As someone who regularly uses online travel agencies for discounted flight tickets, I’d like to share a story about an unexpected pitfall I encountered. It all started with an incredibly cheap flight I found on Agoda. At the time, I never dreamed I would face such a troublesome situation. So, I want to share my experience with everyone who is considering booking flights through similar means!
※I should clarify upfront that this “cold sweat” incident was caused by my own lack of proper verification, not an issue with Agoda itself. However, I believe this kind of trouble could happen to other travelers too, so I’m sharing my experience through this article to help you avoid making the same mistake.
What is Agoda?
You may already be familiar with this well-known service, but let me briefly introduce Agoda. Agoda is an online travel agency that provides accommodation, flight tickets, and other travel services. It has a particularly strong presence in the Asian region and is used by many travelers. I’ve used it several times before and find it especially convenient for hotel bookings.
Now, let me tell you about my recent experience purchasing a flight ticket through Agoda.
The Aftermath of an Impulse Purchase
One day, I suddenly decided to go to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. While searching for flights for a weekend flash trip, I discovered a VietJet Air flight departing from Haneda to Ho Chi Minh at midnight that same day for an incredibly low price. Despite it being just 8 hours before departure, it was surprisingly cheap, so I didn’t hesitate to make an impulse purchase.
At that time, compared to VietJet Air’s regular fare and other sites, Agoda was the cheapest, so I decided to purchase the flight ticket through Agoda. From past experience, I knew that buying through a travel agency can sometimes be cheaper than purchasing directly from the airline, and in most cases, the ticket issuance is completed without major issues. So this time too, I made an immediate decision without considering any particular risks. However, looking back now, an unexpected pitfall was waiting for me there.
Just Purchasing on Agoda Doesn’t Complete the Flight Ticket Reservation and Issuance
From my previous experiences, I had assumed that the reservation number would arrive immediately after purchase. Based on my personal experience, the average time for a flight purchase through an agency to complete is about 30 minutes to 1 hour. However, the reservation number never arrived. Even after 2 hours had passed since the purchase, my anxiety grew as there was still no communication. As mentioned earlier, I had suddenly purchased the ticket just 8 hours before departure, so I started to worry that “at this rate, I might not make it in time for the departure.”
When There Were Less Than 6 Hours Before Departure
Unable to bear the anxiety, when there were less than 6 hours before departure, I called Agoda’s customer service number (03-5767-9333). I was told that just purchasing on Agoda doesn’t complete the flight ticket reservation, and nothing can be done until the airline’s authentication is completed. Normally, reservation confirmation takes place within 24 hours of purchase, so there was a high possibility that confirmation would be difficult with only 6 hours remaining, they said.
Yes, previously I had always had plenty of time before departure, so booking flights through a travel agency hadn’t been a major problem. But this time was different. Despite it being right before departure, I didn’t use the airline’s official booking which would allow for immediate reservation, but instead, why did I go through Agoda to book the flight… I finally realized my foolishness here.
Couldn’t Cancel and Backup Plan Failed Too
Even more shocking was learning that cancellation of the purchase was impossible because the order request had already been made. My backup plan of “If the reservation doesn’t complete, I’ll cancel the Agoda purchase and buy a regular ticket directly from the airline” completely disappeared. At this point, all I could do was wait until departure time.
Miraculous Ticket Issuance
With that, I had only one option left. I decided to pack my bags and head to the airport! And then wait persistently at the airport until the check-in counter closed.
Having made that decision, just as I was heading to the airport with anxiety, miraculously, I received a notification that the ticket issuance was complete. Normally it could have taken 24 hours, but the ticket was issued in about 5 hours. Thank you, Agoda!
After that, I was able to check in without any issues and successfully travel to Vietnam. The relief I felt at that moment was beyond words.
Lessons Learned
Through this experience, I learned several important lessons. First, using a travel agency right before departure carries significant risks. Additionally, I strongly felt the importance of properly reading the terms of service and cancellation policies. I got caught up in this trouble because I hadn’t clearly recognized the fact that “purchase ≠ reservation completion.” Below, I’ve summarized some precautions for those considering booking flights through agencies.
1. Don’t book right before departure: Avoid looking for discount flight tickets right before departure. Plan with plenty of time.
2. Read the terms of service: It’s important to check the terms of service and cancellation policy before purchasing.
3. Confirm reservation completion: Since purchase doesn’t always equal reservation completion, always make sure you’ve received a reservation number.
Agoda is Actually a Good Service
Finally, although this story became somewhat negative due to my own lack of verification, Agoda actually provides excellent services. When used properly, you can enjoy travel at a good price. However, I strongly recommend limiting its use to cases where you have plenty of time before your planned travel date. Learning from this experience, I want to plan more carefully in the future and enjoy travel with peace of mind.
Lastly, I hope you’ll reference these lessons so that you don’t have the same experience. Wishing you a wonderful experience on your next trip!
↓Please read this before booking OTA flight tickets!
