Horror Story Reveals Expedia's Overbooking Problem

Image: PHOTO: No Refunds Beyond This Point sign. (photo via Flickr/Ben Husmann)
Image: PHOTO: No Refunds Beyond This Point sign. (photo via Flickr/Ben Husmann)
Donald Wood
by Donald Wood
Last updated: 3:15 PM ET, Wed July 5, 2017

A woman from Washington State is warning travelers about the issues she faced while booking with Expedia and the website's policies of not refunding customers if their trips are canceled due to overbooking.

According to ABCNews.com, Holly Parsons booked a three-night reservation at a mountain resort in Oregon for $874 more than four months in advance but was told just weeks before the expected departure date that the reservation had been canceled due to overbooking.

While it was the WorldMark Seventh Mountain Resort that canceled the reservations, Expedia claimed that the website was not liable and didn't owe Parsons or her family any form of compensation.

Expedia's Terms of Use page states that the website "has no liability and will make no refund in the event of a delay, cancellation, overbooking or other issue that is beyond their direct control."

After spending over six hours on the phone with Expedia officials, Parsons was finally re-accommodated in a Holiday Inn Express and offered a total of $1,000 worth of Expedia vouchers.

[READMORE] READ MORE: Expedia Study Highlights Most Infuriating Passenger Behaviors[/READMORE]

"I wasn't receiving cash in return, I'm receiving vouchers to do business with an entity that I'm not sure that I ever would want to do, or ever would recommend to do, business with ever again," Parsons told ABC News.

Not only was Parsons angry and unsatisfied by the outcome of the situation, but she felt as if Expedia pulled a bait-and-switch.

"We apologize for the inconvenience and frustration Holly Parsons experienced and can confirm our team contacted her to successfully resolve this case," Expedia officials told ABC News affiliate KOMO-TV.

"At Expedia, we strive to provide the highest level of customer service, and anytime there is an issue with an Expedia booking we recommend that our customers contact our excellent Customer Service team."


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Donald Wood

Donald Wood

Managing Editor

Donald Wood is TravelPulse’s Managing Editor, bringing nearly 15 years of experience to the desk. He currently lives outside Philadelphia with his wife and two children.

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