Don't use Priceline.com!

[firecapt20]

Did anyone else get stuck with non-refundable tickets? Looks like a lot of us are going to NYC anyway. I booked through Priceline.com and they would not offer ANY change of any sort. Yeah - I read the fine print; I understood the risk. But they would not even consider offering a voucher or gift certificate so we could go when the service is rescheduled. No compromise whatsoever. I'm encouraging all firefighters and their relatives to avoid using Priceline. All they care about is taking your money. Don't make the same mistake that I did!

[firecapt20]

By the way - we ARE going to NYC to honor our fallen brothers anyway. Our loss is insignificant compared to what the FDNY families lost. We are proud of the FDNY and how they have stood together. I'll stand with them anytime!

[bgfdchick]

FireCapt-

I agree. Last year I booked a trip to Atlanta to visit a college buddy of mine. My flight out of Milwaukee was cancelled so they shuttled us to Chicago OHare. We missed that flight, too...and no other airline would take my ticket because I bought it "at auction" through Priceline. So, I had to spend the night in the O'Hare Ticketing Terminal because my airline refused to pay for a hotel (and the delay was totally their fault). I was not happy.

Priceline feels they can't give refunds because they're an auction house. But the fact that many, many firefighters bought tickets through them, and a lot of them surely got screwed over.

Glad you're still going. Have a safe flight!

[Captain 12]

To; capt20
from; capt12
subject; boycott Priceline.com

Sir.

Before you start a boycott of priceline have you called the big wigs of there company, sometimes the lower mgt. hands are tied. Don't take and crapola from them just ask to talk to the president of priceline.
they don't want any bad press now, times are hard enough and a boycott will hit thier $$$
But at give them a heads up first. And if they are still ashholes, them hit them hard.
I have the email address for a lot of the press and would be happy to share them.

Captain 12

[firecapt20]

Thanks for the suggestion. I was not allowed to "speak" to anyone except one of the lower level employees. I DID, however, send an email to Lisa Gillingham, Priceline's VP of Customer Relations ([email protected]). Although I got a quick response from the executive offices, they only sent me a form letter which referred me to their "no refund policy" webpage. Some customer relations..... If fire departments ran their operations the way Priceline does, firefighters would bail off of the trucks with weenies and marshmellows instead of hoses.

[firecapt20]

I really should give high marks to Delta Airlines. They went to bat for me and did everything they could, but Priceline would not budge. The people at Delta are a class act.

[Afd063]

I too have to give a tip of the hat to Delta. When the service was cancelled we called them right away. They said the best they could do was chage each of us going a $100.00 fee and we could use the rest when a new date for the service was announced. They stated that since we booked the fare online that was the best they could do. After emailing the customer service department on Friday I was told to call them back. They stated that regardless of the ticket purchased they would honor the full amount of the purchased ticket when the new date was decided upon. They also said that they would rebate the entire amount of each ticket if any of us were unable to attend the service. It is nice to see that there are still a few groups out there that haven't forgotten all that praise for the fire service that they showed two months ago. God Speed to a fast recovery of all our lost brothers.

[firecapt20]

I'm glad Delta came through for you. I'm sure that there were many firefighters that received exemplary service from other airlines as well. I could understand Priceline's position if they were losing money. But the fact is that we told them to KEEP the money; just let us book at a later time and we'll pay any difference in price plus processing fees. Your best bet is to go directly through an airline. I'm through with Priceline and so are my friends and family. I hope everyone else does the same and hit them where it hurts.

[jraticrat]

It seems that the Priceline Board of Directors needs a lesson in the ART of CUSTOMER SERVICE. I did not want money, I did not want to cancel---I merely wanted to change my flight dates---and possibly PAY MORE for doing so. I will never do business with them again---and I believe that the IAFF Covention in Las Vegas is in 2002---wonder if Priceline will be? I stand behind firecapt20---as a brother and as another victim of un-compassionate corporate greed.

[firecapt20]

Thanks rat. You're a true bro!

[firecapt20]

Thanks rat. You're a true bro!

...as in jratic"rat". That's a compliment - not a slam.

[hctrouble25]

I am shocked by this...earlier this year my parents bought tickets to AZ including hotel, etc. and then found out that they could stay at someone's home they know out there so they called priceline to change some stuff around and to cancel the hotel and they had no problems at all. I couldn't believe it! My own experience - I got screwed by them and by Continental last year when we had a snowstorm here in NJ and my flight was delayed causing me to miss my connector in MN. I spent 14 hours in MN - 5 of which were spent trying to find a hotel room and ride to that hotel. I never got any reimbursement from Continental or Priceline...it was totally frustrating. Actually Continental gave me a $5 food voucher - YYIPPPEEEE - and told me that although they knew our flight from Newark would be about 10 minutes late to MN that they decided not to hold the plane for the 30 passengers that were trying to catch it. Thanks! Instead I had to call my family, make hotel arrangements, get back to the airport on 5 hours of sleep, etc. etc. Ridiculous. Priceline and Continental SUCK

[snowball]

We got the same crap from Expedia.com
No way, no how no nothing, nada.
They are truly a physical anomaly,they've figured out a way to suck and blow at the same time. We're going anyway. I'm not gonna donate any money to the poor airline fund.
C-ya there.

[postal79]

well if you do end up having to use your tickets New York is the greatest city, and you wont be bored. heres a web site with a list of the engine co. and ladder co. addresses. have fun http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/fdny/ht...mand_hist.html

[PaulGRIMWOOD]

I am disgusted at reading about your experiences - I have e-mailed Priceline.com telling them exactly how I feel! Take care guys and hope you have a damn good time in NY with a safe return.......God bless you all and FDNY too.