I booked a round-trip flight through CheapDealsFare, which I accessed via Expedia. As a trusted, well-known travel platform, I expected Expedia's partners to meet a basic standard of legitimacy and fair dealing, which is why I proceeded with the booking.
I agreed to a fare of $1,375. When the transaction was finalized, I was charged $2,348.84 — an increase of $973.84 over the price I had agreed to. This total included a $395 fee charged by CheapDealsFare for booking the ticket on my behalf, a service I could have performed myself directly with the airline for less money and with no added fee.
I called to dispute the charge and request a cancellation or refund. The representative told me the inability to refund my payment was due to the airline's cancellation policy, not CheapDealsFare's own policy. I pointed out that if the ticket had not yet actually been booked with the airline, the airline's post-ticketing cancellation rules should not have applied, and that I intended to dispute the charge with my credit card company. At that point the representative became rude and argumentative.
I remained on the phone for approximately 45 minutes attempting to get the booking cancelled or to be offered a fare in line with the $1,375 I had originally agreed to. Every alternative I was offered came with a significant price increase over the original agreed fare. I was booking urgent travel for myself and my mother to attend a memorial service three days later, and did not have the time to continue negotiating with a representative who was uncooperative and unprofessional.
I am filing this complaint because CheapDealsFare advertised and verbally confirmed a fare of $1,375, then charged $2,348.84 without my informed consent to the increase, including a $395 fee for a booking service that added no value over booking directly with the airline. When I raised the discrepancy, I was met with a refusal to make it right and unprofessional conduct from their representative.