Comments on: She didn’t ride off into the sunset after all

By: Erin

Erin — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:55:33 +0000

As a person that has worked in hotel reservations, and as a person who’s traveled, I understand the whole picture. I agree with the concept that you should LOOK on those third party websites, but then call the hotel directly. MOST hotels have a price Guarantee where they’ll match the price you found on third-party site. In some occasions, speaking to an agent at the hotel itself is more beneficial anyway because their could possibly be a promotion that you can only get by calling. Maybe it wouldn’t be a lower price, but maybe they’ll throw in, say, two breakfasts at the buffet or something similar. Then there’s also the benefit of booking directly, you may (not likely, but sometimes) get an upgrade you didn’t pay for. I can’t speak for other hotels, but with the one I worked at, we could not TOUCH a booking made by a wholesale site, for any reason. So if you paid for a standard room, you will get a standard room. However, if we were having a slower-than-normal night, a guest who paid for a standard might get a comp-upgrade to a standardplus or a deluxe…

Only when you’ve called the hotel to verify availability and found out that they can’t offer a price match, should you deal with the hassle of booking from a third-party. That’s my opinion anyway.

By: Allan J.

Allan J. — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 01:41:19 +0000

There’s a big difference between vouchers that have overt onerous rules and restrictions and blackout date, and vouchers that are simply dishonored even when the rules are followed.

I heartily agree with, and have preached advice on, looking on Travelocity, Expedia, etc. and bookind directly with the desired airline, car rental agency, etc.

By: Don

Don — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:33:27 +0000

Actually, the solution is rather simple and already in place — in the EU. Airlines are required to make all compensation in cash or checks. Vourchers are not allowed.
Problem solved.

By: Roy Bickley

Roy Bickley — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:00:10 +0000

To Robert, I book through a Web site due to the ease and speed. That said, last week I went to Expedia and spent 20 minutes going through all of the pages of ad-ons to finally reach the final screen stating that as the price could not be guaranteed, I should try again later. So I went to Orbitz and in less than 10 minutes I had the same flight for the same price booked and ticketed! Guess where I wioll go next time?!?

By: Robert Davis

Robert Davis — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:11:50 +0000

For the life of me I don’t understand why anyone books through a third party web site. Are the discounts that good? I’ve used Expedia and Travelocity to do research and then book directly with the hotel or car rental company. I’ve never seen where the travel companies offer anything of value. It seems to me the only thing you get with them is an additional chance for something to go wrong.
Bob

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 19:22:46 +0000

What people have to recognize is how Expedia & third party wholesalers often do business and how inventory is controlled. Expedia’s booking system interfaces with only a few hotel chains websites. Most hotel inventories are held in an Expedia extranet site – theoretically, Hyatt’s are all managed with a 2-way & a fax shouldn’t have been sent at all – http://press.expedia.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=217 – I know that Marriott and Hilton’s system interfaces seamlessly with Expedia – but it seems that Hyatt’s isn’t functioning as well as it should be. Because of the extranet, hotels that don’t have a 2-way connection with Expedia have to manually manage rates – which means if the hotel sells out & Expedia can continue to sell. Granted, this liability should be the hotels, not Expedia’s as they are a booking agent – however, Expedia’s system doesnt’ close out as quickly as it should. I would recommend to all of your readers to use sites like Expedia to research, but book directly with the hotels (generally, you pay the same rate, save the $5-10 booking fee, have better & more flexible cancellations policies, and the hotel isn’t taking a 20% hit on the commission charge that Expedia forces them on, so you won’t be considered a crappier customer – which, even though it shouldn’t happen, we all know it does…

By: Jenni Hammitt

Jenni Hammitt — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:40:42 +0000

Ah yes, Expedia strikes again. If a comapny screws up, they sould make it right for the customer. It is insult to injury when your apology also becomes a nightmare.