World Travel & Tours - San Diego, California

Tim M.

Overpriced and Unprofessional Travel Agent Who Lies NONSTOP

* I booked a ONE-WAY flight from San Diego, California to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
* I booked this ONE-WAY flight SEVEN (7) MONTHS in advance.
* Price paid was $700!
* Official airline price after taxes + fees = $535
* Agent received $165 profit + airline commission for a $535 ticket

When I asked about the enormous pricing difference the agent simply replied via text with:

* "Be aware of doing business online"
* "There are many scam and they showing low prices but when you inserted your credit info and complete purchase they will say sorry something and your credit card stored on their system"
* "A lot of my clients have problems like that and some check in at airport they hadn't there name in there"
* "Some fake website"
* "They built from Africa"
* "Opss I am not well in IT"
* "But some of my clients did had problems and they ask me for help"

What site did I use to determine the actual airline price? Google Flights which then directed me to the OFFICIAL Singapore Airlines Website.

These replies were copied word for word from my phone.

Fun fact: I was quoted $920 for the exact trip earlier. Agent was later hit by a burst of irrationally generosity and dropped the price to "just" $790.

He also insisted he was unable to cancel the ticket, repeatedly. I called the airline directly to verify his claim - they confirmed that the ticket was still eligible for cancellation. I let the travel agent know this (so he can cancel) - he refuses and offers me $100 in cash when I pick up my Visa from his office. Now he claims that the airline will ding him $300 if he cancels my ticket. Unbelievable.

=================VISA LIES===================

I'm a Vietnamese-American so I opted for the 5-Year Visa.

* 5 Year Visa Pricing = $90 from Agent
* 5 Year Visa Pricing from Vietnamese Consulate = $50 + return postage

The application is a one page form printed from the Embassy website - agent claimed this was $40 by itself. Application is free to download and print.

The real kicker is paying a $40 premium for a promised 2-3 week delivery only to receive it 4-5 weeks later.

When confronted about nondelivery the agent replied with:

* "Just seat back and relax"
* "You don't have to do any things"
* " Your trip is next year, don't have to worry, we take good care for you"

Agent continued to parrot these lines to me during our call. well. He even had the audacity to repeatedly say: "You keep rushing me."

Unbelievable. This 5-Year Visa is worth $50 + return postage. The turnaround time is one week when going through the Vietnamese GOVERNMENT.

I pay this guy $90 with a slower promised turnaround time of 2-3 weeks. I inquire about the non-delivery after 3 weeks and he tells me to stop rushing him? Disgusting.

He said he would pay $25 for overnight shipping and that my Visa would arrive next week (week #4). Visa never arrives and it is now week #5 - I pay a visit to his office to confront him and lo and behold, the Visa is in an envelope with postage attached.

====UNPROFESSIONAL AND SHADY BEHAVIOR====

I paid $700 for a flight with 2 layovers. Travel agent issues me a flight with 3 layovers but he marks the third layover trip as "STOP." He has confirmed this via text and email. I triple checked with the airlines website and customer service number as well as Google Flights - it is 3 layovers.

The only reason I'm not taking this to small claims court is because my family members have been insisting that I let it go. They have since warned their close friends and co-workers about this dishonest agency.

===============ALTERNATIVES================

* Book with a different agency
* Book your flights online
* Submit Visa applications directly to the country's embassy (if applicable)
* Have your children/grandchildren or niece/nephew do all the above for you

I have texts of our conversation to serve as PROOF and will post them online if he dares to deny any of my claims.

Malenga S.