Description

A COMPLETE SCAM! DO NOT USE! Airline tickets were purchased at a discounted price through Cheapvuelos.com. Upon purchase we received an email indicating that a phone call is needed to confirm/complete the transaction. I did not pick up an unknown call as the caller ID said 'scam likely'. Soon after I received an email with subject: 'Urgent callback request for booking ID****'. I called back at the 1855 number provided and spoke with a rep that confirmed the flight and proceeded to verify information as a travel agent would. After processing the purchase, she said she needed to go over the terms and restrictions of the fare, which did not include any personal item or carry on luggage but only 'one purse' allowed per person. She said there was no option to add any personal item or carry on at this level of fare but we were offered upgrades for $300+/person. We asked for clarification, and she confirmed and insisted that without this upgrade we would not have the option to carry on anything aside from the purse. The upgrade would also allow for 50% refund on the flight cost if needed, allow the personal item + carry on, as well as the service of check in within 24 hours of the flight with the boarding passes sent to me via PDF through an email (because otherwise we'd have to arrive 3 hours prior for 'manual check in' at the airport kiosk). While deliberating with my travel companions, she offered us an additional company credit $110 for future bookings to be used within a year. We saw no other option regarding the upgrade since we'd be traveling across the country and could not travel with purses only. The rep sent an updated email with the new charge that more than doubled the initial booking price. I was instructed to reply with 'I confirm' to this email, which we did. We were then told to hold for awhile so that they may issue an 'e-ticket' which ended up not being an airline issued document but from Cheapvuelos. It included a confirmation#, which we were told that we could use to verify the booked flights. We were told that there would be 2 separate charges on my CC, both of which would be from the airline. Later we were able to go to the airline website to confirm the booked flights; however, we also learned that the booked flights were the lowest fare option offered. The initially offered fare was bogus, and this was a scam. The offer a fake fare, and then through the phone pressure you with 'optional upgrades' that would make your trip more reasonable and convenient. We emailed the company to request an immediate refund of all charges made on the basis that they sold us a product that didn't exist and then charged an upgrade fee, to which they replied that we would be penalized additional charges by the airline company for cancelling, and any cancellation would require a medical document. This contradicted the information provided on the airline's website. As this all unfolded within 24 hours of booking, I called the airline directly myself and cancelled the flights for the full refund. The airline never asked for any medical documentation or even a reason as to the cancellation. The total refund amount issued through the airline was the first of the two pending charges on my CC. We confirmed with the airline rep that the second listed charge under the name of 'Airline FVT' is not theirs (though Cheapvuelos told me that this is nonrefundable as it is 'the upgradation fees, changes fees and taxes part that has directly been charged by airline (that's why you a getting that charge by the name of AIRLINE FVT which means Airlines Fare Value Tax)' - yet again untrue. We emailed the company pointing out the contradiction of their information, terms, and threats of penalty/charges vs actual airline policy. We demanded a refund of this remaining charge with only other alternative of filing a dispute with the CC company. Cheapvuelos email responses include a long explanation of how we were never forced to purchase or upgrade anything, and that they have documented our authorization, as well as our recorded phone conversations which will be shared with the airline. Here's what I've confirmed and documented through the airline directly which contradicts the Cheapvuelo's claims: 1) the airline does not offer any 40% discount tickets with only the option of a purse as a carry on with any booking agency (as Cheapvuelo claimed); 2) our fare booked by Cheapvuelo's was the lowest fare option which includes a personal item+carry on; 3) all flights come with 24 hour full refund policy; 4) per airline policy, no booking agency can check-in on the behalf of a passenger to obtain boarding passes. Our last contact with Cheapvuelos outlined this information provided by the airline, and they responded by saying that a resolution may only be offered through a phone conversation. As their pressure scamming tactic is via phone, we're requested for all correspondence to be in writing. We've received nothing since this last email. I've since filed a dispute with my CC company. THIS IS AN ILLEGITIMATE COMPANY WITH UNETHICAL BUSINESS PRACTICE