Is CheapOair.com Legit?
What CheapOair does
CheapOair (Cheapoair.com) is an online travel agency (OTA) that sells airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, vacation packages, and travel add‑ons. It is operated by Fareportal, a travel technology company that also operates other OTAs. CheapOair aggregates fares and issues tickets on behalf of airlines and suppliers, and it acts as a middleman between customers and carriers/hotels.
Official website: https://www.cheapoair.com
Contact info: Customer service options are listed on the site (phone, chat, email). A commonly listed U.S. customer service number is 1‑888‑516‑3976, but contact numbers and hours can vary by country and change over time — always check the website’s Contact/Help page for the latest details.
Reviews and Ratings
- Mixed overall ratings across major review platforms: some customers praise low prices and easy search tools, while many report poor experiences with refunds, changes and customer service.
- Common positive notes: competitive fares, useful fare-comparison search, occasional good deals on bundled packages.
- Common negative notes: long wait times for support, disputes over service fees, difficulties obtaining refunds or changes after flight disruptions, and occasional pricing or booking discrepancies.
- Review volume matters: CheapOair has thousands of reviews across Trustpilot, Google Reviews, Sitejabber and other sites — sample broadly and check recent reviews for current service trends.
Transparency and Registration
- CheapOair is a legitimate, established OTA operated by Fareportal (a registered travel company). It is not an airline but a reseller/agent, so its policies differ from airlines’ direct policies.
- As an OTA it discloses fares and fees at booking but some customers report that service or booking fees can be perceived as unexpected — read the checkout page carefully.
- Bookings made through OTAs may be subject to supplier (airline/hotel) rules; for changes, cancellations or refunds you may need to work through CheapOair and/or the supplier. Regulatory protections (e.g., DOT rules) typically apply to airlines, not always directly to OTAs.
- Always verify license/registration information in your jurisdiction if required for complex or large bookings.
Red Flags or Complaints
- Refund and change delays: many complaints about slow or contested refunds after cancellations or schedule changes.
- Customer service access: long hold times, transfers and inconsistent resolution reported by multiple customers.
- Fees and fare rules: service or processing fees and strict fare rules can make low advertised fares less flexible than booking directly with an airline.
- Third‑party complexity: when problems occur (cancellations, rebookings), dealing with two parties — OTA and airline — can add friction.
- Inconsistent experiences: while many customers have trouble-free trips, others experience significant friction — review recent complaints to see current patterns.
Conclusion
CheapOair is a legitimate online travel agency with a long operational history and many users. However, legitimacy does not guarantee a smooth experience: reviews are mixed, and the most common issues relate to refunds, changes and customer support. If you use CheapOair, protect yourself by comparing prices (including direct airline fares), reading fare rules and cancellation policies carefully, paying with a card that offers travel protections, keeping screenshots/records of bookings, and considering direct bookings for high‑value or flexible itineraries.