Contact Orbitz Corporate

This complaint is regarding itinerary # 7426500646023 booking id KWTNQV. my husband and I flew from Tel Aviv to Dublin on June 12th. we were supposed to fly back on June 16th but for some reason we were bumped off the flights back. we got no notification that something was wrong the only indication we had was when we wanted to check in on line and were not able to do so. in Dublin we straight away called your office and spoke for 20 minutes on the phone with your representative who refused to take responsibility for the mess and said that we would get an email in 5 hours time. when our flight home was earlier. so instead of sleeping we took ourselves to the airport to argue with the ground crew there who also claimed that they were not responsible since we paid you and not them. when we finally came home- late, tired and upset- we phoned your offices again to complain and even spoke with one of you supervisors there- it took us aprox. 2 hours of phone call to receive from him a 200$ coupon for our next trip even though he still refused to take responsibility for the mistake!
Little did I know that I would receive today a huge phone bill of 616.90 shekel for the first phone call and then a phone bill of 498.22 shekel for the second phone call equivalent to 310 US$
please compensate me for this sum immediately- not in a coupon form but in real money. There is no reason for me to be penalized for doing nothing wrong! my contact phone # +972523377817 Yael Shechter

We want to register a complaint about the rental car we picked up on April 8,2019. When we first got there we were told we needed a $2000.00 deposit - NOT AWARE OF THIS WE WERE TOLD IT WAS IN THE FINE PRINT SO I READ THE FINE PRINT BEFORE THEY MADE US SIGN IT AND ON THIS PAPER IT SAID $1000.00 DEPOSIT NOT SURE WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO DO . They also told us we had the wrong insurance card - we called our insurance company and were told all we needed was the coupon that we keep in our car - NO THEY WANTED THE DECLARATION PAGE - needless to say we did not have this, and at this time we were VERY UPSET - AND THEY FORCED US TO PURCHASE THEIR INSURANCE WHICH AMOUNTED TO $95.98 THAT WE REALLY DID NOT HAVE.- WE HAD NO CHOICE BECAUSE WE WERE NOT AT THE AIRPORT ANYMORE AND HAD TO TAKE THE CAR - when we got in the car it said MAINTENANCE REQUIRED - AND IT WAS NOT FULL OF FUEL - AND VERY DIRTY - ALSO NO WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID TO CLEAN THE DIRTY WINDSHIELD - THESE PEOPLE WERE NOT VERY FRIENDLY AND SPOKE VERY BAD ENGLISH AND WERE HARD TO UNDERSTAND - WE DID NOT PURCHASE THE SUNPASS BUT AT ONE OF THE TOLLS IT SHOWED THAT IT TOOK THE PASS - WE DID NOT USE THE SUNPASS - WE PAID THE TOLL AND WE HAVE THE RECEIPT TO PROVE THIS. this company is ZEZGO 3835 McCoy rd Orlando, FL . We went thru Orbitz because had the best deal and in the end it cost us MORE - AND DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE USING ORBIIZ AGAIN

Few days back; I bought an airline ticket via orbitz and got an email confirmation. Next day I got another email saying booking is cancelled and money will be credited back 3 to 7 days.

I checked your website and it still shows “booking is confirmed”. Yesterday I even got charged 8.44$ booking fees Phoned your help desk only to sort this only to be told booking is cancelled and money will be credited back 8 weeks.

Very bad experience and totally unacceptable.

Itinerary 7392116187809

Sort out this and credited back my account fast as I need to purchase a ticket

COMPLAINT FOR:
Car reservation Itinerary #7363334658606
in Florida-July 12-July 16 2018 pick up and drop off at PBI Airport. I was told more than once to take the shuttle to Budget car rental and pay the total amount of $ 125.83.Nothing that Orbitz did for us on the up and up. 1. We took the shuttle, to find out that our reservation was 5 miles away and that we were on our own to get there I called to confirm the shuttle and the rep said he checked with Budget and that that info was correct?. 2. Orbitz never told us that proof or car rental insurance was necessary so the process was further delayed. 3) Budge3t would not accept the price from Orbitz and w had to pay about $50 more! We got a car-about 2 hours later!
I tried calling customer service twice at Budget only to be disconnected twice despite the repeated phrase of “No worries” I finally called back at 10 PM and finally someone said we can get a refund for the difference and the cost of car service but just when I was going to speak to a “supervisor” I was once again discounted two hours later at midnight! I thought they had all the info but at 1 am I got a call back from the Philippines where it was 1pm-I questioned the timing of the call but all I got is we need to resolve this now or I would have to start all over the next day! They kept saying that they were doing US a favor by giving a one-time courtesy to reimbursement! Really the booking is boarding on FRAUD and the customer service was VERY unhelpful, to say the least. I expect to hear from them to explain why I got the service(or lack of) during booking and customer services.
S

Until the recent incident, I was happy with Orbitz. However, I bought a ticket to S. Africa via SAA very recently, and wasn't told about SA's requirement that passports have two blank pages. That information is very available for purchasers of I tickets through SAA. As a result, when I handed my ticket information and passport to the ticket agent at Dulles Airport I was turned away because I only had the back page (non-visas) blank.

This was a very stressful experience. At age 83, I had to go to the US Passport Agency this morning to find out what was still needed - I had a new photo and the ticket that I couldn't use, as well as the itinerary for my journey through Orbitz. Unfortunately. SAA neglected to send me an e-mail confirming that I had paid for the replacement ticket at the same rate for Sunday, February 11. I had made an appointment for tomorrow. I had difficulty persuading SAA to email me a confirmation - they first sent me to you, as the travel agent. The customer service person politely told me that although she could confirm that a replacement ticket had been made out to me, she coouldn't confirm it to me via email, since it wasn't Orbitz's transaction - which I do understand.

PLEASE be sure that everyone flying to/from SA from the US or other countries where the two blank pages of their passports are required know about this!
Sincerely,
Moya Atkinson
3419 Fiddlers Green
Falls Church, VA 22044, a long-time customer of Orbitz.

have not received refund for flight from Houston to Las Vegas on Oct. 29 to Oct.31. I bought ins. when I made the reservations thru Orbitz, they sent me to Houston Hobby airport and should have been Bush airport in Houston. We didnt have enough time to get there so we missed everything.

I cancelled within the 24 hour period my card was not put on hold but charged. My Itinerary number is 7216410001646. I was told by a customer service agent based in Philippines not to worry as my card had not been charged but when I checked my account it was not on hold but charged. Obviously workers are based in Philippines and is totally a scam. After reading other complaints from other users I will not be using this service again. I will also file a complaint with Consumer Affairs in US.

I bought my flight tickets with Orbitz to fly with TAP from Sao Paulo (Brazil) to Madrid (Spain). On my way back home, TAP changed the date and time of the flight, but Orbitz didn´t inform me and I just heard about it when doing check in at airport. So I had to go to a hotel to spend the night once the flight was 12 hours later than the planned. I called the airline direct and they said they couldn't help me because I had to deal direct with Orbitz. Then I call then and spent more than 3 hours (on 4 separate occasions) and most part of time I was waiting and at the end, they told me they have nothing to do. I want Orbitz refund me on the hotel and dinner.

I booked a flight that I was unable to take last October 2015 (PBORB-306-356-8974). The cost was about $421 (total cost was $598.92 but that was because I also booked a car). I cancelled the car rental part of the cost with no problems. This July, I booked another trip (no car with this one) and was told I could use the old ticket with a $200 change fee and perhaps other costs since it wasn't the same exact RT flight and also because of general cost increases from almost a year ago.

When I rebooked (I think you used same PBORB number for the new trip) I was told the cost would be $471.00. I was a little disappointed that it was so much but booked it. I received an email from Orbitz with the details but didn't see the cost on there, only the itinerary. When I went out to UA to print my itinerary, it said the cost was $689.20! I was floored and absolutely do not understand what has happened here and feel that I am being taken advantage of. I would appreciate your immediately attention to this matter because it makes absolutely no sense to me.

My email address is noted with their headquarters, however, I will give you my cell number as well. Thank you for your prompt attention to my concern. I am truly flabbergasted over this.

Called Orbitz to move my flight up by one day, took one and a half hours! Called to confirm flight the day before the flight; the reservation was found but never ticketed. Called Orbitz again spoke to another east Indian person, told me he had to speak to his ticketing dept, waited another 45 minutes and he said he was getting close; another 45 minutes and still no ticket. This is wrong. Goodbye Orbitz forever!

We were victims of a scam involving transfers between Liberia airport and Tamarindo, Costa Rica on May 13. We had paid Orbitz a total of $172 (Itinerary #7172452322544) for two round trips, but upon arrival, there was no Grayline of Costa Rica van or representative. There were hardly any people left, and no taxis, it was ten o'clock at night, and a guy approached, saying he could take us to Tamarindo. He supposedly texted Grayline, (at ten o'clock at night?) and they supposedly replied that they had our names and arrival information, but that Orbitz had not paid them, so they sent nobody. This was obviously bogus, so I paid his fee of $110, got his name and phone number so I could cancel the return.

We booked the return with a local company for $20 each (2 of us) and the owner said that she had had trouble with this guy in the past--that he even represented himself as her manager! Knowing that we were scheduled for 9:00 am, he sent a van at 8:30, hoping we would get on by mistake. I am out the $172 I paid you, the $110 I paid him, and the $40 we had to pay for the reliable local outfit. This is going to be a problem for you, Grayline of Costa Rica, and for travelers in the future. Will write details in full if you wish. I think you will want to deal with this problem before it goes viral on the Internet. I seek a full refund for services NOT provided. This guy has hacked the websites of all the local transfer providers, Grayline (and possibly, Orbitz). He is highly intelligent, speaks unaccented English, and is a real threat to your reputation. We have used you in the past with good results, always, so this was a surprise.

I canceled a hotel reservation 24 hrs prior to arriving because my daughter-in-law went into labor, and my son, her husband, was supposed to stay at this hotel but flew home to be there for the birth of their first child. 3 rooms were booked, and all 3 people, 2 of them family, flew home immediately. I told the operator we'd like a refund, and he told me he'd have to call the hotel, which he proceeded to do, then told me we'd have to call back on monday. I said fine, but cancel the 3 rooms. He did not cancel. I called back on Monday and have been fighting for a refund. I was on the phone Monday, for a total of 5 hours with Orbitz trying to get this handled for my son and daughter-in-law. I sent in the discharge summary proving her medical emergency.

They said they'd call me back; then proceeded to send me an email telling me that they could not accept the documentation because it was from a different email then they had on record. Prior to sending the info, the supervisor, Donna, who was supposed to helping me, told me she could have two emails on file. I am now on hold again right now, Tuesday, for 3 1/2 hours trying to take care of this, and they keep doing the same thing; telling me it wasn't canceled, calling the hotel, not finding my emails. I've sent the same email 10 times to two different email addresses. I've told every operator, at least 5 different ones, the same exact story, that we canceled 24 hrs prior, but their operator did not do it so we are paying the price for his stupidity. I am frustrated beyond belief and will never use Orbitz again and will share my experience with all those I know who travel.

Yesterday around 5pm I called Orbitz to make a name correction on my reservation. Since then I have been on hold 5 times,while a rep looks into my problem.However nobody ever comes back on the line. I have a total of 200 minutes on hold. I am presently on hold with a Customer Service Rep Diana, for 30 minutes,while she tries to get a supervisor to address my situation. It is a simple matter of them submitting the name change to West Jet?

I made an reservation on Friday at Quality Inn Suites 3/25/2016 my phone died. I called back to customer service at Orbitz to see if the reservation was confirmed but it was not showing in the system I spike to two age to to obtain this information. I booked a reservation at holiday Inn Express and in which we resided. I called Orbitz after seeing the charge from Quality Inn on my bank account. I called to advise them of it and get a refund. I was given the run around.

I waited on line for a long time while the agent was to return and when she did she stated I needed to wait until Monday for a manager to confirm my reservation however I'm trying to understand if I've made two reservations on your site in one weekend and the agent at quality Inn confirmed we did not stay there why is this needed. I was extremely upset. So I called back to speak to Sam a manager at Orbitz who told me the same thing after waiting for him on line 10 minutes. I'm sorely disappointed in Orbitz and will not be using this site ever. I also called the Quality Inn and spoke to the agent on duty who told me Orbitz is a gimmick basically and when you cancel reservations they try to find ways not to refund your money. I believe this is the case.

Do Not I Repeat Do Not use this crooked web site.

I was the victim of ID theft in October of 2015. They stole out of my account $34,000 dollars. My debit card was stolen my home mailbox. Some unknown person on 11/18/16 charged 2 tickets from Orbitz for a total of $ 918.76. I called Orbitz to inform them of this fraud. The agent kept asking me for a confirmation number. I told him if I didn't make the reservations, how would I know.

I just want to know whose names are on the tickets so that I can give it to the police. I have filled out the police report and spoken with the B of A. The card's last 4 numbers were 1117, other numbers were on the statement. I am a retired senior and this hurts.

I called Orbitz to change the dates for my flight. The customer service rep clearly did not know what he was doing. It took 2 hours on the phone with him to finally get my flight changed (same flight, same airline, departing a few days later). Then I received the confirmation email he sent me and he booked me on the wrong flight! I called Orbitz back to try to fix the issue. I have been on hold for 90 minutes now. That's over 3 and a half hours today that I spent on hold. This is ridiculous. I will never book with Orbitz again.

I booked tickets by Orbitz. It was completed when I finished the booking process and also I can see the transaction on my bank statement. But two days later, I noticed my reservation had been changed and also I can't find any information of my tickets. So I called Orbitz customer services several times, they told me that it is because Delta changed the schedule and I have to call Delta to confirm my tickets information. Once I called Delta airline, they said Orbitz cancelled my flight.

Then I call back to Orbitz, they said I have to make a new reservation based on the current tickets price. The original prices was around $700, but the tickets went up to $950 and Orbitz said I have to take that cost by myself. I don't think it is my fault, so I think Orbitz should take care that cost for me. They didn't treat me very well and it doesn't make any sense that I pay the extra cost.

Booked package from SFO to Cancun from 01/16/2016 - 01/23/2016 for two people, Orbitz booking number: PBORB-536-485-5224, paid $3544.00 on Monday 12/14/2015 at 7:00 p. (PST). On Wednesday 12/16/2015 at 10:00 am (PST) noticed that the same package price dropped to $3390.00 ($150.00 less) called Orbitz and talked to the agent and supervisor, who lied to me and told me that Orbits does not have "48 hours best price guarantee" and I can not get the difference refunded to me. I called multiple times back to complain to Orbitz corporate service department, and was always put on hold, finally I was told today Friday 12/18/2015 that's mow it is too late to file for the refund, because 48 hours already passes, even though Orbitz has record of my call on Wednesday 12/16/2015, which was less than 48 hours.

Orbitz Record Locatior- PBORB8032720544. Hi, I am so disappointed with Orbitz customer service. really you made feel sad! why have you changed my flight timing. I suppose to fly from DXB to Manila at 11pm on 17th Dec 2015 but now it has changed to 7:40pm on the same date. I have to rush from my work to home then to the airport! I should be working till 6pm! Its not a joke. I paid a lot of money for this flight then usual. I demand a service recovery for the inconvenience caused to me. Should I contact the Orbitz corporate office with my complaint next?

My father booked these tickets on my behalf and we were due to fly to Kathmandu on the 30th August how ever after the earthquake we had to revise and cancel our trip. June 19th my father first made contact with Orbits to have the flights refunded how ever you would not honour this request and he was referred onto the travel insurance he had taken out with Allianz, after further discussion it was made clear that the policy did not cover natural disaster. After he was told about this he then got back in communication with an Orbitz agent whom advised he could change the tickets, how ever as it wasn’t booked under his name, I was then to call Orbitz and discuss the options. After hours of online searching and many messages with my father I managed to find a phone number that worked from Australia.

I spoke with an agent about the situation, she was very helpful and said yes I could change the flights for a cost or $201, we had discussed I wanted to change the flights to New Zealand, Queenstown departing June 1st 2016 I was advised that this was all a go how ever I had called out of Malaysian airlines opening hours. I was told to call back again the following time at 9am, I proceeded and called back 9am the following morning I then got a different agent again whom told me I was miss informed and that my father had to give me authorisation to change these flights. I then communicated with my father once more and informed him of the information I was give by this time he was in Thailand.

By this time, I had not boarded my flight and I was marked as a no show. However, my father spoke to a Malaysian airline (30.08.2015) representative whom advised him if I Bridie called and explained and also quoted the ticket locator number they would let me use my return travel to book new flights. I called Malaysian Airlines once more and explained however I was yet again told I needed to sort it with Orbitz as they took the payment. So I again called Orbits and spoke to and Agent by the name of Ronald whom advised me I had been tagged as a no show and my return flight had been cancelled how ever he would call the airline and see what could be done.

From the 31st August to the 4th September I called 16 times each time earlier and earlier in the morning eventually waking up at 12pm Australian time to talk to Orbitz agents, I was being told I could have my tickets changed how ever they needed to be used before 11th Feb. 2016 I was ok with this and had changed the leg of my flight to only Perth to Phuket late Jan. However, the cost was coming under the credit I had I then asked if it was a return flight she was unsure and said she needed to check with the airline however yet again it had taken so long to discuss this when the agent went to check with the airline it was closed, I asked for her to make sure it was on my file as to what was happening and that all I needed to do was call back and verify the flight’s.

I called back the following morning and again got a different agent who informed me I was yet again miss informed I could not get any flights as it was a no show after he spoke with the airline he then came back and told me I could apply to have a refund of the unused taxes. As I have been on the phone for the last few months’ endless hours used I was fed up and agreed to the application. I am appalled in the service of Orbitz and its staff I have never had this much trouble with a booking and wish to pursue this further I have been advised I have the right to take this matter to the Orbitz better business bureau.

I made reservations on Orbitz at travel lodge in Gallup New Mexico on August 3 2015 when I went to check in the female at the counter went crazy when I asked why they did not post that there pool and Jacuzzi was closed and she stated "you tourists with your complaints."

Complaints and told me to get the hell out of the lobby and threatened me saying that she was going to mess me up and started to walk out and act as if she was going to hit me. I told her here I am and spread my arms out and said go ahead as she took her shirt off and stripped to her bra and walked to the side door and she stopped right when she got to me and acted as if she was going to hit me, she walked bake around the counter, I then asked to get my money back and she said to said call Orbitz.

I asked to talk to the manager and she said go off and again to get out. At that point another person who said that he was the manager came out and refused to give his name told me to leave. I told him that I wanted his name which he refused to give and the female started yelling again and and came running at me again saying she was going to kick my ass again and ran around the counted to the side door at which time the so called manager grabbed her and pulled her to back office and closed the door I told them to call the police over and over again at which time the manager said that he did and that he had the right to refuse service and pointed the sign on the wall at which time I told him that's fine but I have reservations and that I had a right to ask for my money back. He said no and and again he refused to give me his name and refused to give the owners name and phone number.

The police showed up and asked questions and they told me that the female said that she did what I said happen and the cameras were not working at the time and said that they could not do anything at that time even though she admitted that she had threatened me and came after me as if she was going to attack me. I asked for a supervisor from the police department and I was told that there was none.

The female at the counter was not arrested for threatening. And I was told to make a complaint. The female worker called her boyfriend who showed up and said some stuff to me only because the police were there to keep me away from him. I was forced to go to another hotel and spend more money for a room. Later a police sergeant showed up and I tried to ask questions but got no where but a police, report number and to make a complaint with the police department the next day with the Gallup police department. Orbitz corporate needs to understand the place they are sending people!

I feel that Orbitz is willingly part of a scam. Recently, my husband and I booked a hotel room through Orbitz, and it turned out to be a complete disaster. First of all, the picture of the hotel (Days Inn, Livonia Michigan) is not the same as the actual hotel. It is a rundown place that probably started out as a hotel in the 30's. Why wouldn't Orbitz know this? Do you even care how your company is represented? I always associated Orbitz with quality. Now I just don't know anymore. The furniture is rickety along with the building. They need to close and rebuild from the ground. Horrid!!!

I made an airline reservations for 3 and a car reservations. We landed at the airport and our car was at another airport. We had to pay double to get another car at the airport we landed at. Your representative said I should have double checked my reservations. In the future I will not have to because I will not use orbitz again.

I reserved a vacation package for Houston for the 1st week of May 2015 in February 2015.I realized that we may not be able to make the trip in the last week of February I called Orbitz to cancel the trip. They agreed to cancel , but on refunds will be made. This is something like a highway robbery. I asked for a cancelation 2 months before the scheduled trip and they simply said the airlines won't allow refunds. Yes there are fine prints that says it is nonrefundable is it OK that I should forefiet $3000.00 ?. It is my understanding that airlines have to make a full refund isf the cancellation is done a week before the scheduled trip. I ma exploring the leagal actions that I can take. I request all concerned to call their elected officials and make rules so that these thives won't be allowed to rob people. Anything that you purchase can be returned for a full refund within a month, but not some thing that you buy from orbitz. Buyers Beware !!!

I purchased a flight and hotel with orbitz from Bismarck, ND to Sioux City, IA for a meeting on March 29. My departure flight was on March 28 from Bismarck, ND. The flight was delayed and when I finally got to Minneapolis, MN, the connecting flight to ORD had already left. All other flights to ORD then on to Sioux City, IA were all booked and I would have missed the connecting flight in ORD to SUX anyway, from what Delta had told me. I was told I wouldn’t get to SUX until the following day (late afternoon). Well, I needed to get to SUX by the AM of March, 29, which is why I bought the ticket from orbitz. I was sent back to Bismarck and was told that orbitz had cancelled my hotel and credited our card. To get my money back on the flight has been a nightmare. This was not my fault, it was the airlines. I do not have control over the weather but I did purchase a service from your company and you have failed to fullfill your end of the business transaction. Instead of remedying the situation, your company have chosen to keep my money and give me 75 dollars. I feel swindled. I do not think a company of this stature can ethically operate in this manner and do business in the manner that you have treated me. I am left without a recourse and am a victim of your corrupt business practices. Sir, you have taken my money and refused to compensate me. In my book, this company is a theif.

Want a car? Great low prices BUT they don’t tell you that the insurance you buy isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. It isn’t the same insurance you get from the car rental company. Oh, book a hotel — great ! But wait, we’ll tell you the room has A/C — surprise, it doesn’t. We’ll tell you it has complimentary WI FI internet access — ooopps, it doesn’t. Go ahead and call orbitz to make a change — good luck. I was on hold at the rental car pick up location for 1.5 hours and never talked to an agent.

I was on hold for 2 hours at the hotel room that didn’t have A/C — and never talked to a customer service person. I paid over $1500 for a room and car and DID NOT GET WHAT I WAS PROMISED ! Oh, and don’t bother talking to the rental car company — they point the finger at Orbitz and do NOTHING to help. Don’t talk to the hotel operator — they point the finger and ORBITZ and do NOTHING to help ! If you want to get ripped off — do business with Orbitz. If you want to get what you are promised — deal directly with the car company and the hotel operator. I will NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH ORBITZ AGAIN !

I cancelled my husband and my flight in the latter part of June. We were to take a flight to Detroit in August. I also had purchased the Orbitz Travel Insurance Plan, at an additional fee. When I called to cancel I was told that that particular number I had called was for hotels only. They immediately transfered me to another agent. I was told by this agent to call another number. I again called and was told once more that they didn’t handle this type of problem. After 2 hrs of needless phone calls to Orbitz, I went on line to try to cancel my flight. I received notice it had been cancelled and the monies would be refunded within a two week period.

It has been 4 weeks and I haven’t received any info on the status of my refund. When I went on line to ask about the tracking status, the computer continuely stated they had no record of my name or area code?! Why do they allow such companies to function like this? This extra Travel Insurance Plan #2395 that I paid extra for, for my husband and myself is worthless! This is faults advertisement in the fullest! There should be some law that Orbitz has violated! How about it Orbitz, where is my refund?

January 2011. Orbitz stranded my young female passenger Whitney (traveling alone) multiple times for a total of 10 days on a simple three week trip from Ft Lauderdale to Maui. 18 hours on the phone to Orbitz including more than 25 separate calls and two 3-6 hour marathon calls. Over $8000 in excess expenses on a $1000 flight and in the end I had to purchase new/duplicate tickets TWICE. Clear errors by Orbitz, documented in writing, but Orbitz supervisors were willing to spend HOURS talking on the phone to avoid taking ANY responsibility.

Repeatedly being bounced back and forth between US Airways and Orbitz. Flights confirmed by BOTH Orbitz and the airlines… but then turned away at the airline check-in, with US Airways repeatedly denying any responsibility “because you booked through Orbitz”. Orbitz is recently embroiled in a bitter dispute with one or more airlines and is passing the pain along to their customers. Orbitz dragged us through three weeks of travel hell on our trip to Maui. I’m a frequent traveller for business and leisure (1 million plus miles on three different airlines). My company and I routinely use Orbitz for its convenient aggregation of flights and hotels. We’ve booked more than 5000 reservations since Orbitz’ inception in 2001 and until recently had very few problems.

This was the worst travel nightmare I’ve experienced in 30 years (and I’ve had quite a few–you can’t travel as much as I do without getting used to a certain amount of frustration and snafus). And my company and friends are also reporting a rash of Orbitz problems starting in December 2010.

My post-mortem analysis? Orbitz is being seriously squeezed by the airlines in ways that are causing serious operational problems and Orbitz simply CAN’T AFFORD to take responsibility. I believe Orbitz charges a fee of only about $6 for booking flights. In the past I think most airlines treated Orbitz like a valued source of millions of dollars of bookings and if there were problems–even if Orbitz or the passenger had some complicity in the origin of the booking problem–the airlines cut Orbitz some slack and took care of Orbitz passengers. But no more.

What happens when Orbitz makes a booking error or misinforms a passenger? What if it’s a $2000 mistake and the airline won’t take a penny less to fix it? That’s more than THREE HUNDRED tickets Orbitz would need to sell just to break even if they stepped up to the plate and paid for their mistake. Now what if there’s a sudden rash of booking errors? (Which appears to be the case.) Orbitz could be bankrupted within a few months by the costs. If I’m even close to a correct guess on this travelers should AVOID BOOKING ON ORBITZ because if anything goes wrong Orbitz isn’t going to take responsibility. They can’t afford to.

If I hadn’t had an extra $8000 lying about to pay the total cost of Orbitz’ endless series of screw-ups I would have had a MAJOR problem on my hands that would have put Whitney at serious risk, alone and thousands of miles from home. Do YOU have an $8000 bankroll to pay for Orbitz mistakes on YOUR next trip? Can you afford to put your loved ones or employees at risk? Think about it. Check google news for “Orbitz dispute American Airlines”. Caveat emptor.

I phoned my credit card company and let them know I would be making a large purchase through Orbitz.com. We received confirmations and updates from Orbitz, and had NO WAY of knowing what they were doing until he went to check in for his flight and found that Orbitz had voided his ticket. This was done without the courtesy of a CALL, EMAIL or notification of any kind. Orbitz did not even have the good grace to apologize for what they have put us through, and have yet to give me my money back. I will NEVER deal with this company again, and I have used them many times in the past!