ebookers - stay away from them!

novelty-socks

I've booked with them several times and never had any problems. I can't say they've been any better than any other online travel firm I've used, but I've always been happy with their service.

Voyager2002

pendragon_arther wrote: »

I used them once to book a ticket to Kenya. A week before I was due to leave to visit my wife a civil war broke out over there due to rigged election vote counting. Being white and married to a Kenyan I would have been a good target for the opposing tribe. It was too dangerous for me. E-bookers wouldn't refund my ticket even though I couldn't go. But they did refund the taxes. I vowed to never use them again.

Again, your airline ticket would have been non-refundable, so this is an issue with the airline rather than the agent. Not to mention travel insurance...

Kernow666

with them & flightcentre i have never had a problem using them as agents as have good prices
i know everyone says book with the airlines but its the risk you take & havent had a problem always good customer service

DUKE

I used ebookers last month & didn't have a problem with them, I'd use them again as they were really helpful when I was planning my trip.

Also I rang them on a UK number, I wouldn't have rang otherwise, & they sorted out my queries.

Most will charge if you're paying on a credit card too.

cottyh24

I've also used ebookers with no problems albeit with the prior knowledge of the problems with not booking direct with the airline.

The problem the OP desribes isn't unique to them either, we've booked our flights this year with Expedia (we saved enough to pay for hotels for half our 18 night holiday than booking direct with the airline) and encountered this issue when the flight times were changed.

I spoke to the airline (US Airways) first to check my rights who confirmed that any change in schedule allowed me to rebook onto a flight that better suited but Expedia would have to do this as I had booked with them. They said that they had to make the change and should phone the airline if they were unsure of the rules. Expedia claimed it was a minor change so nothing could be done - they even had the gall to say it was the airline who had put these rules in place and their hands were tied. Even when I explained that I'd spoken to the airline they insisted I was wrong.

Fortunately when I rang the airline back, a very helpful man took pity on me and booked us onto a different flight. The funniest thing was getting the email from Expedia five minutes later saying that my flight had changed. I was so tempted to ring them back and ask them how that had happened when they were adamant it couldnt be done :rotfl:

vegasvisitor

I've had to call them before to make an amendment, to a hotel booking I had in Delhi where the swimming pool was closed. I did also get put through to India. Interestingly the girl I spoke to was based in Delhi so this was quite useful for me changing my hotel.

I agree though that it can be frustrating when companies aren't contactable easily. That said, it's only very rarely I have to call a travel company as usually the deals tend to be non-changeable etc,

duchy

If you are in the US and want a company you can call for local rates from the US then perhaps you should book wit Orbitzz or some other US travel firm rather than book with a British based firm and then complain they don't have a US number (Why would they ?)

I've used ebookers serveral times and had no issues - but I make sure I understand when I've booked a non refundable fare . I've also used Orbitz - I didn't expect them to have a UK phone number ....and they didn't.

P.S. I bet the OP has told ebookers they are going to tell everyone on the net to stay away from ebookers ..............Yeah okay <eye roll>

NiftyDigits

Apart from anything else... eBookers. is owned by Orbitz, which in turn was established through a partnership of major airlines in response to the success of Expedia.
eBookers was founded by Dinesh Dhamija,, an Indian(British) businessman. It's use of Indian call centres gave him an advantage at the time. He sold the company eleven years ago. It has been US owned ever since.
Earlier this year Expedia announced that it was going to purchase Orbitz.

pendragon_arther

phatbear wrote: »

did e-bookers rig the election? if not i dont see your point.

im 99.9% sure you would have bought a non-changeable/non-refundable ticket therefore when YOU decided to cancel why would you expect a refund from e-bookers?

also they are only an agent so your gripe, if it was a legitimate one, should be the respective airline

Thanks for your highly supportive consumer point of view.

phatbear

pendragon_arther wrote: »

Thanks for your highly supportive consumer point of view.

You're welcome.

So was the flight you paid for a non-transferable non-refundable flight and if so how do you think ebookers are to blame for you not getting a refund for your flight?