- Report: #1130035
Complaint Review: SmartFares - Internet Internet
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
SmartFares
Internet, Internet, USA
Phone:
888-666-6593
Web:
BookingBuddy.com, SmartFares.com, [email protected],
Categories:
Business Rating:
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SmartFares (Booking Buddy Search) Round Trip Tickets missing connecting flight Internet
Purchased round-trip airfare tickets from SmartFares 11/1/13 using BookingBuddy.com web search provider. Found lowest priced ticket with 2 or fewer connecting flights to/from at SmartFares.com (not the overall lowest price, but the best price for the number of connecting flights). Like most travel agencies, you enter departure (Norfolk), arrival (Chengdu), number of adults, date, whether specific or near. I chose 2 adults, specific, date 4/20/14. Both the departure and returning flights offered a variety of times. Each one gave a very truncated description. I did not read it closely as I should have, and/or I assumed that I was only seeing the main flights. Did not receive confirmation after payment on 11/1/14 until 11/5/13, 4 days afterward, and after my right to change flights via recent Congressional FAA legislation had expired. Confirmation showed that I was departing Norfolk, flying into (EWR)/New York and then out of (JFK)/New York. Had no notice that connecting flight or shuttle was missing. Did not advertise that EWR is not in New York. 40 days before flight, learned that EWR is not in New York. Had thought it was a mistake. What agency omits informing its customers if they want repeat business that the hardware to assemble the package is missing (i.e., good luck sucker at paying to change your flights at the last minute)? So, I called the travelerhelpdesk number provided 3/10/14 @ midnight. Oswaldo answered and hung up on me. Another man who sounded exactly like Oswaldo (of India language with British accent) who seemed to be reading from a script and claimed to working out of San Diego, answered. He said it was my fault, and accused me of select flights that did not connect. I asked him how this was possible if I had selected ROUND TRIP and entered departure and destination. He did not answer other than to reiterate that it was my fault and that his company was not going to pay a penny. He said that if I wanted to change flights, I would have to pay them their change fee, plus their telephone service fee, plus the airline change fee. Also, he told me that there were no connecting flights left from EWR to JFK. This was after much coaxing and request for assitance that he did not offer initially. I told him that it was the airlines fault, and asked to speak to his manager. He placed me on hold for about 20 minutes. After, he picked up the phone again for a minute. I asked him what I was supposed to do? He said, "Take a taxi. I don't care." He said that his manager was too busy but would call me back and started to hang up. I asked him how the manager would call me back when he (Anderson) had never asked for my telephone number, not even once. Got him there. He had no intention of even telling his manager. But I made a show of it. I gave him not only my direct cell, but also my wife's direct cell. As predictable, nobody called us back per call log history on file with the phone company. I told him that I would publish his and Oswaldo's name on social media and the poor customer service. He said, "ok." So, I did. Caveat Emptor!
