Is kiwi.com ok to book with?

TutuBelle

Just a quick question - I've never heard of kiwi.com but have seen a great flight on it and want to book it ASAP. It's definitely a legitimate site?? X

fifeken

They used to be called skypicker.com so look for any reviews under that name.

jpsartre

They cobble together flights on separate tickets so be aware that if you miss a connection you've lost your onward ticket. Check prices against the airline's own website before you book.

richardw

There's their 'guarantee' https://kiwi.com/en/content/faq try and work out what they're 'guaranteeing'.

Caz3121

trip advisor air travel forum has a number of skypicker reviews...note, like many third parties they do not appear to have live pricing so the "great flight" you have seen may not be available at the fare they are advertising
It often goes as follows:
- request booking on third party site for £x
- £x taken from card and then 24-48 hours there is contact from the agent to advise the fare you requested is not available and you can either pay £y more to book the flight (often taking it to the same or more than buying direct from airline) or wait for a refund (may be days or weeks)
If you want to see the real prices, check on the airline website

fifeken

jpsartre wrote: »

They cobble together flights on separate tickets so be aware that if you miss a connection you've lost your onward ticket. Check prices against the airline's own website before you book.

Part of their unique selling point is that they will cover missed connections on separate tickets where ordinary travel agents or airlines wouldn't.

I don't know how good they are at it, but it sounds a feature worth having.

jpsartre

fifeken wrote: »

Part of their unique selling point is that they will cover missed connections on separate tickets where ordinary travel agents or airlines wouldn't.

That's overstating it. If you read their guarantee, it's filled with vague formulations, e.g. if you miss a connecting flight they will only consider "reasonable alternatives" and may require you to contribute to the cost of the new ticket should should there be a "disproportionate price difference between the potential alternative transportation and the original price for the unused flights". What is reasonable and disproportionate? That is determined on a "case by case basis".

Coverage of overnight accommodation and ground transportation, should this be necessary, is capped (in the case of hotels at a rather ridiculous rate of €50, regardless of how many nights you need).

If you can't get a hold of them and have to buy a new ticket yourself they will only reimburse up to twice the cost of your original ticket.

If you are left stranded and want to end your journey I can see nothing in their guarantee that will cover this, only that you will be given a refund for your unused flights so you may end up having to buy a new flight home yourself.

I'm not saying "don't book with them under any circumstances" but definitely go in with your eyes open.

fifeken

jpsartre wrote: »

That's overstating it.

I wasn't recommending them - just pointing out where they claim to be different from regular travel agents.

It's a while since I came across them (skypicker at the time) but I seem to remember part of their service also included relieving you of any EC261 compensation if they had made alternative flight arrangements for you.

I don't know if that's still the case.

jpsartre

fifeken wrote: »

I wasn't recommending them - just pointing out where they claim to be different from regular travel agents.

I realize that but you said they will cover missed connection which is giving them too much credit if you read their guarantee.

answer_about_Kiwi.com

Hello, I lost 660 and bought an other different ticket for 950 + one 2 nights at hotel + food + Taxi180$ and I am sad and stress. lack of information which customer needs before s/he buys

I searched for a ticket from Columbus Ohio to Tunis. I found many I liked the price that Kiwi.com Offers and I checked every thing and I also read about Visa. I bought the Ticket. the rout was Ohio to Florida then second day to Belgium and to last destination to Tunis. I used the fist trip from Ohio to Florida second day morning I showed up early and it took from the TUI airline 4 hours to get back to me and said that sorry we cant take you you don't have a visa I said I don't need visa Belgium is not my destination I showed them the ticket from Ohio to Tunis so I am not going to Enter Belgium and I don't have check-in bags with me just the carry on bag. but Airlines still wont give me boarding pass I called Kiwi.com please help. their answer was short It wasn't our Mistake it was my mistake. I replayed no I put my start trip to my destination which is Tunis. The Kiwi.com said We only much the rout. Basically Kiwi don't care about the customer
the Tickets Kiwi.com Gave them to me were different airlines
From Ohio to Florida Allgian Airlines and I used it.
from Florida to Belgium I couldn't use it.
from Belgium to Tunis I couldn't use it also.
please help if there is any way I can get my money back or If any one out there got hurt and damage by this company we take them to court as one team

PLEASE TO FIND MORE LOOK FOR: KIWI.COM FEED BACK

GOOD LUCK

Pollycat

The person who started this thread (almost a year ago) hasn't been back on here since the beginning of 2017 so I doubt you'll get an answer.

I think your best bet is to post on the Air Travel board of Tripadvisor as that is a global website, MSE is UK.

It does sound odd that you were refused boarding in Florida as you didn't have a visa for Belgium.
Were you intending to leave the airport at Belgium or just be in transit?
If you had to leave the airport - even to change terminals for your flight to Tunis, I think you would probably have needed a visa.

It would be good if you tell TA what nationality passport you have and try to include as much relevant information as possible.