In January I tried to book a £1,600 holiday using Expedia. When I came to pay, the screen jumped back to the home page. This happened a couple of times. I was not given a booking confirmation number, as is usual, nor did I receive an email to confirm.
Next morning I decided to book with Opodo, as I had still not received an email to confirm my booking/itinerary from Expedia. A few days later I realised that £1,670 had been taken from my account by Expedia , although I still had no booking confirmation.
Expedia acknowledged it hadn’t sent a confirmation email but confirmed that the booking did exist, and that it would investigate. On 2 February it advised that there “was no error on the website” and that it was “unable to take responsibility in this case”. I am now overdrawn and have been told by Expedia that the flights are non-refundable.
DI, London
This problem keeps happening to readers using a number of websites, and particularly – as in this case – to those booking late at night. A few years ago I booked flights using Opodo and thought the booking had failed. Two days later, I received an email saying it had gone through.
Readers need to be aware that this happens, and if you are in any doubt check with the website and, ideally, wait a while before you book an alternative. It helps if you use the same website to make any subsequent booking for the same dates.
Happily, in this case, Expedia has agreed to cancel this booking as a gesture of goodwill, and you have been refunded.
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