LV
Lara van der Walt
Active since Nov 2023
4
Reviews
0
Industries
Reviews
4 reviews1 month ago
Best fundraising platform!
I've had such an excellent experience with BackaBuddy, using it as a platform to fundraise for a friend in need. I really appreciate the verification protocol in place to ensure fundraisers are legitimate, and their customer support and service was exceptional — efficient, personal and reliable. Big thumbs up!
15 replies
27 months ago
Good service upon receiving customer complaints BUT be careful that tickets might not be refundable, and Travelstart fees for changing tickets
A friend bought me tickets and accidentally set my destination as my departure location and vice versa for the return. We only realised this mistake in the week of the trip, and when calling Travelstart discovered it would cost more than the tickets were paid for to change the tickets, and that there were costs we were unaware of besides the airline fee to change a ticket. After 2 calls with Travelstart, I was stuck - I had not been aware of their fees for changing tickets in addition to airline fees. I complained here on Hellopeter as I was truly disappointed with how it was dealt with (was only presented with the option to suspend the tickets, but that would still mean a costly change later on). Anyway, Travelstart had an agent (Krishnam) contact me, who was patient and understanding, and helped me find a way to get affordable changes of tickets at a date that suits me. Krishnam explained the process clearly and patiently, whereas previous agents when I had initially called, were not so patient and helpful. I appreciate his effort to help me, and I appreciate Travelstart's willingness to amend for not having their fees stated clearly when my friend purchased the ticket. If you want to buy tickets via Travelstart, know the terms before purchasing, and know that you can only change via Travelstart, not the airline. These are things that weren't clear when they were purchased, but I'm grateful I know now and that Travelstart was willing to help me despite this. For that, I give them 4 stars. The only missing star is to encourage Travelstart to indicate all these potential fees and terms more clearly when clients are purchasing tickets.
0 replies
28 months ago
Excellent delivery + packaging, and really good quality products
Always receive really excellent service from FTN. I appreciate the care to package everything in sustainable materials, and the use of good delivery partners. To top it off, there's a little card with a note from whoever packed the parcel, addressed directly to me with a sweet little message. I think this sets FTN apart from other online stores in the country :)
0 replies
28 months ago
Misleading advertising/ticket selling processes and exorbitant changing fees
Misleading advertising for tickets on sales, really unhelpful in finding a cost-effective solution for changing tickets, and lack of clarity upon purchasing tickets and on tickets from Travelstart about all the costs involved with changing tickets. Travelstart makes it so difficult for you to change your ticket with the airline (if you can't afford to also pay the Travelstart fees to change your ticket), you cannot change the recipient on the ticket, and you cannot cancel or be refunded! The tickets emailed to me also did not state a breakdown of ALL the potential costs that would be involved should I wish to change my ticket. The friend who booked this for me was also not made aware of all these potential issues when she purchased the tickets. A friend booked return tickets for me as a gift during a Travelstart sale, but didn't notice that she had accidentally booked my destination as my departure location, and on my return flight the same mistake. I need to visit her this weekend, but we only realised the issue today. After calling Travelstart to find out about changing the flight route, we discovered that the changing fees would amount to almost DOUBLE what the tickets cost in the first place. Yes, they were bought on sale, but seriously. With the change fee (R230, the only reissue/changing amount indicated on the original ticket statement I had received from Travelstart when my friend had it sent to me), Travelstart's own fees to change it, and the difference in the new ticket to your old one, who can afford such a change? Travelstart's agents were also not very understanding. With one agent, I actually felt like they were getting impatient with me after I asked several questions just to check my options, e.g. what would happen should I not show up at the flights (I mean, I am not even in the city of departure as stated on the tickets but rather in the arrival city, which I need to swop around!). The only option I am given is to place the tickets on hold/suspension, yet that would still mean paying all the change fees later on (and within 6 months of purchasing the ticket). I cannot afford to pay nearly double what the tickets from my friend are worth, she can't afford to pay it either, so now we are faced with either forfeiting the ticket (and losing the money paid for it), or placing it on suspension - but that does not change the fact that I will not be able to affordably change or use the tickets. That would also mean booking leave for a later date, which I cannot necessarily do. I feel cornered and misled, disillusioned with really poor customer service and processes. I would not at all recommend anyone use Travelstart, even if a sale is on. It's so much easier and a better experience all in all to book and change tickets directly through an airline. This has happened to me before when I booked directly with another airline (these mistakes do happen!), but I was able to change my route so easily and for a low cost without unnecessary, exorbitant changing fees. What is the point of booking through a travel agent if they make it harder for you in the case of an error (yes, my friend should have noticed the mistake, but if even I've made this mistake before, surely it's understandable that it could happen to anyone). Just book directly through an airline instead.
150 replies
Review Distribution
5 Star
2 (50%)
4 Star
1 (25%)
3 Star
0 (0%)
2 Star
0 (0%)
1 Star
1 (25%)