Online Travel Agent eDreams Causes Nightmares

Consumer NZ warns travelers to avoid online travel agent eDreams. The watchdog has received numerous complaints from customers who have had difficulty getting refunds and support from eDreams.

The consumer recommends booking with a New Zealand-based travel agent or directly with the airline, to ensure that problems are more easily resolved if things become custard.

Alejandra Hernandez told Consumer that she has been waiting for a refund from eDreams for nine months.

“They pretended to do things but they did nothing … they wasted my time and stole my money,” said Hernandez.

Alesha Canham booked flights on eDreams for a family holiday with her partner and toddler. Noticing that his son’s name was misspelled, Canham spent several weeks attempting to correct the name. But eDreams failed to resolve the issue. Qatar Airways later entered and arranged the ticket.

Sadly, it’s not just customers who have had nightmares with eDreams. Many customers post online saying they have been scammed by eDreams.

“It can be very stressful when travel plans go wrong,” says Consumer research writer Rebecca Styles. “If you can’t get help and support from your travel agent, it exacerbates a bad situation. To avoid travel nightmares, we recommend you book with a New Zealand-based travel agent who has a good reputation for customer service, or book directly with the airline. ”

Your international travel rights

• If your international flight is canceled, your rights vary depending on several factors including the reason for the cancellation, where you are, where you are going and where the airline is based.
• At a minimum, you have the right to refund, credit or be rebooked on another flight.
• You may also be eligible for compensation for any costs arising from the cancellation of the flight, such as the cost of meals, taxis and accommodation.
• Check your travel insurance policy to see if you can make a claim under it.
• If a travel agent or airline takes a long time to process a refund for a canceled flight, you can request a chargeback through your bank if you paid with a credit or debit card.
• If you have an issue with a New Zealand -based travel agent, you can take them to the Disputes Tribunal to resolve the issue.

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