[abc]

I planned a short trip to Colorado in early March from Norfolk, Va Airport. I purchased my ticket through Travelocity and was instructed beforehand by the travling agency to make a copy of my itinerary to bring to check in. My itinerary had the supposedly correct flight schedule, I was to fly with American Airlines to Colorado and fly with Delta on the way back. My flight was scheduled for 6:30 am, and I was at check-in at 5:30am. When I tried the self check-in the computer would not accept me. The lady at the front desk compared my itinerary to what they had showing on their computer, and told me that Delta had made an error with my flight schedule, and that I was not allowed to board on flight until the error was corrected. She told me the fastest way to get the issue resolved, was to go talk to Delta and in the mean time call Travelocity. So I went to Delta special services line to try to correct the error. The lady did not how to fix it, and quickly brushed me away. I automatically called Travelocity, and they told me they would fix the problem in 10 minutes!! However, I was placed on hold for 35 minutes.. When I went back to check in at American Airlines I was finally in their computer system, but the computer told me I was too late to board, the gate had closed..And it was'nt my fault I was late. American Airlines tried to find me a later flight but nothing was available. Meanwhile I called Travelocity back, and they too tried to schedule me a later flight. I spoke with the manager of Travelocity who spoke with Delta. Delta automatically by phone stated that it was their error and cleared my ticket and told me I would be refunded in 7-10 business days. I was very upset!!!Not only was it a planned trip but I had friends in Colorado who took off from their work to spend time with me!! I found out that Delta had one later morning flight that could have worked out for me, however they told me that since the ticket was cleared and in the refunding process, it was like starting all over again with purchasing a new ticket. So that flight would have costed me almost a $1000 comparedto $318 dollar ticket..learned some things through this but never again will I use Travelocity or DELTA!! They Failed.

[Gromit801]

Never use a third party reseller.

AA first blames Delta.
But Delta can't fix it.
Magically Travelocity fixes it, which to me looks like THEY were at fault from the start.

[ChrisH]

I saw more issues with reservations with people who booked through a third party than anything else. When you book through these third party companies, such as the online travel agencies (Travelocity, Orbitz, etc) you are essentially having another person book your ticket for you. Any mistake they make, and mistakes seemed to happen often with these companies, there isn't much the airlines can do. The reservations will sometimes show unticketed, or have been "exchanged", etc.

What most people don't understand, is that whatever fare the online travel agency web-sites return to you, can be had on the airlines main web-site as well. I always use these Travelocity type web-sites to see who has the cheapest fares. I note the flight numbers and times of the cheapest fare and then go to that airlines web-site. The same fare will exist with those same flights. I'd rather book directly through the airline than through a third party. Why add an extra step to the process and complicate things more than the airlines already do?

[Gromit801]

Absolutely correct Chris. A lot of people also don't understand when buying through a site like Orbitz, etc, you are THEIR customer, and all monetary liability lies with them. The airline's hands are somewhat tied. Good airlines will try to help you fix a problem caused by the reseller. Unfortunately, the problems always seem to happen when the counter is most crowded, cut-off time is approaching, and time is too short. Been there in line, and observed it many times.

Just book through the airline.

[jimworcs]

This advice may apply in the US, but in Europe this is not always good advice. When you buy through an authorised travel agent, your trip is automatically insured. When the recession first hit hard, a number of airlines went bankrupt. Everyone who bought their ticket through Expedia, Travelocity or an authorised travel agent where fully insured and their holidays/flights were covered, including costs of repatriation. Those who booked with the airlines direct were stranded and had to pay their own way back.
The insurance and/or legal obligations of the travel agent in Europe will sometimes make it worth your while to use them over direct purchasing.

[Gromit801]

One can always buy travel insurance regardless who you book with. However, when the time crunch arrives, as the OP describes, having a third party involved almost guarantees the flight being missed.

[jimworcs]

Travel Insurance doesn't always cover bankruptcy.. indeed many people with insurance were stranded. The coverage offered by travel agents is included the price, nothing extra to pay, and covers bankruptcy and repatriation costs. This may be specific to the UK and/or Europe, but there is a definite advantage to booking package holidays and flights via an agent. The protection is partly statutory... when you buy a package of services through an agent, including hotel and flights, the legal obligation for delivery falls on the agent. Therefore if the airline, hotel, etc fail to deliver the agent if fully liable. This is mandated by EU law.

[The_Judge]

Agree with jimworcs. Travel insurance in the US is a joke. Too many exceptions. Just go to other sites and look for complaints about it. Very easy to find as their are loads of them.

[scribe4]

Never, ever use a third-party online service like Travelocity or Expedia. They are evil. Go to their sites to compare prices, and then go to the airlines' website to do the actual booking (but don't call the airline because you will probably be charged a "booking fee" for the privilege of talking to a human being on the phone).

[scribe4]

Travel insurance is complete B.S. Their job is to avoid reimbursing you. "The_Judge"
is absolutely correct. I just lost $1000 because I bought travel insurance and trusted that it would cover me. WRONG!

[scribe4]

A group of consumers is organizing an airline boycott in the form of a National No-Fly Week, July 10 - 16, 2011. We are hoping to spread the word, and need your help.

If the people of Egypt can overthrow a police state, why do we in America just sit still for price gouging, bag check fees, no-refund policies, overbooked flights, higher fees for extra inches of legroom and/or trip flexibility, ridiculous security practices and numerous other insults? The latest crime is that some airlines now want to charge a fee for checking in at the airport ticket counter and a fee to use the on-board restroom.

We're supposed to be the most democratic nation in the world, but we just bend over and let corporate America stick it to us. What happened to our revolutionary spirit? In the 1970s my generation stood up and ended the Viet Nam war (and got Richard Nixon out of office). But now we just sit on our obese ***** and do nothing. The people of Egypt put us to shame.

If a working class family of five saves for years to finance a vacation a Disney World and one of the parents is laid off from his or her job, every penny of their ticket price is LOST (unless they purchased a higher class of ticket or travel insurance that specifies coverage for a layoff). I recently had to cancel a trip, and even with trip insurance, could not receive a refund or even a credit! I spent a total of about 7 hours on hold with Expedia -- and the airline -- to no avail. And if you search online you will find thousands of customers with similar complaints.

Airlines have taken advantage of the post-911 Bush fear scenario to abuse customers. They need to reshape their business models and solve their financial problems using means other than torturing consumers.

We are asking America to support National No-Fly Week July 10 - 16, 2011. But it will take thousands -- millions -- of people to make it happen. Please support this boycott by refusing to book any travel during this period, and help us out by spreading the word in any way you can. The airlines need to get the message that we don't have to accept being cheated, manipulated and abused. Please tell your friends.

For a quick overview of the latest in fee abuses, visit these links:

Four most outrageous, unfair airline fees

http://www.dallasnews.com/travel/hea...rline-1349.ece

11 new airline fees you could see in 2011

http://www.examiner.com/budget-trave...could-see-2011

Airline Fees Jump By 50 Percent: Is It Unfair to Customers?

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/airline-fee...ry?id=11734970

Hidden Airline Fees: Unfair and Illegal

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...d_illegal.html

Tourists to U.S. Hit with New Fee – Critics Say, Unfair

http://www.farecompare.com/articles/...-new-fee-poll/

DOMESTIC AIRLINE FEE CHART(LAST UPDATED 4/13/2010)

[The_Judge]

I have promoted this on this and other websites and could NOT have said it better. Do not book through anyone except the airline and if you must use an agent, use an agent that you can actually walk into the office of.