Does Orbitz Charge Fees When Booking Hotel by Phone

[donnajz]

I recently booked a room only reservation at Poly with Orbitz and noticed the “Taxes and Fees’ on my confirmation is more than the 12.50% resort tax charged by Poly. I called Orbitz and was told they have a small fee and this is how they make money. I then looked at their site and saw where it said “No additional fee for hotel reservations when booking by phone”. Does anyone know for sure if they charge a fee when booking by phone? I paid about $45 in fees which I don’t mind but if there is to be no fee, then why should I pay it?

 

[donnajz]

Does anyone know the answer to this?

 

[bumbershoot]

Have you gone through online to see if that extra fee came up that way? It's possible that the Poly booking would have required an extra fee any way you booked through Orbitz.

Service fees may apply to some hotel bookings for facilitating prepaid hotel transactions. The "Taxes and Fees" information displayed during the booking process includes any fee Orbitz charges.

I went through as though booking a room at the Polynesian, and clicked on taxes and fees. In the popup:

Amounts displayed in the "Taxes and Fees" line for prepaid hotel transactions include an estimated amount we expect the hotel to bill for applicable taxes, governmental fees and other charges that the hotels must pay to the government. In addition, the "Taxes and Fees" line includes a fee we charge and retain in exchange for the services we provide in facilitating your transaction with the hotel supplier.

 

[MomToOne]

I then looked at their site and saw where it said “No additional fee for hotel reservations when booking by phone”.

I think the key word in that statement is ADDITIONAL.

Just because booking by phone costs nothing additional doesn't mean they don't charge fees at all. It just means the fees are the same whether you book online or by phone.

The only place I see a "no fee" promise altogether on Orbitz is on airline flights.