Buyer Beware Expedia And Orbitz

SusanMarie813 · April 3, 2015

Hi all,

I am attending a wedding next week in the bahamas. Yesterday I got an email saying that I got moved out of my hotel to someother hotel.

I spent the last 24 hours fighting and complaining even asking for refund which will not even cover the costs. I booked through Orbitz and my friend is booked through Expedia and the same thing.

Buyer beware, you are NOT guarnteed with these sites. Your guests may save a few bucks but in the long run it is not worth it. Use a Travel Agent or the hotel to secure a room block for your guests.

Thank god I did this for my wedding. I have two couples that did this for my wedding and I hope they don't get booted but I warned them ahead of time.

Save yourself and your guests alot of time and do not book outside internet places. I can tell you I will never use any of these sites again. Now that I know they do not gaurntee your stay.

calgarybride2015 · April 3, 2015

Oh no!!! Did you sort it out?

Unfortunately it happens with airlines too - in Canada we have package deals and I have heard of it happening with major carriers too.

The resorts are over selling. It isn't always the airlines fault as they have access to what's 'apparently' available and some get bumped. Unsure who they decide to bump but it does happen even when booking thru TAs, actual airlines and the resort themselves.

I booked my wedding thru Air Canada and my TA told me the resort wasn't available anymore not even to book separately (my guests would find their own flight) but then West Jet was still selling our package. It runs a little deeper than we appreciate I think.

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Edited April 3, 2015 by calgarybride2015

JenniferH114 · April 3, 2015

@SusanMarie813 - It's not Expedia or Orbitz, per se, it's the resorts. The websites are just being forced to move their bookings. They aren't doing that "just because." We did use a TA for our wedding, but, otherwise, we always book through Travelocity (because the prices can't be beaten) and - knock on wood - we have never had an issue.

That being said, it doesn't make the situation any less of a nightmare to deal with. I'm sorry to hear that it happened and I hope you are able to get it resolved.

TAkathy · April 4, 2015

Yes, it is the hotels - however, there is a priority list for properties for which guests to "walk" (the term used to decide which patrons with reservations will be "walked" to another property due to over-booking). Online sites (OTA's) are at the top of this list ALWAYS.

Properties do not want to have clients who have booked directly with them unhappy and unlikely to return so it is always better to book directly with the property - and through a TA who works with Tour Operators with direct relationships with the hotels.

Unfortunately, over-booking occurs frequently in the travel industry. You decrease your chances of being a victim by avoiding the temptation of an "incredible deal" on a property through an cheap online wholesaler.

SusanMarie813 · April 15, 2015

So we went to the hotel Orbitz put us in and we had no reservation. Suffice it to say I was very upset. After hours of calls in the Bahamas we finally got into a hotel. I'll never do it again.

TammyWright · May 1, 2015

This happens more often than people know.

Kathy is right. OTA (online travel agencies) usually have the lowest priority if a hotel is sold out and we hear about these stories often (do a google search for "expedia cancelled room") and you can read them.

We have heard from resorts that the OTA's do not always confirm the space and just book the room without seeing if one is available so that is one reasons those rooms get "walked".

The rooms that are least likely to get walked are group blocks because the resorts understand that there is much more at stake with groups bookings if a few rooms get moved than if it is just an individual room on vacation.

We have great working relationships with the resorts we sell so it is unlikely for this to happen to our bookings.