With the widespread adoption of the internet, it has become easy to book flights online for travel and business trips. Among the many options, eDreams is a travel agency famous for offering discounted airline tickets. Since their tickets are unusually cheap, you might feel somewhat suspicious. Reviews online often show less-than-stellar reputations.
That’s why I decided to try using eDreams myself. By sharing my experience, I’d like to report in detail about the safety of this service.
What is eDreams?
eDreams is a Europe-based online travel agency that provides booking services for flights, hotels, and rental cars. Established in 1999, it now serves millions of users worldwide. The main feature of eDreams is its provision of discounted airline tickets.
Online discount travel agencies like eDreams are internet services designed to provide airline tickets and accommodations at prices lower than traditional travel agencies. In many cases, these agencies can keep costs down by making bulk bookings, and as a result, they can offer lower prices to users. Discount travel agencies like eDreams primarily operate online, allowing them to reduce costs such as personnel and store maintenance, which they can then reflect in their pricing.
However, in exchange for this convenience, they are known for often having insufficient after-sales service, requiring users to be aware of certain risks and pay close attention to details.
Actually Using eDreams for a Domestic Flight Booking
Recently, a sudden business trip was decided, and I was looking for a domestic flight ticket. Using Google Flights search to find the cheapest price, I discovered that purchasing through eDreams was the most economical option. When I checked JAL’s regular price, it was quite expensive, partly because it was a last-minute booking, and I wanted to keep costs down as much as possible. When I searched for the same flight on eDreams, I found that I could purchase it for about 15,000 yen (approximately $100) less for a round trip.
The price difference was a significant benefit for saving on business trip expenses, so I decided to purchase the airline ticket through eDreams.
Booking Options
What I noticed during the eDreams booking process was that they persistently prompt you to add guarantee options. This is common among travel agencies as they basically generate revenue from these options. Several options like cancellation insurance and delay guarantee were suggested, but since adding options would ultimately make the total more expensive than the regular fare, I skipped them all.
However, one option that was attractive was the flex option that allows free date changes. This option could be added for just about 3,000 yen ($20), which felt very cost-effective considering the possibility of schedule changes, so I decided to purchase it.
It Seemed to Go Smoothly, But… An Unexpected Failure
I was able to complete the airline ticket purchase smoothly, but unfortunately, an unhappy ending awaited me sometime later.
To my surprise, I received a “booking not confirmed” email from eDreams. Checking the details immediately with shock, I learned that just completing the purchase procedure on eDreams doesn’t mean the airline ticket reservation is confirmed, and in some cases, the purchase might be canceled for various reasons. This was a major blind spot, and I needed to make a new reservation.
Fortunately, since there was still time before my travel date, it didn’t become a critical issue, but such troubles are one of the risks when using discount travel agencies like eDreams. Especially for sudden business trips or travel plans, not being able to arrange your desired itinerary can cause significant stress. No matter how cheap the price is, if you’re operating on a schedule that doesn’t allow for delays, it’s better to use a regular airline ticket booking service that ensures your reservation.
Incidentally, in the past, I’ve had cases where I made a last-minute booking using a different OTA and the reservation was completed successfully, so it seems the probability of successful booking isn’t necessarily determined by timing alone.
Summary
eDreams is an attractive option for many travelers due to its discounted airline tickets, but using it comes with certain risks. In particular, you need to carefully consider the process until your reservation is confirmed and the risk of cancellation.
From my experience, I can say that while eDreams offers significant benefits in terms of price, there’s also the possibility of troubles inherent to travel agencies, so caution is necessary when using it. When deciding whether to use eDreams for your trip or business travel, it’s important to weigh the price against the risks. I can confidently say that eDreams is an excellent service if used carefully with an understanding of the risks.
Addendum: Essential Reading for Anyone Planning to Book Tickets Through an OTA!
After continuing to use agency airline tickets repeatedly, I discovered that under certain conditions, critical problems can occur. Please check the article below for details, as it explains the situation thoroughly.
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↓Must-read before booking OTA tickets!
