Cheap travel sometimes too good to be true
The Better Business Bureau is reissuing a warning about JustFly.com, an online travel agency that has racked up more than 250 complaints with BBB, earning it a rating of "F".
The warning issued May 23 is the second warning from BBB. Last summer, BBB Serving the Atlantic Provinces issued a warning for the company, which claimed a Prince Edward Island address at that time. The company has continued to garner complaints and unhappy customers, so BBB is reissuing the warning across the United States, where most of the customers are located, as well as Canada and Mexico, the organization said in its statement announcing the warning.
Complaints against JustFly.com allege differences in the quoted price as opposed to what is actually charged on the consumer’s credit card after booking, mistakes being made by booking agents such as the name and spelling of the passenger’s name, and adjustments to the booking resulting in significant fees to the consumer from both the airline and JustFly.com.
Other issues include differences in the time and date of travel from the original booking, lack of email booking confirmations as promised, reports of being on hold for excessive periods of time when calling into the customer service department, and being charged more for a cancellation fee than was originally quoted.
JustFly.com has claimed addresses in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, and Rocky Hill, Connecticut, but it appears that none is an actual business location. Further, a consumer advocate for the New York Times reported that the owner of JustFly.com is not the person listed on its incorporation papers but rather a Montreal company called Momentum Technologies, which also owns FlightHub, another online travel company with a spotty complaint history with BBB.
BBB offers the following advice when booking online travel:
- Start your research at bbb.org. Read complaints and reviews from previous customers.
- Buy directly from the airline, hotel, or cruise line, or use a local travel agency or well-known aggregator with a good BBB rating.
- Look for the seal to find BBB Accredited Businesses that are committed to trust.
- Be wary of claims of enormous savings, “best deal” guarantees, and any statement you cannot verify prior to making a purchase.
- When doing business with a travel agency for the first time, check to see if they are a member of a recognized association such as the American Society of Travel Agents in the United States or the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies in Canada.
- Double check all details such as travel dates, itineraries, destinations, and travelers’ information before confirming payment, as you may be charged for amendments.
- Pay by credit card so you have additional protections if there is a company error.
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
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Photos by Carl Dombek
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