How to verify, with different airlines, that the broker booked the flight correctly?
I bought 3 interconnected flights via Kiwi.com, but have been reading so many negative reviews and experiences with this online broker. Many of the problems look to be connected to the booking not forwarded to the airlines, or details (e.g. regarding additional luggages) not transmitted (leading to pay again when checking in at the airports).
I wonder what I can do to prevent issues when I will travel to such flights?
- Is there a way to have a confirmation of the booking (with my name and passport number) from the airlines, so that I can be sure that my flights have been requested and paid?
- Checking the state of flights on some flight-tracking website, so to be aware of eventual variations/cancellations/delay.
- I've also paid for the Premium Insurance but I'm not sure if that would help.
- Would it be better to try to get a refund and buy with via another company?
EDIT
From the confirmation email I have:
- a PNR (same for all 3 flights)
3 E-Ticket numbers1 single E-Ticket number
PNR is in the format accepted by the first airline, but is not recognised by the system on the website.
The second & third flights airline (Etihad Airlines) website says
No special characters or numbers allowed
regardless of what I digit. I tried their Check-in form, that doesn't give the error but says my booking doesn't exist...
Additionally CheckMyTrip reports a different PNR for the 2 Etihad flights (but still not recognised on their website), not appearing at all in the ticket sent me by Kiwi.com...
What can I do?
EDIT 2
I called all the different airlines to confirm the booking of the flights, the inclusion of the luggage and the eventuality of automatic pass-through for the luggage at the changing airports.
Also, Kiwi.com specifies for each flight that the passenger will have to check-out and check-in again (having to pass again all the security controls, and actually eventually having a visas to just step-in & step-out of the country). Calling the single airlines confirmed in which cases the pass-through is automatic (for example with Etihad I won't need to do anything, regardless of what the default text from the Kiwi.com confirmation says).
To note that the for almost all airlines customer services I got the chance to call in my country to speak in my mother language and confirm all the flights. Also the PNR given by Kiwi.com was not valid for any of the airlines, but they gave me the right PNR after providing the ticket number.
I can only suggest to spend the time (and hopefully not the money) to call and verify each step of your flight with your airlines. Usually their customer services are a lot better than the customer services from online brokers (e.g. calling eDreams they gave me 2 other different numbers to call to get minimal info about the flight: 1 for free, fake; 1 highly expensive, working).
EDIT 3 - All right!
I finally got my flights. Everything went smooth. I confirmed before leaving (twice, in two different airports) that the passage of luggage is automatic when there is a single ticket number. What Kiwi.com writes in its email is just misleading; probably an automatic text just to disclaim any responsibility in case something goes wrong.
Not really professional.....
I'd suggest to use Kiwi.com just to find routes, not to book. Or to book with them just when having already some experience and confidence with international/intercontinental travelling (to not get confused by a fuzzy booking agent).
Best Answer
Once kiwi gives you the airline booking references (likely by email) use them to check your bookings on the airline websites. This also is your chance to reserve specific seats or special diet meals.
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How do you confirm a flight reservation?
These are the steps you can follow to verify your reservation step by step:How are tickets verified at the airport?
Most airports and airlines have automatic readers that will verify the validity of the boarding pass at the jetway door or boarding gate. This also automatically updates the airline's database to show the passenger has boarded and the seat is used, and that the checked baggage for that passenger may stay aboard.Can you book a round trip with two different airlines?
Technically, you're flying on separate point-to-point tickets with separate airlines \u2014 but virtual interlining services fill in the gaps. With search sites like Skyscanner, DoHop, and Kiwi, you can get to more destinations around the world that include mixing and matching low-cost and full service airline schedules.How can you tell if flights are real?
As tom says you can check it's real on the airlines website. Make sure it's "ticketed" and not just " booked". The airline is not "a third party" the travel agency is ! As said go into the airlines website, using the PNR and your surname you should be able to see your booking and see if tickets have been issued.HOW TO FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS - My Best Tips After Booking 500+ Flights
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Answer 2
It's too late to book via another company and Premium insurance is quite useless.
However, you should receive from Kiwi by mail, within 24 hours, your digital tickets, which should contain respective ticket numbers and reservation code to verify each reservation on the respective airline sites.
Answer 3
Just checked my confirmation from Kiwi and that's what I have:
Kiwi number is 6-digit length and it is the same for all legs of your route. It doesn't checkable on airline sites, only on Kiwi site.
PNR numbers (alphanumeric) are unique for each leg of your transfer and are perfectly checkable on air carriers sites. At least mine are. So you can have 5 different PNRs with one Kiwi booking number.
If your PNRs are not checkable against the air carriers' systems, then something is wrong with them, and you should definitely contact Kiwi so they give you the correct reservation numbers.
You says that you have same PNR for all three flights which is obviously wrong.
Checking via CheckMyTrip works for me as well, and should do for you too.
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