I did not get Southwest Rapid Reward Airline credits when I booked a hotel room through Orbitz, even though the hotel and Southwest advertised these credits widely.  I was never informed by Orbitz when booking online that I may not qualify for airline miles, and when I called Orbitz and directly asked if I would get these credits, I was told I would.  When I checked out of the hotel, I found out that because Orbitz buys these hotel rooms in bulk and at rock bottom prices, the hotel refuses to grant Orbitz any airline credits.  Orbitz makes an incredible profit on the rates they pay, and what you and I pay Orbitz for the room.

Orbitz should have informed me at the time of booking the hotel room that I may not get credits.  They mislead and deceive customers in order to get more business and profit.  I would have done better going to the hotel's own web site and booking myself: I would have gotten just as good of a rental price, in addition to the airline miles.  I have asked Orbitz to either credit me with airline credits or refund my hotel costs.  They have refused.  They should be held accountable for their poor business practices.

Henry Jao, henry.jao@verizon.net