After spending considerable time on Travelocity's website planning a trip for my mother and two children, I attempted to book the trip online. Despite the 13 different flights listed on the date of departure with a base price (exclusive of taxes and fees) of $385 or $386, when I tried to book a flight the $385/$386 base price mysteriously increased over $55 per person.
Thinking I had made an error I tried to book and re-book various flights a number of times without success. I contacted Travelocity by phone but got nothing but excuses and lies. I first talked to "Jack." After I explained the situation, I was told that I didn't understand taxes and fees were added to the price - I did understand this and had pointed out previously that the base ticket price was mysteriously increasing. I was then told that the airlines were increasing their ticket prices. I said I found it hard to believe that all the airlines were increasing fares for their Tampa, Florida to Grand Rapids, Michigan route at 11:15 on a Wednesday evening. Jack had no explanation for this or why the Travelocity website didn't reflect the new and allegedly "correct" higher base price until after a flight was selected and the consumer was in the midst of the booking process.
I asked to speak with a supervisor and "Shov" came on the line. He was even less helpful and repeated the same ridiculous explanations. I pointed out that the incorrect prices on their website seemed like a scam and a deceptive trade practice. Shov then offered to book the flights for me - when he gave me the price it still included a base price higher than that shown for the flight on the company's website - and Shov even added the booking fee for providing me this useless assistance. I again explained that he was misunderstanding the problem and that I was not pleased with the incorrect prices for the 13 flights I had considered on their website. I
Asked to speak to Shov's supervisor and my request was flat out refused. He said he was a supervisor, and I patiently explained that I understood he was a supervisor but that I wanted to speak to his boss. Shov claimed he didn't have one. When I inquired as to whether he was in charge of the entire Travelocity organization, he told me there was no one above him. Of course, this was equally unbelievable and only further highlighted the lies the Travelocity staff will resort to in an effort to hide the company's deceptive pricing reflected on their website. Not surprisingly, both Priceline and Expedia still offered the $385/$386 base price - I guess they hadn't heard Jack and Shov's wild tale about all the airlines raising their fees for the flights I needed.
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