I recently returned from an international flight that I booked through Cheaptickets. Cheaptickets irresponsibly sold me a flight itinerary with a connection that was literally impossible to make. I didn't know until I was in the midst of my flight that there was never even a chance that I would make it on the second leg of my flight.
The flight was from the UK to DC with a layover in Montreal. First off, if you book a ticket through Cheaptickets you cannot check-in with your carrier online ahead of your flight, and the electronic kiosks at the airport won't let you check in either. You have to wait in line for a person at the airport.inconvenient, but only the start of my troubles.
In the UK I could only check in for my flight to Montreal. My bag was checked through to DC, but I was told that in Montreal I would need to check in for the second leg of my flight. I could not actually check in for the flight until I was physically at the check-in counter in Montreal. My itinerary allowed a 1 hr and 20 minute layover in Montreal.
The flight from the UK to Montreal arrived 10 minutes late.By the time I de-planed, 20 minutes had passed. Next, I had to clear Canadian customs (which was never identified when I booked the ticket). This added another 15 minutes.By the time I cleared customs and went immediately to the check in counter for my flight to DC, 40 minutes of the 80 minute layover had been taken up. Check-in for the flight closed 1 hr prior to the flight and zero agents were available to check me in. Needless to say, I missed the flight and spent the next 9 hours trying to retrieve my baggage and get home.
My issue is that Cheaptickets did not understand the ticket it sold me. They gave me no warning that I would have to clear customs in Canada or check-in in person. Even if my flight from the UK had arrived on-time, I never had a chance to make the second leg of my flight. It was an impossible ticket, and grossly irresponsible of Cheaptickets to sell. I will never use their booking service again, and I would dissuade anyone else from using them as well.
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