europebyair.com too good to be true?
Oct 28th, 2009, 08:18 AM
#2
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Hmm,Incredible.Not sure about that. I checked them just the other day for my flights to Paris. The fares were decent however 1800flyeurope was actually about $50.00 cheaper per ticket.I checked the BBB and europebyair has no complaints and is rated A+ by the BBB.
Oct 28th, 2009, 08:53 AM
#3
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The $99 Flight Pass is what amazed me. I need a one way from Split, Croatia to Paris and that route qualified - vs anywhere from over $300 and up. The Flight Pass routes were numerous.
Oct 28th, 2009, 11:38 AM
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That's true, but it's a slightly complex process to actually get on the plane. You also have to pay some of the airline taxes on top of that $99 per flight, so it's not quite as good a deal as it might seem.
And since you get a voucher, not an actual ticket (because you haven't paid all the taxes yet), you have to wait until you are at the airport (at least that's the way it used to be) to pick up the actual boarding pass and ticket (no checking anything all the way through). So you have to schedule plenty of time between flights, especially when you are connecting in, say, CDG or LHR, before you can move onto your next flight.
And since you get a voucher, not an actual ticket (because you haven't paid all the taxes yet), you have to wait until you are at the airport (at least that's the way it used to be) to pick up the actual boarding pass and ticket (no checking anything all the way through). So you have to schedule plenty of time between flights, especially when you are connecting in, say, CDG or LHR, before you can move onto your next flight.
Oct 28th, 2009, 09:52 PM
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I used Europe by Air a couple of weeks ago to fly from Split, Croatia to Paris. It worked OK but with a few worries - read my detailed report below.
I booked a direct Croatia Airlines flight from Split to Paris in the afternoon on a Wednesday - the only day of the week that flight went. I planned the end of my trip around it. Booking with Europe by Air saved me about $140 vs. booking directly with Croatia Airlines.
So I bought the pass for $99 (at the same time that I made a reservation for the Croatia Airlines flight) and paid $20 (required) for Fed Ex shipping, which delivered the pass as promised, before I left for Europe. I called Europe by Air to ask about taxes and they estimated about $60 USD (which was what I guessed, which was about what it turned out to be). You have to pay the taxes IN CASH, in LOCAL CURRENCY, so be aware of that. It's easy at the end of a trip as you are departing a country to spend all your currency before you leave. Note that I was able to pay my taxes at a Croatia Airlines office in town (in Split) a few days before my flight, instead of at the airport - you may be able to do the same.
Also, you MUST confirm your reservation yourself a few days before the flight leaves. Otherwise, no one will have a way to contact you (Europe by Air won't anyway - and the airline probably can't) to let you know of a flight change. In my case...my Split-Paris flight was CANCELED!!! Fortunately, Croatia Airlines re-booked me automatically on a connecting flight the same day (through Zagreb) but early at 6:15am! I found this out a few days before departure. Getting up at 3:45am to catch that flight wasn't a lot of fun, though (I tried to AVOID that flight in the first place!).
Anyway...since with Europe by Air you buy a flight pass PER FLIGHT SEGMENT (making them a good deal only for direct flights, generally), I wondered (worried about!) how Croatia Airlines would handle me having only ONE flight pass for my previous direct flight? They did figure it out (involuntary rerouting = issue me an extra flight coupon) but it wasn't automatic, took them a few minutes of musing how to handle this change, so I went to the Split airport the day before to make sure it was all arranged (their downtown Split office could not give me the coupons); with that 6:15am departure there wouldn't be enough time for me to do it ALL at the airport before leaving!
FYI, Europe by Air doesn't seem to respond to email - if you have issues you have to CALL them. So bring their phone number and know what hours they are available by phone when you travel to Europe, in case you need to change your ticket or have questions about anything.
I don't know if I'd use Europe by Air again, honestly, just because of the worries I had about my re-routing, and this was nowhere covered in their FAQ (which would have put my mind at greater ease). I'm glad I saved $140, but it was a pain going to the airport the day before to take care of the ticket changes.
I booked a direct Croatia Airlines flight from Split to Paris in the afternoon on a Wednesday - the only day of the week that flight went. I planned the end of my trip around it. Booking with Europe by Air saved me about $140 vs. booking directly with Croatia Airlines.
So I bought the pass for $99 (at the same time that I made a reservation for the Croatia Airlines flight) and paid $20 (required) for Fed Ex shipping, which delivered the pass as promised, before I left for Europe. I called Europe by Air to ask about taxes and they estimated about $60 USD (which was what I guessed, which was about what it turned out to be). You have to pay the taxes IN CASH, in LOCAL CURRENCY, so be aware of that. It's easy at the end of a trip as you are departing a country to spend all your currency before you leave. Note that I was able to pay my taxes at a Croatia Airlines office in town (in Split) a few days before my flight, instead of at the airport - you may be able to do the same.
Also, you MUST confirm your reservation yourself a few days before the flight leaves. Otherwise, no one will have a way to contact you (Europe by Air won't anyway - and the airline probably can't) to let you know of a flight change. In my case...my Split-Paris flight was CANCELED!!! Fortunately, Croatia Airlines re-booked me automatically on a connecting flight the same day (through Zagreb) but early at 6:15am! I found this out a few days before departure. Getting up at 3:45am to catch that flight wasn't a lot of fun, though (I tried to AVOID that flight in the first place!).
Anyway...since with Europe by Air you buy a flight pass PER FLIGHT SEGMENT (making them a good deal only for direct flights, generally), I wondered (worried about!) how Croatia Airlines would handle me having only ONE flight pass for my previous direct flight? They did figure it out (involuntary rerouting = issue me an extra flight coupon) but it wasn't automatic, took them a few minutes of musing how to handle this change, so I went to the Split airport the day before to make sure it was all arranged (their downtown Split office could not give me the coupons); with that 6:15am departure there wouldn't be enough time for me to do it ALL at the airport before leaving!
FYI, Europe by Air doesn't seem to respond to email - if you have issues you have to CALL them. So bring their phone number and know what hours they are available by phone when you travel to Europe, in case you need to change your ticket or have questions about anything.
I don't know if I'd use Europe by Air again, honestly, just because of the worries I had about my re-routing, and this was nowhere covered in their FAQ (which would have put my mind at greater ease). I'm glad I saved $140, but it was a pain going to the airport the day before to take care of the ticket changes.
Oct 29th, 2009, 06:37 AM
#6
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Andrew, Thank you for taking the time to give me the details. If I decide to do it I'll know the risks. The flight listed was the 6:15 departure. Maybe I'll go to Zagreb and stay the night before my flight and see the city and have a later flight!
Oct 29th, 2009, 08:00 AM
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If you are trying to fly - same flight I wound up taking - from Split-Zagreb/Zagreb-Paris, you'd need two flight coupons, so $198 for those plus $20 shipping plus about $60 tax. (I paid for only one flight coupon because my original flight was only one segment.) Tax is even more if you take two separate flights. That's not a lot of savings I'd guess vs. booking directly yourself. If you're saving $50 or less I wouldn't bother - though if you think you may wish to change flights, you do have that option with Europe by Air (if there's availability, if you do it early enough).
Aug 14th, 2013, 12:29 PM
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europbyair.com Aug 14/13. 2013
Reserved & paid Business Class but ticketed Coach. “ europebyair.com”
Checked business fare Boston To Dublin to Malaga and finding it much lower than other websites called to check validity .
FIRST ALARM BELL* the operator is NOT employed by europebyair and unable to confirm webfares.
Thinking there could be a mistake, I reverted to the website again and checked coach class fare which was lower.
2ND ALARM BELL** I booked and paid BUSINESS CLASS but received a coach class ticket ! Fortunately I printed out a copy of my on line reservation confirmation. I've complained. The managing director a Mr Geoff Moss replied, “They do not offer nor book Business Class” . however contrarily, their website offers COACH -BUSINESS AND FIRST CLASS fares! The eticket I booked and received undisputably states a business class reservation.
Without apology for their glaring ‘error’ or is it deliberate? Instead of accepting their mistake and providing business class travel, reluctantly conveniently simply refunded the fare, cancelling the ticket, carelessly leaving me to change travel plans.
Specifically related to the transatlantic flight I’d reserved non refundable connecting flights to Boston; now useless, for which obviously they should reimburse me. They’ve deliberately avoided the issue and haven’t reimbursed me for the $359. Loss.
8/13-14 emails are returned as undeliverable !
Overall from my experience this company is untrustworthy and should be avoided.
David
Reserved & paid Business Class but ticketed Coach. “ europebyair.com”
Checked business fare Boston To Dublin to Malaga and finding it much lower than other websites called to check validity .
FIRST ALARM BELL* the operator is NOT employed by europebyair and unable to confirm webfares.
Thinking there could be a mistake, I reverted to the website again and checked coach class fare which was lower.
2ND ALARM BELL** I booked and paid BUSINESS CLASS but received a coach class ticket ! Fortunately I printed out a copy of my on line reservation confirmation. I've complained. The managing director a Mr Geoff Moss replied, “They do not offer nor book Business Class” . however contrarily, their website offers COACH -BUSINESS AND FIRST CLASS fares! The eticket I booked and received undisputably states a business class reservation.
Without apology for their glaring ‘error’ or is it deliberate? Instead of accepting their mistake and providing business class travel, reluctantly conveniently simply refunded the fare, cancelling the ticket, carelessly leaving me to change travel plans.
Specifically related to the transatlantic flight I’d reserved non refundable connecting flights to Boston; now useless, for which obviously they should reimburse me. They’ve deliberately avoided the issue and haven’t reimbursed me for the $359. Loss.
8/13-14 emails are returned as undeliverable !
Overall from my experience this company is untrustworthy and should be avoided.
David
