Travelocity: Same as the Others?
Written: Oct 14 '99
|
| Full Review |
I've been purchasing tickets online for 5 years...in other words, since before Travelocity, Expedia, Priceline and the others. So, I have had a lot to experience watching different sites appear and evolve with the times. The one that has done so with the most flair, in my opinion, is Travelocity.
When I first started buying online tickets, it was through EasySabre...a text-based system that utilized abbreviated versions of real travel agent codes typed into a computer. It was quick, direct, and pulled up tons of fares. Travelocity soon sprang up, a point and click version of EasySabre. I detested it at first. It was slow, awkward, and tended to pull up fares for OTHER people's itineraries. However, over the years it has vastly improved.
There are three things I like most about Travelocity. First, and foremost, I have never had any problems with tickets purchased through them. I always get a paper ticket. I still don't trust the airlines enough to use an e ticket, even if I have to pay a ticketing fee. I ALWAYS travel with a ticket in my hand. By setting up a member profile, you can let them know if you want an aisle seat, your smoking preference (not so much an issue now), and even if you want a special meal. The profile can even be set up to remember your credit card number if you want it to.
Second, their customer service folks are really helpful. Three years ago, I was purchasing a ticket to Las Vegas for our honeymoon. For fun, I was searching First Class seats and kept going back and forth with days. Somehow, I accidentally hit Coach Class. When a $498 fare came up, I grabbed it (duh!) thinking I had hit the jackpot! It wasn't until I had finished the transaction, that I realized I'd purchased a pretty expensive, non-refundable coach ticket on an airline I don't really even like. So, I called customer service and within 5 minutes they had the sale cancelled (the ticket had not yet printed.) They were able to cancel the sale, only because the ticket hadn't printed yet, so don't count on this as a means to get around non-refundable rules.
Third, the site has most evolved through the inclusion of tons of peripheral information on hotels, hot spots, cruising, even vacation rentals. There are links to tons of other sites selling vacation packages and offering additional information on destinations. Travelocity really is one stop shopping.
I highly recommend subscribing to their Fare Tracker that will notify you whenever a specific fare goes up or down each week (for your specified destinations). Also, log on late at night if possible. It is much faster then, as all the office internet traffic is gone. The best time to grab great deals tends to be between 12:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. for some reason. I have heard that airlines sometimes dip their fares at odd times to make up for a flood of unclaimed tickets on hold. Also, if you know you want to go, book the ticket. Holding it will not hold your fare, and I have lost out on a couple hundred dollars before.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
sleonard
|
|
Location: The Lone Star State
Reviews written: 46
Trusted by: 23 members
About Me:
Susan is a stay at home mom who loves traveling, internet shopping, and reading.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.