for some j'ouvet action) I would always take the United direct flight from DC...

The moral of the story for me is to monitor the itinerary closely and to recognize that the airline's approach to optimization does not have my best interest at heart.

Cheers, RickG

bevm · Post by **bevm** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:00 pm

It's comforting (in some sick sort of way) to know that we've all experienced problems. We booked our tickets last Nov. for our April 17th trip through US AIR. They down-sized the plane to a 757 and put my husband in row 5 and me in 32. Luckily I called and there were two seats left (oddly one was the seat right next to him. Why didn't they put me there in the first place???) But you are right, keep checking back with the airline...

Greenskeeper · Post by **Greenskeeper** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:06 pm

bevm wrote: Luckily I called and there were two seats left (oddly one was the seat right next to him. Why didn't they put me there in the first place???)

That would make sense wouldn't it? I'm picturing some sadistic little man, sitting behind a keyboard rearranging people's seats assigments just for kicks.

bevm · Post by **bevm** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:26 pm

I know! Hello, our last names are the same!! Then I couldn't even understand the agent. So frustrating.. But it will all be a memory in 15 days and 4 or 5 Margaritas....

snorkeler525 · Post by **snorkeler525** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:31 am

Yeah, the airlines have done the seats at either end of the plane on us too - major problem when it is my young daughter they have sitting with some stranger who as far as I know could be some whacko! We travel a lot, lucky us, but it is a never-ending job keeping tabs on the changes and calling the airlines when it can't be fixed on line.

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9 days to go, travelocity still a nightmare!

9 days to go, travelocity still a nightmare!