Kosupa Travel

In recent years, numerous discount flight booking websites have emerged, giving travelers more options than ever before. However, some sites raise concerns about their legitimacy, with reports of users encountering various issues.

I recently used an online travel agency called “ly.com” (later rebranded as Seishin Spirit/TravelGo). While ly.com is known for offering significantly discounted airfares, it has limited trustworthy reviews, and some online forums even label it as “borderline fraudulent.” Here’s my comprehensive review based on firsthand experience.

What is SEISHIN SPIRIT?

SEISHIN SPIRIT (recently rebranded from ly.com/TravelGo) is an online travel agency based in Tokyo’s Toshima ward. During its ly.com era, it operated in China as “Tongcheng Travel.” The platform offers bookings for flights, hotels, and tour packages, with a Japanese language interface making it appear like a standard travel agency. However, information about Seishin Spirit is scarce, with very few user reviews available.

Significant Savings Compared to Direct Bookings

SEISHIN SPIRIT’s main draw is its extensive selection of discounted flights. When searching on Google Flights, SEISHIN SPIRIT often appears as the lowest-price option. In my case, I saved about 30% on a Spring Japan ticket compared to direct booking.

If you’re wondering how they offer such low prices, it’s likely through bulk seat purchases at wholesale rates – not through illegal means or phantom tickets. This is a common practice among travel agencies.

From Booking to Boarding: Concerns and Issues

A few hours after booking, SEISHIN SPIRIT sent my electronic ticket. However, when I tried to verify the reservation number on Spring Japan’s system, I received an error message stating “Reservation information doesn’t match.” This naturally raised some concerns about the site’s legitimacy.

Upon calling Spring Japan directly, they confirmed that despite the error message, my reservation was valid. Apparently, bookings through third-party agencies often can’t be verified through the airline’s standard online system, explaining the error. This provided some relief.

Still, I remained cautious until boarding day. At the airport, I used the automated check-in kiosk with the reservation number from SEISHIN SPIRIT. To my relief, I successfully received my boarding pass and flew without any issues. While the reservation verification error was concerning, it turned out to be a common quirk of third-party bookings, and I ultimately enjoyed significant savings on my flight!

Why Do Some Call It a Scam?

Despite my successful experience, some users leave scathing reviews of ly.com, even calling it “practically fraudulent.” What’s behind these negative reviews?

While I haven’t interviewed these users directly, the complaints likely stem from inadequate support during flight delays, cancellations, or schedule changes. Like all third-party bookings, any changes must be handled through the agency rather than directly with the airline. Since agencies operate with human staff, response times during emergencies can be slower than dealing directly with airlines.

Some negative reviews appear to blame SEISHIN SPIRIT (ly.com) for issues that were actually the airline’s responsibility. Many of these reviews seem to come from users who don’t fully understand the risks and procedures involved with third-party travel bookings.

Important Considerations When Using SEISHIN SPIRIT

Like all travel agencies, using SEISHIN SPIRIT comes with certain risks. Here are the key points to consider:

Changes must be handled through SEISHIN SPIRIT, not the airline: While direct bookings can be modified through airline websites, agency bookings require going through the agency, which can be more time-consuming.

Higher risk of being bumped during overbooking: Discount tickets often have lower priority during overbooking situations. When possible, secure seat assignments in advance to reduce this risk.

Different fees for seat selection and checked baggage: Agency business models sometimes offset low ticket prices with higher fees for add-ons. It’s recommended to purchase all necessary options at booking to understand the total cost.

Conclusion

While SEISHIN SPIRIT (ly.com) offers attractively discounted flights, it comes with the typical challenges of third-party travel agencies. Users should understand and accept these risks before booking.

If saving money on airfare is your priority, SEISHIN SPIRIT might be worth considering. However, carefully weigh the potential for complications against the savings compared to booking directly with airlines.

Important Update (June 19, 2024): Essential Reading for Future SEISHIN SPIRIT (ly.com) Users

After continued use of SEISHIN SPIRIT, we discovered a critical issue that can arise under specific conditions. Please read our detailed follow-up article for more information:

↓Essential reading before booking discount flights!