is Bestjet reliable?

[diesmile]

Hi i am flying from ADL -> HGH return during augest this year via cathay pacific. the cathay websites shows fare for 931 while bestjet (results via skyscanner) came back for 879, so there are $50 saving.

and we are going with 2 adults, 1 child and 1 infant.

so my question is : is bestjet reliable or good to book with?

many thanks.

 

[Saab34]

Forget it.

Boss of failed Air Australia returns to travel industry | smh.com.au

 

[diesmile]

oh dear, thanks for that.

 

[whatmeworry]

Bestjet accused of misleading customers.

Travellers have accused budget airfare website Bestjet of misleading behaviour, saying it is cancelling reservations and asking for more money for new flights.
Customers told Fairfax Media the Brisbane-based company offered cheap flights but cancelled their reservations shortly after payment due to what it said were credit card concerns.

Budget airfare website Bestjet accused of misleading customers

 

[Mark 2017]

Do not buy from Bestjet. I cancelled a flight and made 20-25 calls to their call centre over 9 months to obtain my refund. After numerous excuses and promises Bestjet claimed that they would pay my refund but would only send the money to a credit card account that had been closed in the interim (rather than to a replacement card account or bank account that I provided details for). Still waiting.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Do not buy from Bestjet. I cancelled a flight and made 20-25 calls to their call centre over 9 months to obtain my refund. After numerous excuses and promises Bestjet claimed that they would pay my refund but would only send the money to a credit card account that had been closed in the interim (rather than to a replacement card account or bank account that I provided details for). Still waiting.

Unfortunately there's not a lot you can do about the credit card refund - it's standard practice to refund it to the card used at the time of the transaction. If the account is closed it will just appear as a credit on that card. You'll need to transfer it out from there.

 

[AIRwin]

Do not buy from Bestjet. I cancelled a flight and made 20-25 calls to their call centre over 9 months to obtain my refund. After numerous excuses and promises Bestjet claimed that they would pay my refund but would only send the money to a credit card account that had been closed in the interim (rather than to a replacement card account or bank account that I provided details for). Still waiting.

Wow I'm glad you registered as an AFF member to share this experience. I've cancelled a flight and was told that the refund will take 3 months under their standard terms and conditions but now I know to keep hassling them if it takes longer...

 

[albatross710]

I have booked 6 different itineraries with Bestjet and travelled as booked. A couple of observations:

One fare I booked had disappeared from all other sites and was still showing as bookable on Bestjet. I quickly processed a booking for the fare and then next day it was cancelled. So a 'booking" on bestjet is really is a "request" for the to book it.

Two times I have needed to change my return travel plans ie I'm already away on my journey and need to change my return date. They only offer an email change request service. Response was slow and then expense of the change was extortionate.

So in 2016 I made 5 international bookings with them. In 2017 it has been 1.

My summary, I will use them provided I am certain my travel will not change. If booking direct with SQ or QF is no more than $100 more I book with airline direct.

Alby

 

[Andz]

Booked through them Perth to Bali. Used AMEX for insurance. Got airline reference number 2 hours later. Called the airline and confirmed booking. I also called their call centre and spoke to someone about confirm seats. They answered the call quickly and they were polite and knowledgeable. I still need to travel in November so I will update this thread if anything else changes.

 

[madrooster]

Two times I have needed to change my return travel plans ie I'm already away on my journey and need to change my return date. They only offer an email change request service. Response was slow and then expense of the change was extortionate.

After departure you can just contact the airline directly to make changes.

 

[Sdtravel]

Ive said this before somewhere else. Why not just use the bestjet price and get it matched with someone more reliable. I go to my local flight centre and do price match and they beat it by $1 and waive credit card fees. If you need to make changes its with someone reputable and you can see someone or speakwith their call centre.

Tickets get issued straight away after citing the price. So if bestjet are showing old prices that get cancelled later when you try and book it doesn't matter. By then i would have already seen the person I deal with and its issued. They dont try and book with bestjet they just check its still available on the site or i send them a screen cap of it.

 

[Mark 2017]

Ive said this before somewhere else. Why not just use the bestjet price and get it matched with someone more reliable. I go to my local flight centre and do price match and they beat it by $1 and waive credit card fees. If you need to make changes its with someone reputable and you can see someone or speakwith their call centre.

Tickets get issued straight away after citing the price. So if bestjet are showing old prices that get cancelled later when you try and book it doesn't matter. By then i would have already seen the person I deal with and its issued. They dont try and book with bestjet they just check its still available on the site or i send them a screen cap of it.

Good idea, Sdtravel;1685637. My bank have provided a report showing no activity on my old credit card for the last 100 days (some 6 weeks after Bestjet allege that they have provided a partial refund). Bestjet no longer respond to my email correspondence.

 

[Mark 2017]

Unfortunately there's not a lot you can do about the credit card refund - it's standard practice to refund it to the card used at the time of the transaction. If the account is closed it will just appear as a credit on that card. You'll need to transfer it out from there.

Unfortunately (MEL_Traveller;1683791), my bank have provided a report showing no activity on my old credit card for the last 100 days (some 6 weeks after Bestjet allege that they have provided a partial refund). Bestjet no longer respond to my email correspondence.

 

[bobe]

I have used them twice and never had a problem, another time I searched with them for a CX flight took a screen shot and sent it to CX and they matched it, was $ 150 cheaper.

 

[AIRwin]

Wow I'm glad you registered as an AFF member to share this experience. I've cancelled a flight and was told that the refund will take 3 months under their standard terms and conditions but now I know to keep hassling them if it takes longer...

Update on this:
Booking cancelled: 26 July
Refund received: 24 October

 

[AIRwin]

Thanks to @Mattg for posting this on another thread:
Question - OTA v Airline v TA

 

[UP4014]

Yep, they're gone the way of the Dodo.