BIG fee for date change

[Michigandermom]

I just called my travel agent to push back the date of my upcoming vacation by 3 days and boy did they stick it to me! She said it would cost me $90 to change my dates. The info in the vacation packet I received said there was a $25 revision fee, so that is what we were expecting, but they don't tell you about all the extra fees. My travel agent charged me her fee again, which I felt was totally wrong. I already paid her once. They also insisted that the vacation packet be FedExed today and they are supposedly FedExing my new packet to me. My vacation isn't for another 2 weeks, so I don't really think this was necessary, but what could I do? So just a warning to anyone who books through Universal Vacations. Make sure of your dates before you hand over any money!

 

[Familyof14]

Booked myself and changed my reservations three times without a TA. Cost? -0-

On the other hand, I had reservations with Disney through a TA and I changed resorts twice with no charge.

You need a new TA after this trip.

 

[gschmerl]

A agree. No need for a travel agent to book these trips. Just book through Loews yourself or Universal Vacations and skip the TA fees all together.

 

[Esmerelda]

Solution: get rid of travel agent

There should be no fees with the hotel for changing your dates as I have done this before.

I always book all myself....this is a good example of why. Besides, half the fun is the planning!


best of luck,
Esmerelda

 

[bg4]

with Universal Vacations the penalty is

45+ days - $25 per person + fees inposed by hotel or airline.
4-44 days - $50 person + fees
0-3 days - no refund

Being as your vacation is two weeks away it is the $50 per person + any airline fees so $90 is not that bad.

If you use Universal Vacations there is NEVER NO FEE for changing dates. (as in they always charge a penalty)

LOEWS direct? don't know.

----------------
followup- There is no need to use travel agent for Universal Vacations (in USA) - you can use any of the internet sites -

http://www.universalorlando.com
http://www.universalfanclub.com/Orlando
http://www.loews-first.com

 

[webray]

You definately need a new TA...man..he/she stuck it to you..not universal!

 

[damo]

We've rearranged dates so many times and have never been charged. However, I do all the bookings myself.

 

[Michigandermom]

Update: I called my TA back today and told her I didn't feel it was right to charge me her $40 fee again, since this was the same vacation she already charged me for. I fully expected to pay the revision fee, but not the TA fee. She argued with me, saying that it is NOT the same vacation she already charged me for. She said it is now a new vacation and there would be new fees because she said she should be compensated for her work. I asked her how long it took her to make the simple phone call to Universal on my behalf. Anyway, I asked her to contact the owner of her company and explain to him how I felt and see if they would be willing to waive the second fee. To make a long story short, she finally called me back and said she would not charge me the second fee. The change in dates will still cost me about $50, but at least I was able to save the other $40. Yes, I will never use a TA again. The only reason I did was because when I tried to book my vacation on-line at the Universal site, at the end it said the total amount of the vacation would be charged to my credit card at the time of booking. Since I was booking 6 months in advance, I didn't want the entire amount charged that early. I could find no phone # to call, so I contacted a TA to help me. That was my first mistake. My second mistake was not finding this message board sooner because I would have done a lot of things differently! Anyway, I will be arriving at the HRH on July 28th and I am going to have a great time!

 

[Esmerelda]

Welll....I'm glad it turned out better than expected. I never use a travel agent due to things of this nature. I don't know anything about Universal Vacations either, my statement was based on my own bookings and changing of things for MY vacations in the past. I have never been charged a changing fee for anything I've ever booked.

I hope you have a super time on you vacation...write and tell us all about it!

here's to a great trip!
Esmerelda

 

[Michigandermom]

Thanks, Esmerelda. I'll definitely write a trip report when I get back!