I started booking a package flight and hotel on Expedia.com. The quoted price was about $1,200. All the way through the reservation flight and hotel selections this price was showing. On the last step, right before purchase, the price went up to $3,000. I called on the phone and representative told me that she is experiencing the same issue, that probably the price will fall down when we make the reservation and that the reservation has a 24-hour cancellation-free policy. She recommended me buying it despite the high price. Later on it tuned out the reservation does NOT have a 24-hour cancellation-free policy. The flight could be cancelled, but the hotel was non-refundable, which basically made me stuck into the whole reservation.
I contacted Expedia numerous times, most of the responses were that they work in a live environment. On the other hand the same reservation on Priceline.com was around $1,200, so I would guess that would be the "live" and reasonable price.
Expedia also refused to match the price because they said they do not have such a policy any more, since they guarantee the lowest price. Despite that their price of $3,000 is outrageously higher than the Priceline.com's $1,200.
I attached not only screen shots of the website of Expedia with a SUDDEN almost THREE times increase of price, but also screenshots of Priceline.com for the same reservation. Despite that all Expedia responses seem to be copying the same standard reply about the "live environment".
Very disappointing experience with Expedia! Very misleading phone representative and an extremely inadequate customer service!