
Angelo of Hicksville, NY on July 3, 2011
I am permanently disabled. Though it is difficult for me to travel, I wanted to give myself a vacation, something I had not had in quite a while. And something I saved for for the last two years.
On the advice of my cousin, I booked a vacation with Expedia for JFK to Cancun for June 20-June 27, 2011. Both my cousin and myself explained to the operator /customer service representative Jade (who, by her accent, made it clear that English was not her first language), that I wanted to travel to Cancun for a week, hotel and air included. We both stressed the fact that if I needed to extend my time in Mexico how would that work? The representative said all I had to do was to pay an extra $59 and that would insure me that I could stay as long as I wanted and I could be given my return flight to JFK when I was ready to leave. The representative told this to both my cousin and then to myself. OK, I booked the package and paid by credit card.
I left on 6/20 and arrived in Cancun. At the airport in Cancun, I was told by the people who work with Expedia (their liaison), Best Deal, that another representative would be waiting at my hotel to meet with me at 11:30 am. He never showed up.
I checked in. Throughout the week, I tried to get in touch with this guy whose name was Nestor. Finally, about three days later, I did. He came to the hotel and I explained to him that I was set to leave Monday, 27th of June, but I won't. And that I paid insurance not to lose the flight. In front of me, he called Expedia and confirmed what I said. He hung up and said no problem, just call the transportation people here in Cancun and let them know.
The day before I am scheduled to leave, I called the people at transportation and spoke to Crystal. I told her that I was not leaving on the 27th. She said, "No problem, and just let us know when and we will give you a ride to the airport when you are ready to go back."
Now at this point, I have informed three people that I WAS NOT LEAVING ON THE SCHEDULED DATE: first ,the customer service representative with Expedia. Her name was Jade. In fact, this was from whom I bought the insurance with in the first place! Second, Expedia liaison, Nestor, who CALLED Expedia and informed them I WAS NOT leaving on my scheduled date of June 27, 2011. And third, the transportation people. The woman's name was Crystal, who work with Expedia.
On the 27th, I checked out of the hotel that I booked on my package with Expedia. The reason? I was in too much pain to fly.
The next day, which was Tuesday 6/28, I called Expedia to arrange my flight home. They said they do not owe me a flight home! That I was a no-show at the airport and that my reservation was now cancelled! I told them I bought insurance, but they said they were sorry but I needed to call the airlines. I said I did NOT book this with the airline, I booked this with you! They basically said we cannot help you and sorry you are unsatisfied.
They put me in touch with a supervisor, her name was Willa. She said she spoke to corporate and they said they are not going to do nothing. I wrote to them and threatened them with legal action. They now say, well OK, you can file a claim for your $59 with our insurance agency. I said I'll tell you what, you deal with your agency and I'll look for an attorney.
The $59 doesn't even BEGIN to cover what you cost me. The flight alone was nearly 800 dollars back home, not to mention being LEFT STRANDED in a foreign country and hotel fees, food and trying to get home. A LOT of stress, especially being handicapped. I trusted these people and they nailed me to the wall. Thank God I wasn't traveling with my children.
I definitely will NOT LET this go and if I do not find an attorney, here I'll get one online.