BRAVOFLY - SCAM
 

Booked my flight from Brussels to Newark through Bravofly (US 751 on 5/12/14). Many of us missed the flight due to an unprecedented traffic accident en route to the airport. US Airways could not reschedule my flight, however, because it was booked through Bravofly. Bravofly refused to reschedule my flight because “as per policy” they can only reschedule flights up to 24 hours in advance (no emergency assistance, apparently.) Just to speak to a representative (customer care is a joke) they require a credit card and charge you over 6 euros. The representative could not help me (and barely spoke English). My partner (who lives in New York) found a (free) 917 number and has called every weekday since (Friday, however, even though they claim to have office hours, they did not pick up after multiple attempts). They promised to send a voucher but couldn’t clarify WHEN we would receive a refund. Every time we asked how long it would take, they gave us a vague answer. When we asked to speak to the manager (TWICE) they wouldn’t put us through (once claiming that we wouldn’t understand the manager as he “only speaks Italian”) and continued to promise multiple times that we would have the voucher emailed "within the hour”. We finally received our voucher and it was for 46 euros. When I called to ask where the rest of the money was, the customer service rep told me that that was the amount US Airways agreed upon (lies) and that the flight was non-refundable but they were able to give me the tax back in credit form. Then, they told me I could call US Airways or gave me a UK phone number (??) to deal with the “rest of it” and that we would not get any more back from Bravofly. Moral of the story: I now believe the other reviews. DO NOT book with this company as you are taking a CHANCE with your money, and in our case, with over $800 that we will never see again. Bravofly has ruined our wedding plans and stolen our money. They are SCAM ARTISTS and I am shocked that the Better Business Bureau hasn’t shut them down yet.

The BBB has no authority to shut anyone down.

OK - I'm confused.

You missed your flight (not the fault of the airline or the ticket seller)and now you are mad they won't refund the cost of your flights? Was this a tour - and you were sold the flight as part of a package and they didn't get you to the airport on time? Or was it just plane tickets.

Why would you think you would get a refund when you were a no show. Typically if you are a no show (that is do not tell the PRIOR to departure) you have to buy a new ticket at the walk up price.

This the reason to buy travel insurance.

And besides the fact that the BB can't shut down a business - I don't understand why you think these people owe you a new ticket when you didn't show up for the flight.

Did you have travel insurance ? If the "unprecedented traffic accident " is well documented, insurance might cover the missed flight.
I commiserate with you on Bravo Fly after my own awful experience. For an online travel agency, they are extremely difficult to contact, and twice rang me in the early hours of the morning due to not considering time differences.
I learnt a lesson from this, and now only book directly with the airline after checking routes through Skyscanner or similar.
I hope you can sort the wedding plans.
Good luck.

Even some "travel insurance" policies might not necessarily cover this sort of thing.

The 'insurance' that is most likely to work in this sort of situation is the purchase of a full fare ticket. Discounted tickets are invariably "no show, no refund'. Bravofly may in fact be dreadful in responding to problems/complaints, but that doesn't make them scam artists. The OP (and all of us) should read the terms and conditions carefully before any major purchase, and yes, we are taking a chance and sometimes get unlucky. Would anyone expect a refund of the ticket price if they failed to show for a theater performance or sports event?

<i> Bravofly may in fact be dreadful in responding to problems/complaints, but that doesn't make them scam artists. The OP (and all of us) should read the terms and conditions carefully before any major purchase, and yes, we are taking a chance and sometimes get unlucky. Would anyone expect a refund of the ticket price if they failed to show for a theater performance or sports event? </i>

<b> EXACTLY </b?

Dear AuriandDave,

We are very sorry to hear about the fact that you were unable to make your original flight due to a traffic incident.

As some of the other posters have mentioned here the refundable amount in these cases are often low due to the fact that they are considered no-shows (where generally only the taxes are refundable). In all cases the amount does depend on the terms and conditions of the ticket and the airline, likewise for changes.

We would however like to investiage whether your request could have been managed any better. In order to do so could you please send us your 9-digit Bravofly ID here - don't worry this is not confidential information.

Many thanks, Sofia

Maybe I am not understanding this clearly but aren't you responsible for making sure you get to the airport with enough time to spare in case there is an accident or other unforseen circumstance?

Because DH and I live so far from the Bay Area airports, we always spend the night before an international flight in a hotel very close to the airport. Even if we are flying First or Business class (which usually gives you a little more slack) we make damn sure we get there at least three hours before a flight.

And if this is some kind of discount service, why would you think they would refund your money? Like my later father used to tell me; "You get what you pay for!"

Best,
Lisa

thanks for sharing this; i appreciating you

thanks for sharing this; i appreciating you

Bravofly, Last Minute.com or whatever they call themselves, stink.
This is my story and some ideas you can try if you have suffered too.
Last February (2015) I booked a flight for myself and OH to go to Tenerife South from Gatwick. Unfortunately, we had to return from Tenerife North to take advantage of Bravofly's 'cheap' offer.
Our holiday started with a flight to Tenerife on 19th December 2015 and it was fine until we tried to come home. First we took a taxi from South to North for our early morning flight. However, when we got there we couldn't see our flight listed. This, we learned, was because it had been cancelled 3 months beforehand.
Bravofly didn't tell us.
So there we were with 48 hours until the next flight and no help whatever from Iberia. Stressed as we were we had to find a hotel that we could afford at the last minute; it wasn't easy or cheap in the capital of Santa Cruz.
When we returned home we asked Bravofly for our money to be refunded. They said it was the responsibility of the airline (Iberia) and refused to talk to us. They actually put the phone down on us on two consecutive days as soon as I said my booking reference.
So I thought I'd make a claim in the small claims court. I couldn't. Bravofly.co.uk's head office is in Switzerland which is outside the EU for legal purposes.
I phoned ABTA; Bravofly is not a member. I phoned ATOL re Iberia and ATOL told me that the fault lay with Bravofly.
So what could I do
Had I booked by credit card I would have had a redress against the card company but I booked by debit card so I have started a debit card dispute with my bank. After all I didn't get what I paid for.
Next I contacted the European Consumer Network who signposted me to the FCAB Switzerland. The FCAB said they knew of the company and were considering legal action but could not help me as an individual.
So as soon as I have heard from my bank re the dispute, I will be in touch with my insurance company.
What I do want to encourage is that people who are affected negatively by Bravofly or lastminute.com go directly to the FCAB via telephone on +41 58 462 20 00 or you can write to them at their postal address: Federal Consumer Affairs Bureau, Einsteinstrasse 2, 3003 Berne, Switzerland.or you can email them at this has to be removed but you can google it.
I hope you will win out against these unfair practices. Good luck.

Such a ridiculous story. It's your responsibility to check on flights, for pete's sake! If the flight was indeed cancelled 3 months earlier, what's YOUR excuse for not having at least looked online before you headed off for the airport? Who does that?

I can't with these ranting posts. Doesn't matter if you paid with credit card, cash or wampum, or booked with Bravofly, Iberia, or Flights R Us, no one would give you your money back. You don't deserve a refund, end of story.

Um, how about checking/confirming your flight? I have been flying since the last ice age - 1975 - and the rule was always confirm your flight at lest 24 hours in advance.

And if the flight is bought LONG before - do some sort of checks in between.

Also who pays for something like a flight with a debit card? That's what credit cards are for. Debit cards are for convenience buying things at the market or the drug store or dry cleaner - not large purchases where you want the protection a credit card provides.

Two good points, nytraveler. I can't imagine someone not checking their flight at all in three month's time. That's simply crazy. And if nothing else, why wouldn't you check your flight within a day of flying just to be sure the times hadn't changed as they so often do? That's crazy too.

Maybe we're seeing a pattern here. Perhaps Bravofly attracts people who are totally ignorant about travel -- and that's how they stay in business. Or why there are so many complaints about them.