I've been shopping for the right flight/hotel deal for weeks. The prices are starting to rise, so I decided to buy today. Sweetheart deal 13 nights at the 4 star Rembrandt Hotel and flight for $1,857 from the center of the US. I bought it on CheapTickets.com.
When the final page popped up, it told me that the deal was no longer available. So I tried for the next day. Breezing right along until the final page and it says my debit card was declined. Hmmmm, it was fine 5 minutes earlier. Called my bank and found that CheapTickets has authorized $1,348.60 of my $2,000 daily limit. Called CheapTickets and asked them to do something. So we conference called my bank and explained the situation. A couple of hours later my bank raised my daily limit so that I could do the deal for the next day.
Same thing...last page says the deal is no longer available and they authorized for another 1,348.60. Fortunately I'm still on the phone with my bank and she raises my limit again. So I choose another hotel...same thing...last page says that the deal is no longer available.
It probably was not the flight that wasn't available because CheapTickets still listed 4 seats available, but showed the hotel as not avalable for the first hotel, but not the second.
I chalked it up to bait and switch.
I booked with Travelocity the last time, so I'll probably deal with them again tomorrow after the authorizations lift.
Unless someone here knows a better way. Help anyone?
I like the feeling of security and discount when buying both hotel and flight at the same time, but I do like the review posted here by luvyoulongtime for the Darjelling Hotel, so I'd book separately if the flight was cheap enough.