I'm having issues with Orbitz
 

Im trying to book a ticket, but when I go to the final page, it says this tickets isnt available and it gives me a price that is $150 more expensive.

Is anyone else experiencing the same thing???

Yes, we experienced something very similar, and in fact, I wrote about it a couple of days ago in this forum. To me it smells like a bait-and-switch, but I don't understand the industry that well to know what is really going on. My step-daughter got fed up trying to purchase a ticket through Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity and Cheap Tickets, and wound up buying a ticket directly through Delta at the same fare that we paid for tickets through Cheap Tickets (we had no problem several weeks ago buying 4 tickets to London through Cheap Tickets).

A couple of things

1. These systems don't always use a "real time" interface. Sometimes they are calling data up from "cached" data and the fare isnt' really there. (Try clearing your cookies!)

2. Taxes. Is the difference taxes?

3. Unless it's (A) really cheaper or (B) an internline connection not supported by the airline, I would not recommend Orbitz, Cheap Tickets, Expedia etc. When the airline changes your flight or something else strange happens you get to call the Travel Agent. The airline does not "own" the reservation until your first flight. It's an online agency, think they have many bodies? Think they train those bodies?

Wow Carol, I thought the search engines were advanced enough not to bring old data up. Also the taxes were included and just like Freberta I also got fed up and started looking elsewhere.

I also went to the airline directly like you recommended Freberta, but it was more expensive. Finally after searching for 3 hours www.letsflycheaper.com got the tickets for me. they said they have wholesale prices, so thats why they got it for cheaper.

Carol, last question, what do you mean by bodies?

Did you have to call letsflycheaper to actually get the tickets?

Bodies would be the people that pick up the phone when you call with a question... don't expect much help fromt hese agencies.

Holland Ahoy, I am glad you finally got your tickets. I was surprised that my step-daughter was able to get the same $932 fare for her flight when she called Delta that we got using Cheap Tickets. I've always found the airlines to be more expensive.

My step-daughter originally was boxed into a flight to London from BWI via Detroit because her husband booked a flight on Delta using his Delta Sky Miles on that route. My step-daughter had to transfer her 9.000 Delta Sky Miles (for $70) so that he could reach the 90,000 Sky Miles he needed to buy the ticket. It would have been easier for everyone if he had enough miles to "buy" a ticket from BWI, IAD or DCA to London, but he didn't. However, my husband and I and our two teenage kids like to drive to NY and fly out of JFK (we visit family in NY before our flight). We were going to travel in 2 groups. Now, because the fare is so much cheaper from NY to London, she's coming with us to NY and her husband is traveling by himself to London via Detroit. In the end, it will be fine, but it was a lot of time wasted on the computer and on the phone last week trying to sort this mess out.

Glad to hear that you were able to get your ticket.

Don't use Orbitz! The prices they quote aren't always honored and the customer service first response is "Oh well, just cancel the reservation". I spent an hour trying to get Budget and Orbitz to agree to the price Orbitz supposedly guaranteed before I gave up and went back to my original Avis online reservation. It is more expensive, but I know I can trust Avis and that is worth it when I am driving my children late at night. I pray that the hotel room I just prepaid on Orbitz is actually there when I check in at 1 am after driving for 4 hours. Orbitz has completely lost my trust. Use the airline, hotel or car rental company website instead.

Jmcdo, call the hotel direct and confirm your room reservation. And I too have always reserved directly with the airline and hotel.

Hello jmcdo,

I am with Orbitz Customer Relations and would like to assist with your concerns. If you would send me your Orbitz Record Locator I will promptly review and respond.

orbitz - how will the poster send you the record locator number? You didn't leave a phone or email that can be verified.

The Orbitz Record Locator can be left in a reply to this post.

Most folks may not want to put their record locator number on a public website. It would be more helpful if you could post a way for people to send an e-mail or something to Orbitz instead of asking them to post private info on a public website.

You don't know that Orbitz is really with Orbitz. I wouldn't post or send private info.

I am not completely sure this new person, Orbitz, is for real and would not be very trustful.

i agree w/ noflyzone and others...

So far, the most responsive person I've contacted at Orbitz is their Customer Relations Director, Mr. Stephen Sedlak. His e-mail is [email protected] and also [email protected]. If you want to speak to someone who can actually DO something, I have found him more helpful than the people I've spoken with on the phone (who only give their 1st names & no way for me to send them any documentation supporting my claim/concern).

The snail mail address for him is 500 W. Madison St., Ste 1000, Chicago, IL 60661-2559.

There are two phone numbers for him, but I'm not sure whether either of them work as I was never successful calling either number (did get a reply to my e-mail to him tho).

Other Fodorites have indicated that contacting him has helped them get resolutions with Orbitz in another thread you can search for about Orbitz.

thanks HImom for the information. I keep a file of hard to find contact information and this one is definitely going in it!