anyone know...Update

anyone know how to go about suing a travel agency???

I'm supposed to leave for vacation tomorrow and they just now told me that one of my hotels is overbooked and it looks like the entire island is sold out.

I'm speechless.

UPDATE: I've been on the phone and web for hours, but seem to have gotten it all worked out. Instead of one hotel on Oahu for five nights, we'll be visiting two hotels and a condo!


The stress anxiety and this afternoon/evening has been crazy! Hopefully we'll get some real money back from the travel agency.

The travel agent wanted to send us to Maui instead, but since we're going for the U2 concert, we need to be on Oahu (along with 50,000 other concert-goers, not to mention Pearl Harbor anniversary visitors and the Honolulu marathon).

I'm exhausted, leaving tomorrow for CA -- and still have to pack!

Message edited 12/1/2006 10:14:54 PM.

Re: anyone know...

OMGOSH! That's terrible. I cant help you, but I'm sorry to hear about this.

Re: anyone know...

OMG They should bust their azz to find you an alternative I feel so bad for you

Re: anyone know...

then they need to book you some where else and give you an upgrade!

that's insane

why would anything be sold out on a non-peak week?

Re: anyone know...

I am so sorry to hear that! How can that happen??

Re: anyone know...

OMG....I hope it works out for you!!!!

Re: anyone know...

OMG! that's insane. well i would definitly start by reporting them.

Re: anyone know...

I would change the title of the post with a Travel Agent help but not Travel related --- I though HarleyGirl was a travel agent. I'm sure she could help you with the lingo that you would need to get them to turn it around.

I would think you'd rather go & get upgraded than lose out on your vacation.

Re: anyone know...

you have fm

Re: anyone know...Update

thanks for the support and suggestions!

Re: anyone know...Update

Have a great time!! use that flight time wisely!

Re: anyone know...Update

Posted by lilacwine

anyone know how to go about suing a travel agency???

I'm supposed to leave for vacation tomorrow and they just now told me that one of my hotels is overbooked and it looks like the entire island is sold out.

I'm speechless.

UPDATE: I've been on the phone and web for hours, but seem to have gotten it all worked out. Instead of one hotel on Oahu for five nights, we'll be visiting two hotels and a condo!


The stress anxiety and this afternoon/evening has been crazy! Hopefully we'll get some real money back from the travel agency.

The travel agent wanted to send us to Maui instead, but since we're going for the U2 concert, we need to be on Oahu (along with 50,000 other concert-goers, not to mention Pearl Harbor anniversary visitors and the Honolulu marathon).

I'm exhausted, leaving tomorrow for CA -- and still have to pack!

Re: anyone know...Update

Oh no girl I am so sorry!!!! Enjoy your vacation and def pursue this when you get back.

Re: anyone know...Update

I can give you some suggestions or things that should have happened.

Did you book this as a package?

Or did the TA book this as air and hotel seperately?

If it was a package they used a tour operator and/or vendor such as gogo world wide, tnt vacations, bluesky tours, apple vacations, etc...

Each tour operator and/or vendor is only allocated so much space at a hotel. When all the space the vendor sells is gone that's it no more. But they also take into account of no show's and cancellations so they give a little less leaving a few rooms available for last minute selling.

However, and this has happened to me with cruise lines, you can have 2 TA located in 2 different locations booking with the same tour operator the last room in the entire hotel. And both book. Both get a confirmation number. But the tour operator doesnt know this they just know rooms are being booked. It showed availability b/c their was. Nothing was guaranteed until final booking and ticketing.

The tour operator should have notified the agent immediately if their were any issues. An agency will need to have registered their ARC or IATAN number with the vendor and the tour operator will have all their agency contact information (phone, fax, email) and will contact the agent.

If the agent booked this on their GDS system (global distribution system) such as Apollo, Sabre, Worldspan, etc...hotels have 48 hours to kick back a request. For instance, if I booked a hotel today for you, and receive a confirmation number. The hotel has 48 hours to send me a message through the GDS if their were any issues. Such issues like the rate is no longer valid, the hotel is oversold, etc...if after 48 hours I receive no notifcation then everything is fine. These are things the travelers never know because the agent will do what they have to to fix it and not worry the traveler. Plus they are very rare. They will contact the hotels inside sales, contact the GDS help desk, and do what they have to do to get it right. Worst case scenario is they have exhausted all their resources and the hotel wont budge and they will have to notify the travelers. But this is all done within 48 hours. And again is rare. I've tried to book a hotel room and it shows availability then I go to confirm and it's gone. So it's rare to be selling oversold space.

If they booked through a GDS and the hotel was oversold they would have received a message when trying to book and would never have been able to book the hotel. The system would not allow it.

Here is what I can suggest, by pass the TA. Call the hotel with your confirmation number and play dumb. Tell them you are confirming your stay at the hotel and wanted to follow up on the check in and check out policies as you know they often vary from hotel to hotel. See what the front desk tells you. If they cant find you by your confirmation number they can by your name. See how it plays out with them.

If they give you a hard time things being oversold and you were bumped out dont argue with them, they are just front desk. Go to inside sales. Tell them you had a room and confirmation that was booked so much time ago why are you only finding out the day before that it's oversold. Also find out if they charged your card. Some resorts will charge you for one night stay as a guarantee. However if it was a package everything would be paid in full.

I would find out from the hotel if they were oversold how and when did they notify your TA. If your TA booked this believe me if their were issues tour operator or vendor would have notified them with emails, faxes, and letters. All with plenty of time. I get notices from carnival 5 months prior to a sailing if their is going to be so much as a time change at the pier. I would check with the vendors on how and when communications were sent to the TA. If they never notified the TA then honestly it's not the TA's fault. But if they notified the TA a month ago and she is just telling you now then their is a problem.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Message edited 12/1/2006 10:43:32 PM.

Re: anyone know...Update

Glad to hear that things kind of worked out!! That is so crappy that they were overbooked.....that's horrible. I would've been beside myself and I'm sure you were. Glad that they found you the hotels and condo though. Now go and enjoy yourself Take lots of pictures for us!!

Re: anyone know...Update

omg donna how awful!!!!!! glad to read that it has been taken care of - I can't believe they did this to you - I hope you get LOADS of money back from them!!!!!!!

have a good trip - enjoy the concert - neil and I are soooooooooo jealous!