Angry C.
This company is a scam
I had a terrible experience with this company. I paid $3239.56 for a round trip American Airlines ticket from NY to Barcelona on January 19, 2024. The agent suggested me to buy a travel protection plan for $226.77. Under the ticket protection standard policy, it says the policy covers flight delay compensation, hospitalization and sickness (not allowing to travel). I usually do not buy any travel protection policies. However, since this is the first time I am using this company, I thought it might be prudent to buy a policy like this in case I am sick. Then I was given a ticket number and a booking number. When I checked on the American Airlines Website to see if the ticket was a valid one, nothing showed up even after I fully paid for it. I called my travel agent and asked for a refund within the 24 hour time frame. Then I was told actually the ticket was issued by Qantas Airlines. I figured out that basically Business-class.com (or Budgetelite, the other name they use) used someone's Qantas Airlines miles in exchange for a ticket from AA under the One World Alliance to be issued under my name in exchange for the price I paid. I was able to check from Qantas website. At that time, I thought "well, this is an unusual practice, but I am glad I bought a protection policy because this company is not a typical travel agency and it might be hard to get a refund should something happens if I do not have a protection policy." Little did I know that something did happen as I had a massive allergy attack in the early morning of the day before I am scheduled to travel. I woke up with my face completely swelling. And I had to go to an urgent care and also had a tele med consultation with my regular doctor, Dr. Choi. Dr. Choi immediately asked me not to travel as she worried that my airway might get swelling and I could have breathing difficulties on a long distance flight. Upon hearing this, I immediately contacted my agent. That was 37 hours before my scheduled flight. My agent told me no worries, the customer service will refund me. I was glad that I paid for the protection policy. However, a few hours later, I got a call from customer service, telling me that I was not qualified to get a refund. I could only get a voucher, which can be used within one year on the same route. I was shocked by this because originally the big prints on the protection policy was refund would be given due to sicknesses. Then the customer service told me in order to get this voucher, I would need to pay $ 450. And the customer service said it was because my ticket was not used. That was why I needed to pay. What a BS reason!!! So I contacted my agent again. He was kind and tried to help. A few hours later, he came back to me and told me that according to the customer service, I did not give him a letter from a doctor. HE DID NOT EVEN ASKED FOR A LETTER FROM A DOCTOR. Luckily, I had a letter from Dr. Choi because I thought just in case the company asked for a letter, I should have it. I gave the letter immediately to the agent. And since then, nobody contacts me regarding a refund or even a voucher. After waiting for these many days, my conclusion is that this company is a scam.
Response from BudgetelitetravelFeb 9, 2024
Thank you for your feedback. An internal investigation has been initiated, and a voucher for the full ticket value has been issued to you while the investigation is ongoing. Our representatives will reach out to you as soon as it has been completed. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience in the meantime.