The company https://www.cheapflightsfares.com/ is engaging in a bait-and-switch practice in the attempt to extort money from their would-be clients. It's likely that a significant number of people are falling pray to this.

Yesterday (3/27/24), I went on kayak.com to look for tickets to fly to Dallas on April 7th so my partner and I could watch the eclipse on April 8th. Due to the lateness of the reservations, fares were pretty expensive for reasonable departure times ($600 per person, one way from OAK to DAL - return tickets had already been purchased the night before). Cheaper fares were available for unreasonably long travel times (20+hrs). However, amongst these, one fare stood out: $722.16 for both of us, leaving early in the morning and arriving in the afternoon. It was a no-brainer, we thought. We clicked on the link, which took us to cheapflightsfares.com and we proceeded to enter our information and credit card information. At the end of this the system returned with a page that said "Congratulations! Your Flight booking has been confirmed." There were no disclaimers on the page. I have saved a screenshot of the page. Reasonably, this led me to believe that it was all done, so I went ahead and books a rental car and hotel.

This morning, I saw an email sent later in the evening yesterday, which said that I needed to call them because there were issues with my ticket fare. I called them and they said that the ticket fare was no longer valid, but I could get the same itinerary for $1023.14! I explained to them that the site had already told me that the booking was confirmed. They told me that it was not, and that they had not charged my card yet. While we were talking, I went on kayak and made the same search, which gave the same results as the previous day $722.16. I told them about this, and they said that it takes some time for the ticket to be updated on the site. I asked how long, and they said 24 hours. I told them that, given that all prices were already high the day before, it meant that the system hadn't updated yet the day before and it would now be about 48 hours that it hasn't updated. I told them it was evident that they were engaging in bait-and-switch practices, targeting vulnerable clients who feel that they've already sunk costs into the trip.

I spent a while on the phone with them explaining that this was bait-and-switch and that they were engaging in fraud. They argued that it was not so because they had not charged me yet. Finally, after an hour of back and forth, they issued me a ticket for the same price, but for a longer duration flight.

Given that the offer was still available today, I suspect that they are engaging in a practice of bait and switch, targeting vulnerable clients. I believe that if you investigated them, you could find many, many examples where they were successful at extorting money from other clients, perhaps clients how had greater urgency to travel, or clients who did not think they had a recourse. Regardless, I would like to bring your attention to what is likely an company that engages in bait-and-switch to extort money from their clients.

I purchased two round trip tickets through Cheap Tickets on Condor Airlines from San Antonio, TX to Frankfurt Germany for 31 May 24 to 14 Jun 24 and bought two other tickets from Cheap Tickets on KLM Airlines which was supposed to be for 01 Jun 24 630 pm from Frankfurt GM to Amsterdam with a connection to Southampton England at 0855 am 02 Jun 24 to take a 12 day cruise on RCCL Anthems of the Seas returning on 14 24 Jun a return flight on KLM Airlines to Amsterdam back to Frankfurt GM. I booked a hotel for the night in Amsterdam but had to cancel when I received email that KLM cancelled our flight and changed it to 01 Jun 24 1440 which I accepted I had no other choice at the time. I wasn't aware my tickets were nonrefundable until I tried to make changes on the KLM Airline and to book my seats for Condor Airlines. From 19 Feb 24 I contacted Cheap Tickets for assistance to help me with making changes with the Airline tickets and was to I needed to contact Condor Airlines in which they explained I had ECO nonrefundable and nonchangeable tickets and that I could not pay extra to change the dates only option I had was to cancel. I even did what Cheap Tickets said when I called several times that they were sending my request for refunds for the cost of all the tickets which came to $3,153.56 dollars. They offered me a $100 Expedia credit for the Amsterdam and the hotel since it was their fault for the change in flights. They said they could not refund me for the KLM flight because I accepted the change in the flight which I had no other choice but to accept through the email they sent. I had booked my seats and luggage and Condor said they would refund that part since I booked them through the airline. With all of this that Cheap Tickets put me through for the last 3 days and not even wanting to provide me with the corporate telephone number or email address they told me I needed to contact Expedia if I had an issue because they fall under them. I've had to cancel my cruise in England, transportation to and from the Airport, and hotel as well. I was willing to pay extra for a change to the Condor flight and Condor Airlines would not even do that so that I would not lose thousands of dollars I paid for my tickets. I was told if I had paid for Reg ECO tickets if would have included my luggage, overhead, seats, and meals which was never presented to me through Cheap Tickets and cost less by going directly through Condor Airlines. Cheap Tickets lied about contacting any airlines regarding my issues and with being under so my pressure from both Condor Airlines and Cheap Tickets I cancelled my reservations in which I could have used the tickets to Germany to visit my family but once my mind cleared and I realized later I phoned to see if Condor Airlines would allow me to have the tickets reissued for the same time frame they said since I cancelled there was nothing they could do. Anyone in my position would have probably done the same thing (stress makes you do things you usually wouldn't do). I would tell anyone not to use Cheap Tickets for any purchases because they aren't reliable and trust worthy. They keep you on hold for so long expecting you to hang up or get discouraged. I do have all of my receipts for all the purchases and cancellations I had to make. I pray this doesn't happen to anyone else. The loss is devastating but we will be okay but others in this situation may not. I just wish I hadn't been so upset and emotional that I would have been able to not cancel the tickets in order to have seen my son and his family in Germany which we haven't seen since the pandemic. I will provide if I need to I have many documents.

Had an extremely bad experience. Bought 2 round-trip tickets to Barcelona through Cheaptickets. I booked tickets that included hand luggage and a personal item so I wouldn't need to check in any baggage.

I thought everything was sorted until 22 hours before the flight when online check-in opened, and I found out that the hand luggage, which I had paid for with my ticket, was not included at all!

It was half past midnight, so I immediately contacted them the next morning. First, I tried the online chat, but I got stuck with the chatbot. Then I attempted to contact them via WhatsApp in Dutch, but the conversation was extremely unhelpful; the only thing the representative kept saying was that it was not Cheaptickets' fault and that the airline was responsible for baggage. (That's all well and good, but Cheaptickets happily sold me tickets with hand luggage! That's what they advertised. After all, I'm buying a plane ticket from Cheaptickets, not from Vueling). The conversation abruptly ended because the Cheaptickets colleague thought it was perfectly fine to disappear in the middle of our conversation and not say anything more.

Third attempt: calling them. I could only speak in English, which was not a problem as I speak English well. A friendly man assured me, not once, not twice, but more than three times that I not only had a personal item but also a hand luggage suitcase per ticket! Great! I asked him to tell me where he found this information so I could verify it because my boarding pass clearly stated that I only had a personal item, no hand luggage. He repeatedly insisted that I definitely had hand luggage and that if I had to pay extra at the airport, I could get this additional payment refunded by sending the receipt to Cheaptickets. He also said he would send me an email with a screenshot showing that I was entitled to hand luggage and the confirmation from Cheaptickets that I had this right.
Email in the inbox, ready for vacation, let the party begin.

Mistake. Because once I arrived at the gate, I had to pay €60 euros for 1 hand luggage suitcase, and it had to be checked in as well, causing significant delays after landing as we had to wait for our luggage.

I immediately forwarded the receipt and the story to Cheaptickets, and they initially sent me an email saying, "We apologize for this experience; we will look into it." Then I heard nothing for several days, and when I asked for an update, I received the familiar response, "There's nothing we can do about it; it's the airline's responsibility."

So now I'm in Barcelona, Cheaptickets sold me a product different from what was advertised, treated me incorrectly and extremely rudely, and I have to pay an extra €60 per flight to bring my luggage with me. On the return journey, it might be even more money! Completely unacceptable.

The way they can deceive people so blatantly and handle it without any shame is truly bizarre and unacceptable. I will never buy a ticket from Cheaptickets again! You never know what could go wrong, and when something does go wrong, you get conflicting answers and end up in a terrible situation! Unbelievable!

I'd give negative stars if it was an option. I booked a rental car through #cheaptickets.com for a trip in Las Vegas. The car was actually booked for a car from #Payless car rental, but of course when we arrived, there was not a single person at their counter. So the sign said go over to AVIS for Payless bookings. Once there, the employee sticks my license in some white box with "365" on it. Supposedly this box will return a smiley face light for "good" or red frowny face for "bad". Like, wtf? Anyway, it kept returning the red frown face, so Avis would not let me rent my car, that I already paid for. They could not give a reason for the red frown either. Side note, I got through Tampa Int'l TSA Pre-check with the same exact license (and also through Las Vegas's TSA Pre-check) and they take that same exact license and run it through their own machine that checks it. I have to assume that TSA tech is a little more sophisticated than smiley/frowny 365 box tech. Anyway, the manager at Avis said she can't do anything to help me, that I have to call Cheaptickets, which I do. Well they tell me it's Avis who can fix the problem. So after much back and forth, Cheaptickets finally tells me to get another car, and they will issue a refund. Except, when i get back home, i get an EMAIL telling me:

"We have attempted to contact Payless to request a refund for your itinerary 724XXXXXXXXX.

After reviewing your case details and information provided, we are unable to provide you with a refund on this occasion.

As shown on the car rental rules and restrictions during your booking and send with your confirmation, It is required to present a valid driver's license in the driver's name.

At time of pick up, the driver must present a valid, U.S.-issued driver's license and credit card or debit card at participating locations in the driver's name. If the driver's license is not U.S.-issued, the driver must present his or her driver's license and passport from the same country as the driver's license or Canadian residents may present a Canadian enhanced license in the driver's name."

But, I DID provide a valid U.S. driver's license. They saw it with their own 2 eyes. I have no tickets or anything on my DL. I got denied my car, AND screwed out of $400.00 because they relied on some piece of crap smiley/frowny box to determine the validity of my DL. And now neither Avis, Payless, nor Cheaptickets will do anything to fix this. I honestly feel like Avis is scamming me, so i'd rent another rental, and then they could keep the extra payment. Stay away from this company and Payless. I will be posting this same exact review for Payless and Cheaptickets. I'll NEVER use any of these companies again, and i was an AVID user of Cheaptickets.

I purchased a flight through this company on the 14th of February 2017. I immediately received a "confirmation e-mail". Upon booking, I was told that I would revieve my airline tickets, electronically via e-mail. I never received any e-tickets for my flight. That same day, an authorization from "agent fee ******* air tickets NY S**************" for $261.20, which is the quoted price I was given for the tickets, was posted to my account. The next day, (February 15th) I receive a phone call and a voicemail from a representative from Cheapticketsdeal, stating "there is an issue with my booking" and was asked to call them back. I called the company and spoke with a representative and was not given a name. After some back and forth banter, I let the woman know I wanted to cancel my flight and no longer wanted to be receiving their service. I was told I would get a cancellation e-mail, confirming that it had been processed. I never received an e-mail confirming this, however the charge for $261.20 had been removed from my checking account. Two days later, on February 17th, the same transaction "agent fee ******* air tickets NY S**************" hard posted to my checking account for $261.20. I immediately called the company and spoke with a woman named Mira, I asked why I hadn't received a cancellation e-mail and was told that the transaction had already been cancelled. I asked to receive the cancellation e-mail and hung up the phone. 10 minutes later I still hadn't received anything confirming this, so I called back to be re-directed to their "supervisor" named Leo. He was very unprofessional, profanities were exchanged on both ends before I abruptly hung up the call. Then immediately received a call back from a different 800 number *******026), upon answering heard "yes, it's me $#*!", immediately hung up and blocked all phone numbers associated with this business. Within minutes I received an e-mail from this company stating my charge was "declined due to detected fraud". I have still not been reimbursed the $261.20, that this company has authorized from my account. I have already filed a scam report with BBB, submitted review to Consumer Affairs and filed fraud with my bank. IF YOUVE HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE PLEASE DO THE SAME!

I booked a flight multiple city's for May 13,2016 and I was told I have 10 days to change my flight at no cost if I got the $50 insurance which I paid for well I tried to extend my flight 2 days with in my 10 days to be told I can't extend it unless I pay 275 and $138 reset fee even tough I said I got the insurance guess what the crappy insurance is only for medical reasons and you have to pay all fees out of your own pocket first and they pay you back if they see fit to the matter and a dr has to say you were sick and sign papers make a statement saying so and don't even ask for tie money back because they will charge you 250 bucks and your money stays with them for future use with in a year and than if you use your credit they change you 100 bucks and if you ask to refund your money and rebook the same trip diffrent dates you pay 275 now can anyone tell me how this all is fair I paid all most a grand it cost me $200 bucks more than their we sight said it would they claimed prices go up every hour that's why after spending 57 mints on hold to change my retun date they got back on phone and didn't do that so they waisted an hr of my life from my busy day not to do a thing but make me sit on hold for nothing after 2 hours nothing was completed no money waved nothing but frustration I will never use them again nore will I refer than to a soul their lyeing, cheating, no good company they rip you off every chance they get don't trust them... every time tie you call you get a whole new story and set of rules I called 4 times got 4 diffrent story's in the end they tried to change me for their help when they never helped me I wanted 3 things done not a thing was done to help me wish I could get my money back and go else where they are not worth the headake

I was assisted in booking a hotel online for 5/1-5/3 but upon arriving to check in, I quickly learned that the agent booked my stay in Logan, WV instead of Logan, UT. The entire town was completely booked due to the University's graduation and I had nowhere to stay. I immediately called customer service and waited to talk to a representative for 20 minutes even though it said the wait time was 6 minutes. No luck, I hung up and called back 30 minutes later and was asked to wait 2 minutes for an agent. After waiting another 20 minutes on the phone, I finally spoke to an agent who informed me that the approving refund manager of the hotel was not in after 5 pm (EST) and that I would need to call back Saturday between the hours of 8-5 pm (EST) to request an approval as nothing was guaranteed. The next morning, I called back at 10:00 am (MST) and spoke with an agent that connected me to the hotel manager and after talking with the hotel manager, I realized that the Cheap Tickets agent called the Utah location instead of the West Virginia location for my refund. The Utah manager had no idea what reservation the agent called her about and I was left at another dead end, on the phone for another hour trying to figure out this mess. A couple of hours later, I called back customer service who called the correct hotel, this time, in West Virginia to try to obtain my refund. I was then told - once again - that the refund manager had left early from the hotel that day and even though I had called before 5 pm, I was out of luck and needed to call Cheap Tickets customer service back on Monday to try to obtain my refund. I called this morning (5/4) and finally was able to get approval by the hotel manager to obtain a refund for my purchase. I was advised that the hotel manager would send me an email verifying the refund but I needed to call back customer service - once again (for the 6th time) - and let them know when I had received my refund email and then Cheap Tickets would provide me a full refund for their mistake. I called customer service back, notified them that I had received the approval email from the hotel manager and they approved a refund, which will process in 5 business days. It took me 4 days to get this issue resolved and doesn't account for the fact that I never did find a place to stay in Logan, UT as all other hotels were completely booked and the run around for this issue and multiple excuses about a "manager not approving" the refund has left me never, ever wanting to endure this mess again.

I have bought many tickets over the years and every time there is a problem i have found that it will not be properly handled. You are way better off using a travel agent or going airline direct. I will give a couple of many examples that i have had the opportunity of having to deal with. On a scale of 1-10 on this companies ability to solve problems i give them a 0.
Example #1
3 years ago in Feb my grandmother and best friend was notified that she had a couple of months to live. Upon hearing this news I made arrangements to spend as much time with as i could, even if it meant borrowing money to do so at the time. It worked out that I would be able to spend 2 weeks out of every month with her. Times like this are confusing and your not in your right frame of mind. That last ticket that i booked through cheaptickets.com to see her was booked backwards. Instead of booking a ticket departing from Dallas Fort Worth I booked the ticket departing from Reno, Nevada. My wife had caught my mistake aprox two weeks before my flight. I called customer service to fix the problem that had occurred. After spending most of my day on the phone and going through several "supervisors" my ticket of $350 got an additional $400+ dollars added to it. The flight that I was moved to had plenty of extra seats and was in no way shape or form overbooked or lacking seats. I paid there fee and went on because i didn't have time to deal with it.

Example 2 10/31/14
My mother let me know a couple of days ago that she wanted to fly in and visit me for 10 days over the thanksgiving break. She sent me her credit card info and asked if i would book a ticket. My mother was a widow for 24 years out of adoration of my father. 4 years ago she finally remarried. Beautiful sweet woman, her being unmarried was not because of a lack of suitors trying. When my mother remarried I assumed that she had changed her last name and that is how I booked her flight ticket. After mailing her the confirmation I recieved a call with her letting me know that she had kept my fathers name out of continued adoration and that her current husband was fine with it. I then call the cheaptickets.com customer service to try correct the problem. I finally get a customer service rep on the phone and describe my problem. She lets me know that there will be a $275 additional charge to the all ready $350 ticket. Unhappy with this answer i asked to talk to a supervisor. I was then asked for a call back number in case we were disconnected. After 10 minutes on hold we were disconnected. After waiting for my call back for aprox 1 hour i was not called back. Sitting at my desk with a phone that was not interrupted phone at my desk. At this point I call back again and start completely over. I told them about my previous conversation and was placed on hold for a "supervisor" of cheaptickets.com. After a while on hold again I get another rep on the phone. When asked if she was a supervisor she stated that she was not a "supervisor". She went over the situation with me again, put me on hold for a while and then came back with a price of an additional $100 to change the name on the ticket. At this point I am getting irritated.
I asked nicely to speak to her supervisor. She then stated that she was the highest ranked "supervisor" there at this time. I then stated that she had just told me that she was not a "supervisor". I then asked for the person that i could call back that was her supervisor. She stated "Sandra" and said that she could not give me the last name of her "supervisor". All in all I took it that there prices can be whatever they want for corrections and that no one is in charge or can make decisions to properly fix a problem. I will continue to spread the word of a shady, unsympathetic company that has no one in charge as much as I possibly can!
Thank you,
James Thurman