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Orbitz Automatically Adds $14 Bus Ticket 'For Your Convenience'

Oh Orbitz. Why do you keep making us publish these stories? Via Technologizer:

I ended up at Orbitz, which offered some attractive-sounding package deals for a flight and hotel room. I started clicking my way through to buy... Orbitz had added a $14 bus pickup and dropoff to my order. One I hadn’t asked for. And it told me it was doing it "for my convenience." ...

Keep reading to what other optional upgrades Orbitz thinks are "convenient" for you.

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Online Travel Agents / Travel Websites / Europe Travel / → All Tags

Supermarket List: Milk, Bread, Cheap Vacation

While you might be used to picking up cheap groceries in your nearest Aldi, we had never thought you could pick up a vacation while you’re at it. But apparently the no-frills supermarket chain has already made in-roads on the German-speaking travel market and Britain is next in line.

Come January, Aldi Travel plans to sell cheap city breaks, summer vacations and ski deals across Europe through their website. They’ll advertise six different holidays every two weeks through in-store brochures and customers will pick up their package online.

We can see the attractiveness of cheap prices in exchange for total unattractiveness at Aldi supermarkets, but we’re not sure how this transfers to vacations. Will we get cheap prices and totally unattractive hotels? The jury’s still out.

Related Stories:
· Aldi Travel [Official Site]
· Discount Chain Aldi Sets Off On Holiday Market [UK Times]
· Online Travel Agents coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Laura Mary]

Online Travel Agents / Travel News / → All Tags

The Customer's Right Online

It's so annoying when you've booked a trip online and something goes mysteriously wrong en route, leaving you no live person to deal with. That's all in the process of changing, thanks to revamped and improved customer service initiatives being taken up by tons of the major online travel booking systems-like Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia.

Expedia's new program allows agents to deal directly with air or hotel problems. And with Orbitz, a detailed alert system when a flight is delayed or cancelled allows the passenger to know immediately and make changes to itineraries. Travelocity has over 1,000 agents available 24 hours a day to deal with travel problems.

We say finally! to all this and are way more inclined to use online booking systems with awesome customer service. Er...they still better have a damn good price.

Related Stories:
·   A New Emphasis on Customer Service [NY Times]