Imagine you complete your flight arrangements through a third-party booking site, and at the last minute, you receive notice that your flight has been canceled. They claim the only solution is to book a new flight with another airline to reach your destination on time, causing an upcharge to your original flight. With current pilot and employee shortages, this issue can easily sound legitimate.
But what if it turns out that after you’ve made the new ticket purchase, the airlines never canceled your flight, or that the original flight was never booked for you?
Unfortunately, both scenarios are becoming more common, and some consumers have turned to the Better Business Bureau’s Scamtracker page to help warn others.
“I thought that I bought airline tickets through a company that sells at discounted prices,” one person recently said in a Scamtracker post. “They called me shortly after I bought my tickets, that I believed was with United. Someone called and said that the flight had been canceled and wanted permission to put me on another flight with another airline for $80 more. I thought maybe so since airlines are short pilots. It turned out that United Airlines never canceled a flight. I tried to call this company and leave a message. I tried to email them to no avail. Then it turns out that the airline was unaware of this ticket purchase. I am disputing with my credit card.”
In other versions, consumers share that they did an online search for cheap flights and came across what seemed like a great deal with a major airline. After they booked the flight they received a confirmation message but never actually received a ticket.
When booking a trip, the Better Business Bureau recommends the following tips:
– Research the airline: See if it uses third-party booking sites and compare flights and prices. Booking directly with the airline can help you avoid third-party booking scams, but you’ll want to be sure you’ve reviewed the airline’s travel and cancellation terms and conditions before purchasing your ticket.
– Verify the booking site: If you still decide to purchase tickets from a third-party site, be sure to read all the fine print, cancellation polices, refund policies and research the relationship the booking site has with the airlines. If you need to make a change, call the number where you purchased your original ticket or go to the airline’s website and contact them directly.
– Check the Better Business Bureau: Research complaints, reviews and ratings for a booking site before making a purchase with it. If you’ve spotted a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker. Your report can help others avoid falling victim to scams. Find more information about scams and how to avoid them at BBB.org/AvoidScams.
– Check the website security: Before entering any personal or financial information look for the https:// in the website URL, which distinguishes that you’re on a secure site. Use a credit card to retain the ability to dispute and cancel the transaction.
– Keep documentation: Save copies of confirmation messages, email communication, text messages, anything related to the transaction. Verify the customer service number provided in the communication.
The Better Business Bureau also offers the following tips to help you make your travel run as smoothly as possible:
– Check requirements for domestic and international travel. Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S for domestic and international travel. In Canada, look for Canadian travel advisories.
– Make sure everyone who is traveling has the appropriate ID. The new deadline for Real ID enforcement is May 3, 2023; however, make certain parties traveling together have a current compliant ID as required by each state.
– Read all cancellation policies carefully. Not all situations require a full refund of the ticket value and fees if your flight is canceled. Each online travel agency, airline and broker is different.
– Book tickets only after reviewing travel restrictions. Save time and stress by reading the updated status of restrictions on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
– Consider trip insurance. Have a complete understanding of what the policy does and does not cover.
– Be an informed traveler. Refer to the Department of Transportation website for details on consumer issues, filing complaints and other aviation information.
– Avoid hidden fees. Read the fine print!
For more travel related tips, you can contact your Better Business Bureau at 423-266-6144 or visit bbb.org/news.
Michele Mason is president of the Better Business Bureau in Chattanooga.