Airfare.com Gets a Failing Grade from the BBB
A reader recently wrote us about a bad experience she had with Airfare.com.
I purchased airplane tickets from Airfare.com in Feb 09 for the trip in May 09 to Korea.
On March 09, I have filled out flight change form and faxed it to airfare.com about the tickets. The trip was for my brother's wedding. He broke up with his fiance and cancelled his wedding. On April 6th, I spoke with one of the representative over the phone and I could not understand exactly what he was trying to say. He kindly emailed me the summary upon my request. On April 6th 09, I sent out both a formal letter and an email to airfare.com again explaining the reason why I cannot make the trip happened. I have not received any response. On April 13th 09, I sent another email asking for updates regarding my ticket situation. I have not received any response again. On April 19th 09, I made a phone call to airfare.com and a representative whom I spoke with said that he has no idea.
It is too much of money (about $1,700) for me to give up the tickets. Please, please help me out.
Sincerely,
Eunny
Although there's nothing we can do to help Eunny get a refund on her ticket, we decided to take a look at Airfare.com to see if others have had similar experiences and it turns out Eunny is far from alone.
Ripoff Report featured number of complaints, including these:
Airfare.com Complete Ripoff
Airfare.com had charged me for booking the flight and then for cancelling the tickets for a flight, that airlines had cancelled. It was an absolute nightmare which costed me $ 375 for NOTHING. I would ask anybody and everybody to stay away from airfare.com.
Indypacer
Indianapolis, Indiana
U.S.A.
Airfare.com - Wholesale Travel Center Leave you stranded and cost you additional money
The rep spoke in broken English, and was overall quite rude. He said they would email me with an update. I asked for a supervisor and he replied that there were none. I told him I would be contacting the Better Business Bureau, and the rep did not care. As of now, I have still not received any update from airfare.com. I have since filed a report with the Better Business Bureau.
This has been the worst experience I have ever had with a travel company, and probably my worst experience with any form of customer service.
Andre
Petersburg, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
Wholesale Travel Center, Airfare.com Avoid using this company if you want a valid flight
DO NOT do business with Wholesale Travel Center. I understand how airline have recently changed where and when they are flying but to not contact a client is un called for and unprofessional. Let alone the way in which I was treated when calling.
Lynn
Casper, Wyoming
U.S.A.
When we checked with the Better Business Bureau, we learned Airfare.com is owned by Wholesale Travel Centre Inc. of Bethesda, Maryland, and also does business as "Airfare" and "WTC." We also learned that the BBB has logged 116 complaints against the company in the past 36 months, and gives Airfare.com an F rating, which means:
"We strongly question the company’s reliability for reasons such as that they have failed to respond to complaints, their advertising is grossly misleading, they are not in compliance with the law’s licensing or registration requirements, their complaints contain especially serious allegations, or the company’s industry is known for its fraudulent business practices."
The reasons for the failing grade include:
-The number of complaints filed
-A failure to respond to the complaints
-The number of unresolved complaints
-The overall complaint history with BBB