govolo.com - experiences?

gotanyglazby

Hi - has anyone used
http://www.govolo.com/

to book flights before?.. did it go ok, any problems?

Thanks.

achimba

It is maybe late, but in general: Never book a flight with govolo.
Complicate payment (no credit card, PayPal or other online possibilities). Int. bank transfer incl fees.

HnM_NL

Don't book with Govolo. I did, but never received my tickets and lost my money. Google on Govolo or Go Voyages and you'll find more bad things about them.

problemsolver_2

Oh dear.

Wish I'd read this sooner...

But govoyages were offering the very best prices to Madagascar...

Here's the whole sorry mess...

27 Sep. I booked with govoyages and paid at the checkout with my UK debit card ... all seemed fine and I got an email telling me that I'd receive my eticket as soon as the payment was accepted.
30 Sep. At 10am I received an email from them saying they couldn't take a payment from my card and that I'd need to pay using an international money transfer and get my bank to email or fax them the confirmation before 5pm that day or I'd lose my reservation.
I didnt get to read the email until mid afternoon - so called the bank (first direct) and arranged to make the payment of E1165 (and a £9 charge) and email confirmation. I hung up thinking that all would be OK...
1 Oct - 08:25 got an email from govoyages saying my booking had been cancelled.
Called the bank when I'd read the email at midday to hear that they had queued the payment and that it had gone at 6:20 that morning and it couldnt be recalled. They sent the email confirmation at 11:25 - apparently they wait until the payments go before sending any confirmations, rather than doing that when they queue them up...
Called govoyages who said I'd have to make a new booking - tried reasoning with them but to no avail. The price of the ticket has increased by over E100 - so I would have to make another international payment to make up the difference.
With time running short and needing to travel on Sun 10 and not wanting to have any more difficulties with language or international payments - I called a friend in France to make the booking on my behalf, paying for the ticket with their CC. This was done and I now have the ticket I need but for a bit more than I had hoped to pay.
Oct 7 - After enough business days have passed for the monies to definitely be in their account I mail with my IBAN and BIC to ask for my money back - unlike all my other emails to them this one doesn't even get their usual ... thank you for your enquiry, we are dealing with your request etc email.

Will ask my french friend to give them a call tomorrow to see if I can get them to at least confirm that they have my money.

Have I lost my money?

Edit: 13/10/2010 - Good news. Just received confirmation from my bank that all monies have been returned - without any charges, although I did lose a little on the exchange rates
paid out 1020.14 +£9 charge
received 992.16

so this little experience cost me nearly £40 ...

The letter from my bank is dated 7/10 - so govoyages were in fact very quick to return my money.

san4iu

Hi!!!
I have one thing to say about GOVOLO, maybe they are cheaper but they will take your money in a second and you'll cannot do anything! I got burnt of 316 euro on this page! So watch out when you're buying something on this page...pay a little more but be sure that just in case you'll be refunded.
The thing was I bought a flight ticket 5 months ago for a trip in December and now that plans changed and i don't want to use that ticket and want my money back they are telling me that have sent my e-ticket to my e-mail when they haven't, GOVOLO is saying, no because we have sent to you the ticket! and the flight is only in 2 months from now!....any other respectful company will have settled down this problem in a more friendly way not like them, and by the way THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CONTACT PERSON TO TALK WITH!!!! I was trying to get a contact and the answer was "Madam for the GOVOLO Italian we do not have telephon number, that is why we tryed to contact you 3 times. We resent you the e ticket (e mail below) for your travel, now it is up to you to decide wether you are going to use the flight or not. "... learn from my experience and think twice before making any purchase from them...

GOOD LUCK!!!