Description

I am filing a formal complaint against BudgetAir (TRAVIX Travel LLC) due to their fraudulent practices and unjust charges related to a flight booking made on February 21st, 2025, resulting in a charge of $810.80. My American Express dispute, initially filed due to BudgetAir's failure to provide promised services, was wrongly denied, and I am now seeking your intervention. BudgetAir advertised and sold seat selection services, a crucial component of our trip as my wife is pregnant and we required guaranteed seating together for our "babymoon." However, less than an hour after booking, BudgetAir informed us that the seat reservations were invalid and instructed us to contact Alaska Airlines directly which resulted in a dead end due to the fact the package they selected does NOT allow for any seat changes or adjustments. This instruction proved to be a deliberate misrepresentation. Specifically, BudgetAir engaged in the following deceptive practices: False Advertising and Misrepresentation: BudgetAir's platform explicitly stated that customers could manage seat selection directly with the airline. However, they booked us on an Alaska Airlines "Saver(X)" fare, which explicitly prohibits advance seat selection. This constituted a clear misrepresentation of the services they were selling. This is a bait and switch tactic. Refusal to Rectify Their Error: When we attempted to cancel the flights due to their inability to provide the promised service, BudgetAir refused to waive their exorbitant $220 cancellation fee, despite their error being the sole cause of the cancellation. They claim their system does not allow for waiving the fee, which I believe is a false statement. Unethical and Punitive Cancellation Fees: Their cancellation policy is punitive and exploitative, especially when the cancellation is a direct result of their own misrepresentation and service failure. They are profiting from their own fraudulent behavior. Forced to Book Separate Flights: Due to BudgetAir's failure, we were forced to book separate flights directly with Alaska Airlines to ensure we could sit together. This demonstrates the necessity of cancelling the original BudgetAir booking. BudgetAir knowingly sold a service they could not deliver, then refused to take responsibility for their mistake. Their actions are unethical and constitute fraudulent business practices. I request the Better Business Bureau to: Investigate BudgetAir's practices regarding misrepresentation of services and deceptive cancellation policies. Assist in obtaining a full refund of $810.80 from BudgetAir. Demand BudgetAir revise their advertising and booking practices to accurately reflect the limitations of the services they offer.