After searching for weeks to find good airline prices on several different websites and airlines I chose to go with Hotwire to purchase 5 airline tickets. That was my first mistake. The price was the best I had seen in weeks. I entered my dates of travel and waited for the best price to come up.
I then saw a better price to the left of the column. I clicked on it and it brought up a price $100.00 less than the previous one. Who doesn't want a good deal? I watched every box it brought up for the best times I could get that would make our trip as long as possible. Unfortunately I wasn't looking at my dates, why should I, I already entered them.
After purchasing the 5 tickets I realized not any more than 20 minutes later Hotwire had pulled a bait and switch on me. They baited me for the better price but in the process switched the dates I had entered, thus, departing one day later than we are supposed to. I called the company immediately.
They were unwilling to help in any way and told us we could change our tickets for a fee of $135.00 per ticket. I told them this was an honest mistake, I take responsibility for not noticing the dates had changed but wasn't there anything they could do. I was switched from one person to another who in turn got more and more rude.
Hotwire must pride themselves on having the worst customer service ever. I was then told to call the airline and maybe they could do something for me. I did just that. The airline was apologetic and said they could refund my money and rebook my flight, but, Hotwire does not allow this so when the custumer service rep tried to refund the reservation there was a hold on it and it wouldn't go through.
I was bounced back and forth from Hotwire to the airline for 6 hours one day 5 the next. Hotwire is unwilling to do any changes for me and the airline told me they were just passing me off to them because they didn't want to deal with me. I can see if someone needs to make a change a day or so later they would have to pay for it, (the non-refundable rule), but when it is a simple mistake and I called immediately after this posted I think they could offer a one time courtesy to their customers.
I will never go with Hotwire or any other 3rd party travel site again. Too bad I didn't know about all of the other things they have done to other people before I chose to use them. I am out $800.00 and have learned my lesson. Hopefully this doesn't happen to anyone else, but I'm sure it will, thats how they make their money.
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