www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I thought that I would post my weird experience last month...

I was in CR and was going to make a quick one way hop to MDE on Copa booked thru Expedia ($35-40 cheaper) then go home from MDE. I got to the airport and apparently my reservation was canceled (BY ME!!!) . When I went to check in online the night before, the Copa website had trouble finding my reservation, but on the 3rd or 4th try, it finally found it. So I checked in and had a boarding pass emailed to me. But at SJO, the Copa agent told me that I had to go to the kiosk to print a boarding pass, the email "doesn't count" in her words. The kiosk couldn't find my reservation and I went in line to check in. They said that my reservation was canceled, but had no other info because it was 3rd party booking. I contacted Expedia (can't get them on the phone) and they said that I canceled my own reservation. WTF???

Lesson learned-- book direct with airlines, even if more expensive. I didn't get any money back either. Bullshit!

Solid advice amigo.. muchas gracias!

Hell yes. I learned that lesson a long time ago. NEVER book flights with a 3rd party service. Any issues, the airline and the service just shrug and point fingers at each other.

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mh

Christopher Elliott writes travel troubleshooting articles in the local paper. According to him the majority of travel screw ups are online third party bookings, his advice book directly with airlines and hotels, or leave it to a real local travel agent.

The third party sites are useful to search multiple choices quickly for best prices. Then I book directly with the hotel or airline. Only one time did I find that the third party had a better deal.

Even with the better deal, looks like it's just a good idea to avoid them altogether because your stress level cancelled out the money savings.

( but i realize you weren't trying to argue for the benefits of using 3rd party, just pointing out the usefulness of their tools)

Funny twist to this... a recruiter from Expedia (not Expedia directly, an agency working with Expedia) just contacted me with a job.

I told them I'd consider it if they refund my money.