Is there a way I can voice a complaint on Priceline.com?

[Merandab4]

I purchased three airline tickets from them last week. I was aware that I had to take what was offered to me after I made my bid, but my complaint is this....I was told that if I was booked on a red-eye flight, I would be told about it.
We needed to be home by Monday morning, so we booked our return flight for Sunday. WE did in fact fly out on Sunday at 5:25 pm, but never got to our final destination till 8:35 am on Monday morning. I knew this schedule ahead of time and called customer service to cancelle the trip. ( I knew that I could not cancelle after I paid, but just called to see what I could do). The lady really did not let me get a word in edge wise, so nothing was done.

When I put in that I needed to return on Sunday, I really thought that I would get a flight were I would be home on Sunday. For this reason, one person in our group had to miss the first day of school, and another one had to miss a day of work.

I did save a couple hundred dollars on all of our flights, but I doubt I will ever use price line again. I really want to be able to have an option at what time I fly!
So do you think there is anyone I can voice this complaint to? I really don't know what I want them to do about it now that the trip has already been taken, but I want them to know that what they did to us was unacceptable. I would hate for them to have done something like this to a family with small children. Shlepping around airports at all hours of the night/morning is awful. We couldn't even find any food courts that were open at those hours and we've already been flying for several hours and you know they don't give you food on those flights anymore...lol

 

[Lewisc]

What flights were you given? PL won't give you more than 2 connections and a connection can be up to 3 hours. If PL was within their rules you're out of luck.

 

[inkkognito]

They are sticklers about their rules, so they will probably sock you with the fine print and not care how much you complain. They don't seem to care much about consumer opinions, either. I've used them extensively for MCO hotels, and there is a LaQuinta at the second highest star level that is an absolute slum. All the rest at that level are great; there is no comparison. After three bad experiences there, I wrote Priceline that they might want to consider reclassifying that hotel. All I ever got back was a form letter saying they couldn't do anything about my complaint because they couldn't find my reservation (???). I don't even think they read what I wrote.
Barb

 

[Lewisc]

Barb--frequently the worse hotel in any PL zone and * level is mis-rated. You really have to increase the * level you're bidding on.

I don't know where the OP was flying to. His profile says NE and I can't imagine any legitimate connecting flight taking 15 hours. Even if he elected 2 connections and each connection took 3 hours the numbers don't add up. Depending on his routing he might have had a valid complaint and could still file a BBB complaint. Harder to complain after the trip was completed.

They are sticklers about their rules, so they will probably sock you with the fine print and not care how much you complain. They don't seem to care much about consumer opinions, either. I've used them extensively for MCO hotels, and there is a LaQuinta at the second highest star level that is an absolute slum. All the rest at that level are great; there is no comparison. After three bad experiences there, I wrote Priceline that they might want to consider reclassifying that hotel. All I ever got back was a form letter saying they couldn't do anything about my complaint because they couldn't find my reservation (???). I don't even think they read what I wrote.
Barb

 

[CarolA]

This is why I don't recommend using PL for air tickets. You just give up way too much control.

 

[inkkognito]

Yep, Lewis, I learned that lesson the hard way! It's a shame, because the other MCO hotels in that category are all great (mostly suites). I finally gave up and stayed at the top star level, which usually seems to be the Marriott (although I've gotten the Renaissance and Holiday Inn Select). Also, an odd bit of Priceline hotel trivia...I've used them dozens of times, and I've gotten a connecting room all but once! We've never had a noise problem because of that, but it's always seemed odd. Even when we got the Gayloard Palms, they gave us a wonderful upgrade (balcony over the interior Key West section) but it was connecting. When my husband asked if they had non-connectors, they said only if we took parking lot view.
Barb

 

[Merandab4]

Hi,
I am the OP and was flying from Seattle Washington to Philadelphia, PA.
And yes we had three connecting flights. I know I get what I deserve from using Priceline. I guess I'll just chalk this up to a lesson learned. It just bothers me that I was not notified about the late night flights after it already told me that I would be notified in advance.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Sorry, but - three connecting flights? You fly out of Seattle, land somewhere, change planes, land somewhere else, change planes, land somewhere else and change planes a third time to end up in Pittsburgh?

Priceline does have contact information on their website - find a phone number and SPEAK to a live person, explain the issue, see what if anything they can do.

 

[Merandab4]

Yes, we flew from Seattle to Denver to Atlanta to Philly. Needless to say it was a long flight! And with the time zone changes it didn't seem as if we were making much head way..lol

 

[SB in KY]

I haven't booked air on Priceline in years...just never seem to have a trip anymore when I can waste a day in each direction if you get lousy flight times...but you used to have options during the selection process for 0 to 1 connection or 0 - 2 connections and then it would have a little box on the fine print page where you could check to exclude red eye flights.

Are you sure you didn't forget to check the box??

I would never select an option that would allow 2 connections!! Yuck...of course with the 3 hour time change it was really only a 12 hour flight (gag).

I think your only recourse with Priceline will be to argue the fact that you asked for Sunday flights and did not get there until Monday...but I think they tell you flights can leave up until 10PM on the day of travel.

Actually I have had pretty good luck complaining to Priceline (has always been hotels though not air)....emailing them seems to get the best response. I booked a room for DH at a 2.5* property once and when he got there they told him they did not supply pillows, bath towels or soap!! On that one they gave us a credit for the amount of the purchase plus $20. Another time I emailed a complaint about a hotel that I thought was not appropriately rated and all I got was the form email saying we have noted your complaint but will not rerate the hotel so here is $10 in Priceline cash for letting us know....never hurts to try.