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Onetravel.com- why do these "discount" sites do this?

Onetravel.com- why do these "discount" sites do this?

Old Mar 2nd, 2005, 02:18 PM
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Onetravel.com- why do these "discount" sites do this?

I got extremely excited today when the flights that I've been researching turned up at un unbelievable price on this site ($555, Newark to Istanbul, return Lamezia to Newark in June). So I go forward with the process of booking, and AFTER I enter my credit card details it then states that this fare is sold out. I've experienced similar things on Orbitz, but at least they tell you before you enter your payment info.!

Then I called the company, and the lowest rate they could find was for $1500. What a sham! I've never booked airfare through these sites before, is this how they draw people in? Are these good fares ever real? I guess I should have realized that it was too good to be true.

Sorry, I had to vent....
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Old Mar 2nd, 2005, 04:35 PM
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Just an update- I've been a maniac for hours, and airlineconsolidator.com seems to actually have the rates that they advertise. I bought the 2 tickets, they were $722 each. I received a confirmation e-mail, so hopefully I won't receive a follow-up one saying that these fares don't exist!!!

These same flights were priced by Alitalia at $950.
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Old Mar 2nd, 2005, 05:14 PM
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Congratulations AP. Yes, booking flights and hotels can be both frustrating and exciting. Its all part of the experience I suppose ...
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Old Mar 3rd, 2005, 02:37 AM
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Topping
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Old Mar 3rd, 2005, 03:09 AM
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Believe me, finding out that a fare "no longer exists" while you are in the process of booking it has happened to me more than once..on EXPEDIA...and recently when booking a fare through OneTravel they couldn't find the fare when I talked to them on the phone so I hung up and found it on THEIR SITE myself and booked it.

All i can say is persistence AND looking at EVERY possible site helps with getting the lowest fares as opposed to listening to the self-appointed "experts" who are constantly posting here about when fares will go down..yeah, sure...
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Old Mar 3rd, 2005, 03:38 AM
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Congrats on getting a fare you're happy with. Sounds like an exciting trip.
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Old Mar 3rd, 2005, 05:02 AM
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Hi AP,

Considering that you are one of thousands of people looking for fantastic bargains, you shouldn't be too surprised that in the 5 min it took you to book the flight, the few available tickets were sold.
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Old Mar 3rd, 2005, 05:04 AM
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I have went through that too on onetravel, once with it starting with a great fare but then jumping in $20 to $50 increments through 7 cycles of entering cc and contact info. This has happened more than once now.

I've bought from them in the past and think they're legit if you can actually book a ticket, but I do personally feel dangle a number of "non-existant" fares in order to show up early on the aggregate searches like sidestep or kayak, but that the fares didn't really exist (perhaps one ticket at that price, just to be legal)
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Old Mar 3rd, 2005, 06:26 AM
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AP6380, Clifton and others, can you reserve your seats at the same time when you buy your tickets through airlineconsolidator and onetravel.com? I've been to a few sites that only let you book seats the day of travel. Thanks for any information. Deborah
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