Online Travel Agent (OTA) Story

A planned holiday is an event to remember. There are ways of doing it. Most astute travellers would have done some amount of homework on the destination they propose to visit.  Let me first write about the psychology of a tourist.  At least, in this part of the world, a tourist would do some research on the package that props up on line.  In all probability an Online Travel Company would have put up a package at “rock bottom” prices.   So this could be a pit fall and a trap for a potential customer to lure them in to accepting a very tempting package and in the process present them with a lifelong headache. 

Sample this from one of the recently posted grievance from an Online Travel Agent’s booking portal.

This is in reference to the booking Id NL[protected]

I had booked a holiday to north east through XXX (Protected) on 1st April 2023.the travel date is 5th June 2023.

Now on 27th May 2023  I got a call from XXX that flights are not available and I am supposed to arrange the alternate flights to reach Bagdogra.

I had opted for the whole package and it is the  responsibility of XXX to make necessary arrangements.

This kind of attitude from the online travel portal leads to stress for a hapless traveller, and will virtually ruin the planned holiday leading to avoidable headaches. Online travel portals show scant respect to a traveller and once the tour cost has been “pocketed”. The Online travel company will show their true colours of their notorious and unscrupulous means they employ.    Some of the common gimmicks used by Online travel company to lure customers are as under:-

1. Quote low prices on the web site and when the actual tour about to commence,  they come out with problems and ask to additional payment ,“hidden costs”..
2. Picture of the hotel shown will be different from what is depicted on their web site. They would perhaps, charge a customer for a higher class hotel and nearer the booking date cite some imaginary issue and book them in a lower class hotel. The concept of refunding the difference does not exist.
3. Hotel denying a bonafide customer from “Check In”.  Hotels are clever in inventing reasons for denying Check In.
4. Poor hotel conditions.   Hotels normally offer rooms for online bookings   in a dedicated floor removing all amenities. Some hotels give them old rooms ( not renovated for online bookings.
5. Mis conduct from the trip planners. They will be insensitive to customer complaints/grievances.
6. Change in the booking norms “under all inclusive package” and known to over charge customers once the trip commences.
7. Surreptitiously change settings so that complaint doesn’t get highlighted in other social media platforms. 
8. Non availability of a “physical environment”, amongst the online portal employees to solve problems.

What is the advise to a potential traveller ?

The drawbacks of an online portal is not going to come cheap. They too have their business over heads and in almost all cases will resort to unfair means, as explained above.  To that extent, a small amount of research on a brick and mortar travel company and routing bookings through them will certainly be prudent. End of the day, the “Brick and Mortar Company”, being physical will have the manpower and the wherewithal to solve issues pertaining to travel.

How can Skyway International Travel help?

The company has a strong base in all facets of both domestic and international tour operations. Their experience in this field and the ability to address all customer issues within a reasonably quick turnaround time makes them one of the preferred travel companys  to rely on. They are in business for 29 years with offices in 18 states and 30 locations in India.

In hind sight, Customers will certainly be thankful as they would have got their money’s worth in availing a “ Tour package(s) from Skyway”.  Talk to Manu on +91 98451 18222, the man behind the scene who will tailor the package and keep customers happy and delighted.