Over the years, Ovago has received mixed customer reviews. While some users have had positive booking experiences with the platform, many have faced poor customer support and difficulties with refunds. So, is Ovago legit?
Let’s dig in!
What is Ovago?
Founded in 2017 and based in Texas, Ovago is a flight booking app that helps budget-friendly travelers experience discounted airfare. The website Ovago.com allows users to search for and book flights from airlines of their choice.
Ovago claims to offer lower prices than traditional booking platforms, labeling itself a perfect choice for budget-conscious travelers.
According to the founders, Ovago offers competitive flight rates after negotiating deals with airlines due to its strong relationships with them. The platform also partners with travel suppliers and airlines to offer attractive promotions to customers.
Ovago also uses price comparison tools that allow customers to compare airline fares across different airlines and booking sites.
How Does Ovago Work?
Booking a flight at Ovago is a simple process, quite like how you do it on similar platforms. Here are some steps you can take as a user to start.
- Search for the flights by entering your travel details, including dates, destinations, and number of passengers.
- Once you feed the required data, Ovago’s search engine scans its database to provide many flight options.
- The platform then lists all the available flights as per your preferences. You can use this opportunity to compare and select the option that best suits your availability and budget.
- After selecting a flight, Ovago allows you to review the itinerary details. You can book your desired flight through baggage allowances and fare rules. This is the necessary information that Ovago provides to all its users before they proceed to make a payment.
- The website then asks you to input the personal data required for traveling.
- Once this step is complete, Ovago allows you to select a payment option. You can pay via credit cards or other alternative methods at your convenience. According to the platform, Ovago employs a secure encryption technology designed to protect your financial information.
- After a successful payment, Ovago sends you an email confirmation with your e-ticket and booking details. You can contact the platform’s customer support to assist you with any questions or modifications after booking.
You should also know about the Ovago cancellation policy if your travel plans don’t work out as expected. The platform provides several options for canceling flight bookings. All of these come with their specific terms and conditions.
Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) Plan
This plan allows travelers to cancel their bookings anytime without giving any documentation as proof. However, there are some conditions. For instance, all requests should be made at least 24 hours before the first scheduled departure. Besides, this plan doesn’t cover additional purchases like pre-selected seats or extra baggage. If you opt for the plan, you must wait 15 days or more to get your money back.
Standard Cancellation Policy
This Ovago cancellation policy is available for travelers who request a cancellation at least 24 hours before their flight departure. This policy only supports partial refunds and is not available for passengers who forget to cancel in advance or fail to arrive on their departure time.
Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Booking
Ovago also allows flight cancellations within 24 hours of booking. However, the platform charges a processing fee. You can get your refunds within ten business days.
Ovago has a different Better Business Bureau rating based on its varying business profile.
For instance, if you talk about the San Jose, CA Profile, Ovago.com is not BBB accredited and comes with a B rating. Around 163 complaints have been filed against the business.
Alternatively, according to the Simi Valley, CA Profile, Ovago is BBB accredited. It has a B+ rating. This is based on fewer than ten complaints filed against the platform.
Most customer reviews for Ovago on the BBB website are negative. Users have shared their disappointing experiences with the platform. According to most reviews, the customer service team at Ovago isn’t competent.
The platform has a 3.9 rating on TrustPilot. At Sitejabber, the rating is just 2.9 stars.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Before booking your flight from Ovago, you should read customer reviews to watch out for red flags you can easily dodge.
Some customers have shared positive feedback on their experience with Ovago. According to Dick and Eliza, booking with the platform is simple and quick. Samudra has also shared that the customer support at Ovago is helpful.
Unfortunately, the negative reviews outweigh the positive ones. MoL. has shared that although the fare prices are affordable, seat selection costs a lot more than expected.
Aniket has also pointed out that the platform doesn’t provide any help on baggage allowance.
If you want to keep yourself safe from being a victim, here are some important red flags you should know.
Unauthorized Booking Charges
Many customers have reported that Ovago altered their flight details without giving them any prior notification. Plus, the team forces the customers to pay extra unauthorized booking charges for the new changes made.
According to Kelly S., her flight layover period changed without her being notified. The original flight tickets issued were nowhere near as similar to the actual ones she got later.
This is a common tactic where customers receive emails with changed flight durations or timings after booking with Ovago. So, when booking your flight with Ovago, make sure you are aware of this issue, which can hit you and disrupt your schedule for the day.
Missing or Delayed Booking Confirmation
Some Ovago customers have experienced significant delays in receiving their booking confirmations. Many customers wait 15 hours or more before they receive a flight confirmation. This is a major issue that results in concern and frustration.
Poor Customer Service
If you explore Sitejabber, you will find multiple bad reviews on Ovago’s poor customer service. Most users have suggested that others not use the platform, as customer support doesn’t respond at all.
For instance, dI on Sitejabber has shared that the customer support agents know nothing about the service they are offering. Another user, Paolo R, has labeled the service as awful and said that the team failed to respond to a concern.
Hidden Fees and Lack of Transparency
According to some customers, Ovago lacks transparency. Many customers have become victims of hidden fees that the platform didn’t disclose upfront. Most of the platform’s additional charges make the original deal much more expensive than expected.
Refund Delays and Disputes
Another red flag is that Ovago takes time to refund its customers. Many customers have faced challenges in securing refunds, especially for canceled flights. One user said they booked tickets to Lisbon using Ovago, but the airline canceled them. However, despite being owed a refund, they faced prolonged delays. They had no choice but to involve external advocacy to receive a significant refund amount.
Technical Issues with the Website
Every customer expects a seamless online experience when booking travel online. But regretfully, Ovago fails to provide it. Many users have reported technical glitches on Ovago’s website. They have faced difficulties navigating the interface and sharing their details, and are experiencing payment processing issues.
Some users have also encountered problems accessing the mobile version of the platform. Unfortunately, these issues only add stress and frustration to the booking process.
With so many red flags, it is important to practice caution and do proper research when booking a flight with Ovago. Some of these recurring problems reflect Ovago’s disinterest in managing these issues for its customers. Many people have called it a garbage company that provides no customer support.
If you think that, as a customer, booking from Ovago is a risky decision, you can always use other similar platforms for the same purpose.
Ovago Alternatives
Thinking of choosing an Ovago alternative to book your flight? Here are some options that you can consider.
CheapOair
Cheapoair is a budget-friendly platform that specializes in discount airfare. It offers competitive rates on hotels, rental cars, and flights. The platform excels at multiple fare options, and customers benefit from different price points with varying flexibility. Similarly, you can use the bundle deals to save ample money on your bookings. The best thing about Cheapoair is its customer support, which is available 24/7.
But when booking with CheapOair, you should know that the platform has a very strict cancellation policy. Also, some users have reported unexpected hidden charges before making the final payment.
Booking.com
Known as one of the most popular online travel agencies, Booking.com offers multiple attractive flights, car rentals, hotels, and vacation packages. The platform features a wide range of accommodations with flexible booking options.
The website and app are both user-friendly. Plus, it is popular for not charging any hidden costs on bookings made. The cancellation policies are also flexible. Plus, most of the customer reviews on the platform are verified.
There are very few instances where booking.com has disappointed its customers. However, a few users have complained of refund delays and overbooking issues.
Lufthansa is another well-known alternative to Ovago. However, the latter is better than the former. For instance, Ovago works with multiple airlines, while Lufthansa only works with its own airline. It partners with airlines within its network.
Ovago also offers better bundle deals than Lufthansa. Plus, Ovago provides discounted fares through travel deals and promotions, while Lufthansa usually charges standard airline rates.
Make sure you weigh each option’s pros and cons before making a choice.
Final Verdict
Ovago has proven to be a popular platform for booking flights. However, its mixed reviews, mostly negative, may raise eyebrows regarding its legitimacy. Many customers who have used the services share disappointing views on Ovago’s customer service, hidden charges, and refund delays.
This is why, before booking, you must be aware of the potential risks and complaints. We strongly advise customers to read reviews and research before booking with Ovago.
Also, contact customer service if possible to get an answer to your concerns before going ahead with a booking. You must also try to get your purchased tickets and boarding pass as soon as possible to double-check any changes made by the platform.
Here’s to a safe and seamless travel experience!
FAQs
How do I know if a booking site is legit?
To check the legitimate status of a booking site, ensure that the website address starts with “HTTPS.” Plus, look for a display of a padlock symbol in the browser bar, which indicates a secure connection. If you are still unsure, explore the Google Safe Browsing Transparency Report to check if the booking site is flagged as unsafe. Additionally, you can check user reviews to know the platform’s authenticity.
How do I change my flight to Ovago?
You must first go to the website or app to track your flight booking. Once you have clear access to your booking, look for options like “Change Flight,” “Modify Booking,” or something similar, and then select the flight. Follow the instructions to change the times, dates, or destinations. Finally, review the changes, confirm the booking, and pay any additional charges incurred due to this step.
