(BBB, Joe Ducey)
As summer and holiday travel plans ramp up, BBB Pacific Southwest, Central & Inland California (BBB) cautions consumers to be wary of eye-catching deals on unfamiliar third-party travel websites. While these sites may offer enticing prices, numerous complaints to BBB Scam Tracker reveal that such deals can lead to unexpected charges, poor customer service, and even canceled reservations.
“We’ve been getting complaints about unfamiliar travel sites. They have catchy names and crazy good deals,” said Joe Ducey, BBB AVP of Public Engagement and Investigative Outreach and host of the 'Joe Knows Better' podcast. “But some customers say tickets can disappear and they have to pay again. Or they show up at a hotel and find their paid-for reservation is not in the system. Basically, a lack of any customer service.”
Consumers have reported instances where third-party booking sites charged them twice for the same tickets, refused refunds, or failed to provide adequate customer support. In one case, a California man booked a flight at a low rate, only to be told later that his ticket price had increased by $400 and that cancellations or refunds were not allowed. An Arizona consumer faced a similar issue when the site couldn't locate the ticket he had already purchased, forcing him to pay an additional $1,300 to fly on the same day. Before booking through an unfamiliar travel site, BBB recommends the following precautions:
Segment tips:
- Research the company thoroughly, including checking reviews and ratings on BBB.org.
- Be cautious of websites with names that mimic popular travel brands.
- Avoid deals that seem too good to be true, as they often are.
- Use a credit card for transactions, which can offer additional protections.
“If you find an unfamiliar travel site with a great price, before you book, check out the name online and at BBB.org,” Ducey advised. “I found one of the sites had a BBB warning about a lack of licensing and ‘bait and switch’ pricing. And if you pay with a credit card, you can fight for a refund later.”
Download pre-recorded clips to complement your coverage:
Clip Time: 18 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PJPr1pka3VML6WkLN9vye_IK0AK43fCw/view?usp=sharing
"We’ve been getting complaints from people who search for travel online, find unfamiliar sites that have catchy names and crazy good deals. But some customers say when they buy tickets, they disappear and they have to pay for them again. Or, their hotel reservation is paid for, they show up at the hotel, there is no reservation. Basically a lack of customer service.”
Clip Time: 18 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OELuVVe7ndvYhqacVCbUMhBSbDn2a7GQ/view?usp=sharing
"If you find an unfamiliar travel site with a great price, the least you can do before you book is check out reputations online and at BBB.org Look for reviews, look for complaints. I found one of the places had a BBB warning about lack of licensing and bait and switch pricing. And if you pay with a credit card, you can fight for a refund later.”
For more information on how to protect yourself from travel scams, visit BBB.org/all/travel/travel-safety-tips/top-5-vacation-scams-to-avoid.
Expert industry speaker available:
Joe Ducey, BBB’s AVP of Public Engagement and Investigative Outreach, and the Joe Knows Better Podcast's host, is a consumer protection expert. He shares insights on trending scams, ethical business practices, and empowers consumers to make informed decisions. He is available for media interviews on such topics.
More information
For media inquiries, contact [email protected] or Jennifer Sturgeon at [email protected]. For additional news stories, visit BBB.org/us/news. Published with permission from Better Business Bureau.
