CheapTickets.com
Ripoff BOHICA (Bend Over, Here It Comes Again): Inflated prices, hidden fees, and terrible customer service Colorado Springs Internet

Surfing CheapTickets.com, I found what appeared to be a reasonably-priced ticket on Sun Country Airlines (note, this report is not against Sun County, which I believe to be a fine and reputable corporation—albiet poor judgement in partnering with CheapTickets.com). I checked Sun Country's website and saw the ticket for about the same price. So, I proceeded to purchase the ticket from CheapTickets.com. BOHICA (Bend Over, Here It Comes Again)! As I proceeded with the purchase process, fees were added—some that were obvious (fees that I erronously assumed Sun Country would also add), and some that were not.By the time I purchased the ticket, my $179 ticket ended up costing me $235. Among other things, this increase included a $20 shipping fee for paper tickets—an option that I am quite sure I never selected.

Did I mention that I purchased the ticket for my father? I had entered his name as the traveler, but when the confirmation e-mail arrived, it's headline was "Here is [my name]'s itinerary, created at CheapTickets." This would startle most people, because it should not have been my itinerary, but rather my father's. So, I searched the CheapTickets.com website for a solid 20 minutes until I found their well-hidden customer service number. I called and had to hit "0" a few times to get a customer service rep.

Customer service? This training must be lacking at CheapTickets. The rep did confirm that even though the e-mail said it was my itinerary, that my father was the traveler (to my sigh of relief). She also mentioned that I would be receiving paper tickets (the first I was aware of this) and that I paid a $20 shipping fee for these. Our conversation went in circles for a minute, with me politely insisting that I never requested the paper tickets, and that maybe the website had glitched. Her response was that sometimes paper tickets were required and, "It's more like you didn't pay attention." Wonderful customer service response, eh?

Now that my blood pressure was up a few notches, I went back to Sun Country's website and walked through the their purchase process, paying much closer attention and stopping just short of executing an order for an identical ticket. Their price with all fees...$164. A $71 difference! I then called Sun Country and asked if they only use paper tickets. They said they use both. I explained my plight, and the Sun Country rep concurred that my experience with CheapTickets.com was not unique, that CheapTickets.com tends to force paper tickets and add extra fees. She urged me (for obvious reasons) to make future purchases directly from Sun Country.

Note to Sun Country Airlines—why are you partering with CheapTickets.com if you are aware of their underhanded practices?

Bottom-line, I was ripped off. Bohica!

Company: CheapTickets.com
Country: USA
State: Nationwide
Site: cheaptickets.com

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