Vayama

I spent HOURS booking overseas flights through KAYAK (and maybe this review is about KAYAK, too), finally being told I had a flight confirmed, then receiving an email within hours of my flight confirmation telling me my flight had been cancelled. I called customer service, and the representative had absolutely no explanation why the flight was cancelled, and absolutely no recommendations for what my alternatives were. Vayama sucks big time, they're completely useless, they're absolutely horrible in every conceivable way, and I hate them and everyone who works for them, including their relatives and friends (not that they'd have any friends, because frankly, anyone who'd work for a company like Vayama is just awful and certainly wouldn't have any friends), and if I were allowed to swear profusely about them in this format, I would. Come to think of it, please let me know if swearing about them profusely in this format is acceptable, and I will. Profusely.

My husband and I booked a flight to South Africa for next spring to visit some friends who recently moved there. When we found out that our friends had an unexpected scheduling conflict, we had to change the dates of our trip. It took almost an entire month between email exchanges and phone calls to settle this issue. Every email, which they promise to respond to in 24 hours, took at least 7 days to receive a response (usually only once prompted by a frustrated phone call.) When I called to try and understand the exorbitant change fees, the customer service agents were less than helpful. We ended up canceling our itinerary entirely and re-booking directly through the airline. While this cost a small fortune, it still cost less than it would have to change the flight through Vayama. They charge not only the airline change fee and their own $100/per ticket change fee, but they could not offer me the best airline fare available even though it was clearly available through their website. I cannot stress enough how frustrating and expensive this process ended up being. I urge you to book directly through the airline, even though it may cost a little more up front, it will save you a lot of money in the end.

Like other folks here, I don't have a choice to but go with one star... I wanted to give them negative rating.

Let me start... Vayama is a rogue organization... more like organized mafia... sucking every dollar from you. I've started to doubt business practices of Kayak through its association with Vayama.

Why would any travel agency not allow a passenger to cancel a ticket? - With Vayama's rules you book a ticket through us you have to travel. It doesn't matter what has changed at your end, if you chose not to travel just forget your monies.

Now that they have delivered the sucker punch by saying you lose your money if you don't travel, you'll start talking about new dates... here Vayama is back in action, you have to pay 100 USD to change a date from X to Y apart from airline change fee and fare difference... yada yada yada

What really made my day worse was after all my tussle with customer service rep, the individual says "Sir, Vayama will provide you with nice new quote with all fees in 48 business hours"... great, you cannot even finish the transaction, even if I'm ready to pay monies and get it done with. What if I need to change my travel date right now for an emergency? "Sir, you still have to wait for 48 hours for our change department to process this request"... seriously

STAY AWAY

STAY AWAY! Yes they are legitimate but their policies stink. During the recent Covid-19 problems they could not complete my flight as booked. (Destination border was to be closed on my arrival day, and the airline stated the flight was to be cancelled) As such both in the US and Europe they are required to refund the total flight cost if notified prior to the departure date. But they refused to answer their phones? A message just stated for better customer service they would only take emails? So I sent over 8 emails days to hours before flight time. About a month later I got a reply stating since I did not notify them of the problem in advance they would only issue me a credit minus a $100 processing fee! No other airline or vendor has assessed an additional fee during this time. This is so rude and shows the total lack of concern for their customers. I finally protested the charge with my bank, and they found in my favor. I was well within my rights to request a full refund. They reversed the charge in full. I will never book with Vayama again and strongly suggest no one else should unless they decide not to make their money so dishonestly.

Here I am again leaving my third review as well as calling, emailing and DMing them on Instagram and Twitter just to get someone to answer me. Today I found out from Asiana Airlines that my flight has already been refunded to Vayama and they are holding out on giving me my money! All their phone lines are down now that all their employees are working from home. PLEASE just email me back, I have been emailing you at the customer service email provided on your website. I am entitled to get my money back especially since I bought the insurance package, and I did not cancel my flight plus if you already received a full refund for it from my Airline for it! I will be taking legal action shortly without a response. I have >30 calls to you in the last month logged, over 10 emails with you, Instagram DMs and Twitter DMs that have all gone unresponsive AND one email from Asiana Airlines saying you already have my money.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, Vayama decided that instead of cancelling travel to quarantined countries and issuing refunds, they would stick with their standard refund policy, which means you may or may not receive a full refund. And during the time when their customers need extra assistance due to their inability to be proactive, they have decided to not answer their Customer Service phones. WORST online agency. Many better options to choose. STAY AWAY FROM VAYAMA!

This travel agency has the wost customer service. I booked two flight ticket on 05/18/2014 for $3188. 00. The tranvel egency claimed my card was delcined. I call my bank and my spending limit was increased on that same day. The said again my card was declined. I went to my bank and they were called from my bank. I was given all assurance that my flight tickets are in process and it will be isured soon.

After two days, not flight ticket. What a shame. I called my bank and was told that they had authorized my transaction. Vayama claim it was not authorized. What a change of story. The customer service person has not idea why I do not have my ticket and gave me another number. What a shame. Why have a customer service if one will only be directed to another department that is not even open.

DO NOT BOOK THROUGH THIS SITE.

I am willing to pay a little more and use a different booking site than go through Vayama ever again! Save your money bc you will be ripped off! I HAVE HAD THE WORST EXPERIENCE EVER! I AM NEVER BOOKING THROUGH VAYAMA AGAIN. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THEM! WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER. The lady was literally yelling at me on the phone. They are so nasty! I even emailed the CEO thought maybe he would actually help and got no where! I lost over $1k!

I recently booked flights for 2 people and I did get them a fair bit cheaper compared to other travel agencies. I received a confirmation email and 2 e-tickets, so assumed everything was ok. However I then had to ring the company I was lying with about booking on extra luggage, when I found out all o my details supplied o the company by Vayama were wrong, so because of data protection the could do nothing for me. I attempted to contact Vayama on several occasions, being left on hold for 20+ minutes every time before hanging up. Once I got through to an actual human, who was of no use to me what so ever and kept saying they could do nothing for me. I also emailed Vayama several times and received one VERY unhelpful email back from them, which helped me sort out NOTHING. With my flight less than a week away I have my problem half sorted it out through the company I am flying with, and with no thanks to Vayama. I would never book through this website again, as the stress and infuriating lack of response from Vayama just was not worth it.