StudentUniverse’s earns a 2.0-star rating from 53 reviews, showing that the majority of student travelers are somewhat dissatisfied with booking experience.
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Disappointed with StudentUniverse: Booking Error Resulted in Inconvenient Flight Change
Me and my girl booked our flight tickets from Geneva back to NYC through StudentUniverse. We were super excited to go back home and see our families. We booked our tickets separately, but we made sure we had the same flight times and airline number. We were certain that the flights were the same and that everything was set.
However, we made a mistake by not checking the receipt. We realized that the problem that occurred seems to have come from the Student Universe website. We both booked tickets for American Airline flights from Geneva to London Heathrow and then London Heathrow to New York JFK. But, a few days before the flight, we noticed that my girlfriend's receipt had American Airlines flight, whereas mine had a British Airways flight. We figured out that the first flight was actually the same (my gf's ticket said American Airlines operated by British Airways, and was a different flight number, but same gate and time). However, the second flight was different, and required me to transfer from Heathrow to Gatwick.
We tried calling customer service to switch one of our flights but they said they couldn't because one was booked from American Airlines and the other from British Airways. We tried finding the British Airways equivalent of my gf's flight from London Heathrow to JFK, but by that time it was more expensive to change flights than to simply book a new flight.
We were disappointed and frustrated with the situation. We understand that customer service had to respect the respective airline's policies for changing flights. However, we felt that Student Universe needs to hold itself responsible for whatever mistakes happen in whatever algorithms they use to book flights through airlines. If we're clicking on an American Airlines flight, it needs to book through American Airlines, not British Airways.
We tried to contact Student Universe customer service, and they were polite and helpful. But, we would stay away from Student Universe as the platform is simply not reliable and needs fixing. We hope that Student Universe will improve its services and algorithms to avoid such situations in the future.
StudentUniverse Scam: My Experience with Their Unacceptable Behavior
I'm a grad student at Tufts Uni in Boston and I had a summer internship in Canada. I decided to take a Greyhound bus to Canada in June and then fly back to the US. A friend told me about StudentUniverse and how they offer discounted tickets for students. So, I decided to buy a round-trip ticket from Toronto to Boston and back to Canada the next day because I had a commencement ceremony on August 2, 2019. The ticket cost me $220 and I agreed to the terms and conditions during checkout.
When I arrived in Canada, I found out that my visa didn't allow me to come back to Canada after my presentation on August 2. I had no control over this situation, so I called StudentUniverse on June 16 to ask them to change my reservation. They told me that the changing fees were more than the ticket and that I should buy a new ticket. So, I bought a new one-way ticket for around $118. Then, I asked them to refund my earlier ticket, but they said they couldn't because it was through Porter Airlines. I called Porter Airlines and explained my situation, but they said it was the agent's concern, not theirs.
I had long conversations with StudentUniverse, but they still refused to reimburse my ticket. Even when I agreed to a 50% refund, they didn't pay me anything. This kind of behavior is unacceptable, even in war zones. They're using the name of students to make money without any other motives. I spent a total of $337, and $220 of that went to waste. They know that students work at least 20 hours a week to earn that much money. Please stay away from them, and I'm planning to file a case against them so that they won't do this to others.
Unsatisfactory Customer Service Experience with StudentUniverse: No Help with Transit Visa Issue
I had a really bad experience with StudentUniverse. Their customer service was very unsatisfactory and unprofessional. I booked my two-way tickets from Boise, Idaho to Kathmandu, Nepal for December 12 on October 14, which unfortunately transits through Vancouver, Canada. I wasn't aware that Canada requires a transit visa until this Sunday, which is only 7 working days left until my flight day. Unfortunately, it takes 19 working days to process the visa and there is no expedition option available.
I understand that based on my particular itinerary, my tickets are non-refundable and I cannot cancel or re-route my ticket. However, I think that not knowing about 1 country's transit visa policy among 196 countries in the world is reasonable enough to be considered for at least re-routing the tickets for customer's convenience. Especially since it is only my second international flight and I am not familiar with all the visa requirements. What if the customer were people who don't usually have knowledge how to find such information regarding their flights? It seems unfair that they don't even offer any option except for cancelling with just a tax amount and re-reserving a ticket to a customer with an authentic reason to do so.
I know I might have looked for a cheaper fare, but isn't that what any students/middle class people would do? Isn't that why their organization exists for? Does the policy really have to be that strict just because I looked for an inexpensive fare from one of the largest airlines and travel agents? Is it just the money that binds the service provider and the customers? As a service provider, shouldn't they appreciate how we coordinate when the airlines are delayed due to their own mistakes, and we JUST understand it? Shouldn't it be as simple to help their customers back, too?
Overall, I found the experience really frustrating and disappointing. I hope they can improve their customer service and be more understanding towards their customers' situations.
StudentUniverse's Unethical Refund Denial: A Frustrating Experience
So, I booked a round trip from Dallas to Delhi on StudentUniverse website. The flight was scheduled on May 10, but the schedule changed and they gave me an alternative option that didn't fit my schedule. I contacted their customer service representative and he cancelled the flight and initiated the refund process. He even emailed me about the refund and said it will be processed shortly. But now they are denying the refund, which is really frustrating. My flight is on May 10 and I don't have any other option.
This is not the first time StudentUniverse has messed up with our bookings. They don't inform us about any flight changes or cancellations. We have to find out ourselves and then contact them. After that, we have to spend hours on call with their representatives to find a feasible option. And the only options they give us are either flights requiring transit visa or flights that are out of our schedule.
After talking with multiple representatives, we finally got the option of flight cancellation with full refund. We even asked for a proof via email because we didn't believe them by then. And now they are denying the refund, which is really unethical. If they guarantee a customer that they will refund the entire money, how can they come back after 2 days saying that they deny it?
I think StudentUniverse needs to have some respect for their customers. They cannot go back on their words. This is the worst way in which organizational ethics are being applied. As a student, I feel harassed to the extreme end during my exam times. And now they don't want to refund my money also. If they give me any further trouble, I will definitely carry bad word for them within the entire student community so that no one can further trust StudentUniverse.
I hope they will understand the situation and refund my money as soon as possible.
Unreliable and Stressful: My Experience with StudentUniverse
I gotta say, my experience with StudentUniverse was a real bummer. I mean, I had heard from some of my buddies that they had a decent time booking through them, but my experience was far from it. I had a bunch of issues with my trip before, during, and after, and it was all thanks to StudentUniverse. If you're thinking about booking through them, I'd say think twice and maybe look for a more reliable option.
So, let me tell you what went down. First off, shortly after I bought my ticket, I noticed that one of the legs of my departure trip had been cancelled without any notification or anything. I tried calling StudentUniverse to sort it out, but it took multiple calls and a lot of time to finally get it fixed. And even then, I was left uncertain about my return trip for a good few weeks.
Then, when it came time to actually depart, I tried checking in online but was told I had to do it at the counter. When I got there, I found out that the trip they had in their system was completely different from what I had booked online. It took an hour to sort it out, and even then, I wasn't sure if everything was fixed.
And finally, when I was returning home, I checked my itinerary and everything looked good. But when I got to the airport, I found out that my return trip had been changed to three hours earlier than what I had seen that morning. It was a real headache trying to sort it out, and I had to get a family member to wait on hold with StudentUniverse for almost an hour.
Overall, I'd say that dealing with StudentUniverse was like flipping a coin - you never know what you're going to get. And if you're like me and want to avoid any unnecessary stress and hassle, I'd recommend booking through a more reputable booker or directly with the airline itself.
Smooth Booking Process and Good Customer Service: My Experience with StudentUniverse (SU)
I just wanted to share my experience with StudentUniverse, or SU for short. I've booked two trips through them, and I have to say, I'm pretty satisfied. I mean, don't get me wrong, there are some things you need to keep in mind when booking through them, but overall, it's been a pretty smooth process.
First of all, let's talk about the prices. Some people seem to think that SU is the only place to get discounted flights, but that's just not true. If you do your research, you'll find that there are other websites out there that offer similar deals. That being said, I have found some pretty good prices on SU. Of course, you have to keep in mind that you're not going to be flying first class or anything like that. You're basically buying the remaining seats on the plane, so you get what you pay for.
Now, let's talk about the booking process. When you book through SU, you'll receive a confirmation code. It's important to check this code against the airline's website to make sure everything is in order. I know this might seem like common sense, but some people seem to have missed this step. Also, keep in mind that the flights are non-refundable. If you think there's even a slight chance you might need to cancel, it's probably best to book a more expensive flight.
As for customer service, I have to say, I was pretty impressed. I received a promo email for $20 off my next flight if I booked through the SU app. I tried to do this, but for some reason, it wouldn't let me check out. So, I emailed customer service and asked if the promo could be applied to my current itinerary. Within 24 hours, I received a response saying that they would credit my card. I mean, that's pretty good customer service, right?
Now, I have seen some negative reviews about SU, and I'm not saying that everyone's experience is going to be perfect. But, in my experience, I haven't had any issues. I do worry that there might be some discrepancies when I get to the airport, but I think that's just something you have to keep in mind when booking through a third-party website. Overall, I think SU is a good option if you're looking for discounted flights. Just remember to do your research, compare the flights, and check everything against the airline's website.
Efficient and Affordable Flights with StudentUniverse: My Experience
At first, I was like, why are people complaining so much about StudentUniverse? But then, I read some of the reviews here and I realized that there are a lot of [censored]s out there. Seriously, some of these people shouldn't be allowed to serve on a jury or make any important decisions. But I digress.
Let me tell you about my experience with StudentUniverse. My friends and I were planning a trip to Japan and we were looking for the best deals on flights. We checked out at least 20 different travel sites and even called some travel agents, but we couldn't find anything better than what StudentUniverse was offering. So, we booked our flights through them.
The booking process was pretty straightforward. We got our confirmation email with the reservation code and we were all set. However, I never received the second email with the e-tickets. I waited a few days and then decided to give them a call. Someone answered right away and they were super helpful. They emailed me the e-tickets while we were still on the phone and even gave me some tips about luggage, online check-in, and airport information.
When it came time for our trip, we had some issues with our flights. There were some delays and cancellations, but none of it was StudentUniverse's fault. It was due to adverse weather and the airline (Air Canada). I've traveled internationally many times before and I know that these things happen. It's just part of the experience.
Overall, I had a great experience with StudentUniverse. They saved me a lot of time and money on my trip to Japan. I paid $889.00 for an 18.5 hour trip from MCO (USA) to NRT (Japan) with only one stop in YUL (Canada). How can anyone complain about that? Seriously, folks!
Now, I do want to point out that the cheaper the ticket, the more restrictions it has. This is true no matter where you buy your ticket from. So, if you book a non-refundable ticket or make a mistake with your dates, don't blame StudentUniverse. That's on you, buddy.
In conclusion, I had a great experience with StudentUniverse and I would definitely use them again for future travel plans. Thanks, StudentUniverse!
Terrible Experience with Student Universe: Cancelled Flight and Refund Issues
I wish I had read through reviews on this site before booking my flight with Student Universe! Let me tell you, it was the absolute worst travel booking service ever. For all students out there, please don't be penny wise and pound foolish -- you are better off paying a little more and buying directly from the airline or using a more reputable booking service.
So, I booked my Turkish Airlines flight for May 30th through Student Universe. A few days before the flight, I received a notification that my flight had been canceled. I was so upset and confused, I didn't know what to do. I called Student Universe, asking what would happen. They said there wasn't any alternative flight they could offer. So I asked about a refund because I read through their policy, which had stated that I would only forfeit my payment should I be the one to cancel the flight. They said they would offer a refund after deducting a $40 processing fee. I pushed back because there was no mention of such a fee in their policy, to which they offered a "discounted" fee of $25. I also pushed back again, referring to their policy. After being placed on hold forever, they came back and said they would waive the cancellation fee. I asked when I would receive my money but to which they mentioned that it could take 4-6 weeks because the money had been passed to the airline. Before contacting Student Universe, I had actually called Turkish, who had informed me that the flight had been canceled and explained that Student Universe would be responsible for issuing a refund because Turkish had not received any money yet. So I pushed back and told the Student Universe customer rep what Turkish said. He said he understands my frustration and that they had received so many similar complaints and that to be guaranteed a refund, I should go ahead and file a dispute with my bank.
I went ahead and disputed the charge. Two days later, Student Universe calls and says I should go ahead and tell the bank that I had mistakenly disputed the charge so they can quickly issue a refund to me. I guess this is because of reputation issues. I told them I would not do that because that would be a lie as the dispute claim was not false, and actually, their representative was the one who told me to file the dispute.
Fast forward to August 7th, I receive communication from my bank that Student Universe says they will not go ahead to issue the refund because I was the one that canceled my flight. I am baffled! Why would they choose to lie? Honestly, at this point, should I not be able to find resolve through my bank, I think the next step should be taking them to court.
So for anyone looking to use them, please don't. But in the event, you have to use them, keep all documents and record all phone calls because you don't know when you will need it. It's just not worth the hassle and headache.
Terrible Experience with StudentUniverse: Lack of Customer Service and Misleading Discount Claims
I gotta say, I had a pretty rough experience with StudentUniverse. I don't usually write reviews, but I just had to share my story. My family and I were supposed to go to Italy, but with all the craziness going on with the coronavirus, we decided it was best to cancel. I called StudentUniverse multiple times to try to change our flights, but each time I got a different answer from a different representative. It was so frustrating!
I was told that the only change we could make was a change in date, but no one was willing to help me find flights that were around the same price. I had to do all the research myself, and even then, I was told that the flights I found weren't valid because I couldn't choose a flight from the StudentUniverse page. I mean, why didn't anyone tell me that before I spent a week looking for a new flight?!
The last call I made was the worst. I was on the phone for two hours, mostly on hold, and the representative I spoke to just didn't seem to understand what I was asking for. I had to repeat myself three times before he finally got it. And when I asked to speak to a manager, I was put on hold for another 20 minutes before I finally got to talk to someone. And even then, she didn't seem to care about my situation. She just offered me $20 off my next flight. Are you kidding me?!
I work in customer service, and I know how important it is to listen to your customers and try to help them. But it seemed like no one at StudentUniverse cared about me or my family. We couldn't get our money back, we couldn't change our flights without paying an extra $500 per person, and we were just left feeling frustrated and angry.
And to make matters worse, StudentUniverse isn't even a website that helps students. Their flights aren't discounted, and they don't seem to care about their customers at all. I wouldn't recommend booking through them to anyone.
Terrible Experience with StudentUniverse: Incompetent Customer Service and False Promises
I had a really bad experience with StudentUniverse. I was supposed to arrive at my destination at 9am, but there was a complication with my flight rescheduling. I spoke to a guy who messed up with my rescheduling. I found out that the guy never rescheduled it. They replayed my audio and they were like he might have been confused because "you said you would call back for a cheaper flight if you found one?" which is ridiculous because I had specifically told him I was rescheduling it before my flight and needed to be back tomorrow for SORORITY recruitment. I had specifically said that I agreed to the $32 dollar fare difference. I had only said I would call back another time if I found something cheaper. I never said "NO." It turns out that American Airlines counted me as a no-show, meaning they never canceled my flight. I only found out when I had called the night prior to my presumed flight on Sunday asking for my confirmation so I could sign into my flight with American Airlines.
I paid the additional $58 for "travel protection," which is absolutely pointless, waste of time, energy, and money because fare differences still apply, and customer service takes around 2hrs+ to get ahold of you. So if you plan on canceling the night before, don't expect to get the flight you saw online as they sell out quite quickly, and you will most likely have poor options that have nothing to do with your desired booking date. When trying to get ahold of them, they said they had to call American Airlines to reopen my flight, and I had to pay $100 to reopen my ticket. I needed to get to Tallahassee as soon as possible, so I was willing to pay the $100. I was on the call for an hour or so, and I had called again at 4 am the morning of my desired flight Monday, August 9th at 5 am. I called at 4 am to see if there are any updates with American Airlines, was told that they were still on hold with them. Called at 9 am, no update. Again at 11 am, no update. Got a call-back call from them around 5 pm, and was told the flight that I had spoken about with a previous representative for the 10th at 5 am was no longer available.
I have been on the phone with them, still am, and they can't find me a new flight. Been asking for the fare differences in the options they gave me and nothing. It's like they're using dinosaur computers at this company because HOW IN THE WORLD AM I ABLE TO FIND FLIGHTS FOR TOMORROW MORNING ON MINE BUT CUSTOMER SERVICE CAN'T?! Then they say they will put me on a brief hold to see the fares and come back with no fares. Please, please, PLEASE someone tell me how that makes sense. Either this company has hired a bunch of INCOMPETENTS--actually, no, there is no other alternative because that is exactly what it appears to be.
Don't ever waste your time booking a flight on this website. You might as well pay the extra $100-200 from a different site so you won't have to go in circles with customer service, lack proper communication. I am currently speaking with an attorney because what they have done is a crime, and I have all the time stamps for all my phone calls. I would like them to play back every phone call and try to come up with an excuse because it appears they only can hear what they want to hear--selective hearing, I presume.
I wish I could include photos because I would attach all phone calls I had made so you could see how ridiculous their service is. Not only am I on the phone with these people for more than an hour, but also waiting for them to serve you takes at least 2 HOURS. Then for them to resolve a SIMPLE TASK will take an hour. Don't bother, please. I really tried to give this company a chance. I have bought a flight from them previously and had trouble canceling my flight but had thought "hey, that was a one-time thing" but no, it's an every-time thing.
I didn't think I would need to add additional things to this review, but I was just told that the flight I purchased cannot do rescheduling for early flights (despite me paying the $58 travel protection AND HAVING BEEN GIVEN THE OPTION TO CHANGE MY FLIGHT FOR A MORNING FLIGHT THE FOLLOWING MONDAY AT 5AM). It is AS IF THEY CHANGE THEIR TERMS & CONDITIONS TO THEIR OWN ACCORD. I will be speaking to an attorney about this company, and if I need to take extreme case with them, I will.
StudentUniverse Complaints 43
Flight Bergen to Boston
I am writing to express my deep dissatisfaction with the service provided by Student Universe, as I believe it falls significantly short of the expected standards. Firstly, I want to highlight our initial positive impression of your site, particularly regarding the favorable student pricing. Unfortunately, this positive perception was severely tarnished...
Read full review of StudentUniverseIssue regarding refunding money after cancellation
I booked my flight to London from Etihad airways through studentuniverse. I cancelled my booking within 1 hour and they said they would refund my amount in 7 to 10 days. It’s been 15 days I haven’t got a refund. I have emailing them time and again and they are telling me they have released a refund but I have not get any refund in my account. It’s really frustrating experience
Desired outcome: It should have been refunded
Questionable policies and unprofessional/ scam beware
I have been trying to change my flight since I made the mistake of booking it. I called numerous times trying to cancel it and I’d get a dial tone and Hang up or no one answered at all. I emailed and used twitter to try and change or cancel it to a one way and the emailed me back late and with a careless “apology” on the fact that it took them so long to get back to me just to tell me to call them. I called after being on hold forever and spoke to this rude, unhelpful guy who gave me the run around just to tell me he couldn’t do anything about it. When I spoke to the airline they told me they were able to change and modify flights but that they’ve heard many complaints and advice not to book with questionable third party sites specifically this one. I called back just to talk to another guy being condemned and glazing over all my complaints and wasn’t even trying to listen. He claimed that they let you know the call is being recorded but they never do and that’s illegal where I live. I don’t want to lose 1600 dollars bc they don’t want to work with me even though you are able to change a flight within 24 hours of booking but they don’t follow many policies, rules and regulations that’s why they’re sketchy. Now I’m stuck with 4 tickets and 2 I’m not going to be able to use. I’m out more than 1600
Desired outcome: Refund or credit
Is StudentUniverse Legit?
StudentUniverse earns a trustworthiness rating of 94%
Highly recommended, but caution will not hurt.
We found clear and detailed contact information for StudentUniverse. The company provides a physical address, 4 phone numbers, and 2 emails, as well as 4 social media accounts. This demonstrates a commitment to customer service and transparency, which is a positive sign for building trust with customers.
StudentUniverse has received 2 positive reviews on our site. This is a good sign and indicates a safe and reliable experience for customers who choose to work with the company.
StudentUniverse has claimed the domain name for studentuniverse.com for a long time, which suggests that the website is established and has a history of being in operation. This is a positive sign, as it indicates that the website has been around for a while and may have a reputation to maintain.
Studentuniverse.com has a valid SSL certificate, which indicates that the website is secure and trustworthy. Look for the padlock icon in the browser and the "https" prefix in the URL to confirm that the website is using SSL.
Several positive reviews for StudentUniverse have been found on various review sites. While this may be a good sign, it is important to approach these reviews with caution and consider the possibility of fake or biased reviews.
We looked up StudentUniverse and found that the website is receiving a high amount of traffic. This could be a sign of a popular and trustworthy website, but it is still important to exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of the site before sharing any personal or financial information
However ComplaintsBoard has detected that:
- Despite a high level of trust, our investigation found issues with StudentUniverse's service, including poor customer service, lack of accountability, and responsibility to resolve complaints. Customers may face long wait times for responses, receive generic or unhelpful answers or no response at all. Only 27% of 10 complaints were resolved.
Terrible Customer Service and Exploitative Practices by StudentUniverse
I had a really bad experience with StudentUniverse when my son was studying abroad in England. We used their service twice, but the first time we tried to cancel within 24 hours, it was a real headache. They didn't answer our calls or emails until it was too late to get a refund. But that was nothing compared to what happened next.
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, my son's home college required all students to return home immediately. I tried to change his flight through United, but because I had booked through StudentUniverse, they wouldn't help me. I emailed StudentUniverse more than a week before the college mandate, just to be safe. But I never heard back from customer service, even though I got tons of sales and marketing emails.
I spent four hours on hold on the regular reservation line and two hours on the premium line (which I paid extra for), but when I finally got through, they told me my son's return ticket had no value. They wanted to charge me $450 in change fees and $1500 for the fare difference, even though there were 54 empty coach seats on the flight. It felt like they were trying to take advantage of a college student who was stuck in another country during a terrible crisis.
Honestly, I don't think StudentUniverse should be allowed to sell airline tickets. They don't care about their customers and they don't provide any real service. If they went out of business, it wouldn't be a loss to anyone. I gave them one star, but I wish I could give them no stars at all.
StudentUniverse's Unhelpful Customer Service and Name Change Policy
So, I booked a flight for my daughter and her friend on StudentUniverse last night at around 11pm. I filled out all the details for each person in the boxes provided and then entered my name in the credit card section. I made sure to double-check all the information before hitting the purchase button. However, to my surprise, the ticket that was generated had my name on it instead of my daughter's friend. I immediately contacted their customer service via chat to inform them of the error, but I didn't receive a response for over an hour. Frustrated, I had to go to sleep.
This morning, I woke up to an email saying that the ticket name couldn't be changed. I called their customer service, and the lady who answered was very rude and unhelpful. She told me that no one could help me and that I had to buy a whole new ticket. I couldn't believe it! The ticket even had my daughter's friend's date of birth on it, which was something that was changed on their website, not by me. I've been on hold for 32 minutes now, and they're telling me that I have to buy a new ticket. This is outrageous! I'm going to the Ombudsman!
It's really disappointing when companies like StudentUniverse prey on the less fortunate. Life is already hard enough, and it's not fair that we have to deal with companies that are only interested in ripping us off. They could be the straw that breaks the back of those who are truly trying to cope in this life. I just wish they would be more honorable and treat their customers with respect.
Misleading Fees and Inconsistent Policies: My Experience with StudentUniverse
Me and my buddies had to change our flights from Buenos Aires to Thailand today because of the corona Virus. Luckily, StudentUniverse (SU) is offering to change flights without cancellation and changing fees if it is because of Coronavirus. However, they pretended to not know about Convid by not asking us the reason to charge us a $150 fee each. We had to cite the policy on their website to avoid paying this fee.
One of my friends successfully changed the flight with a $70 fee, which is a good thing. But after that, every one of us was charged different fees due to some bs reasons they made up. I was charged $210 for booking the ticket late while some of my friends, who booked their tickets 1 week later, were charged $150 and $178. I questioned the fee and was told that the booking date was not the reason, it was because some classes are out seats and we had to pay more to update our class. Then they offered me a $150 fee like nothing has happened. The funny thing is we ended up having the same class, while the price on their website decreased, I guessed the flight was not full as they told me. So I'm not sure we're ripped off or not but I feel like the fees they asked based on nothing but arbitrary numbers popping up in their head. And the whole experience to me was like we were bargaining for some groceries at a market instead of buying flight tickets from a credible flight agency. Unless this event is explained to us clearly, I'm pretty sure no one in my school would use SU again.
Appalling Service and Incompetence by StudentUniverse - Do Not Book with Them!
So, I had a flight booked with StudentUniverse (studentuniverse.com) and it got cancelled just 48 hours before the departure. I was in a panic and immediately called them to know my options. I left my number in the call back queue and sent two emails with the subject "URGENT FLIGHT CANCELLED WITHIN 48 HOURS OF DEPARTURE". I even DM'ed them on Instagram and tried calling them twice more. But, to my surprise, I didn't receive any response from them for 18 hours. And when they finally called me back, it was 2 am in the morning and they only tried calling once. They didn't send any text or email or anything.
By that time, I had already rebooked a new flight directly with an airline because I realized that I couldn't rely on these people to do their jobs. As I had booked through StudentUniverse, the airline couldn't make any changes to my booking. So, I had to pay $1700 for a replacement flight. It was clearly StudentUniverse's fault because they failed to prioritize bookings based on departure date/time. But, they didn't respond to any of my emails.
Two weeks later, I called them up and received appalling service. The employee spoke to me as if I was a child and offered nothing more than an airline credit. But, the airline credit doesn't even meet the airline's credit policy. An airline credit entitles you to the $ value of your flight which can go towards ANY international route they fly. But, StudentUniverse has decided that I can only use my "credit" to rebook the original route.
I should have received a refund and an apology for this company's incompetence. But, instead, all they offered was a subpar "credit". I thought it was safe to book with StudentUniverse as I am aware that they are owned by Flight Centre. But, now, I would not recommend this company to my worst enemy.
Beware of Hidden Fees: My Experience Cancelling a Flight with Student Universe
I gotta say, I was pretty confident in Student Universe until I had to cancel my flight with United Airlines that I booked through them. They left out some pretty important information about cancelling flights that ended up costing me a pretty penny.
I did my due diligence and asked about the conditions of cancelling before I even went through with it. They told me I'd be charged $400 ($100 from Student Universe and $300 from United Airlines) and that I'd get a flight credit for the original ticket price. They also told me I had to use the credit with United Airlines within 300 days of the original purchase date.
But what they didn't tell me was that I had to go to the same destination. It took me three calls to Student Universe to finally book my new flight, and only then did they reveal this crucial piece of information months after I cancelled my original flight. And to make matters worse, the price of flights to my original destination had gone up, so I had to pay an extra $300 on top of the $400 cancellation fee just to use the flight credit I'd already paid for. That's a total of $700 extra just to use the credit I was promised.
Honestly, it's pretty ridiculous that they can't be clear about the details of getting a flight credit from a cancellation, especially when they already have my money. Even the email they sent after I cancelled my flight didn't explain everything clearly.
So if you're thinking about cancelling a flight with Student Universe, make sure you get all the details and rules upfront, or you might end up paying way more than you bargained for.
Beware of StudentUniverse: Misleading Prices and Dishonest Practices
I recently used StudentUniverse to book a flight from South Africa to London. I had spent a lot of time researching flights and found that StudentUniverse had the best deal. Even though it's an American website, I was able to view the prices in my home currency, the South African Rand.
However, when I confirmed my ticket and paid the invoice, I noticed that the amount deducted from my account was over R1000 more than what I had confirmed. I reached out to their customer service team and received automated responses that blamed the discrepancy on the exchange rate and my decision to change the currency to my home currency. But this is an option that their website openly provides, and there is no way that changes in the exchange rate could have created such a large difference in just a few minutes.
To make matters worse, my invoice clearly stated that prices are in USD unless otherwise stated. And in my case, the price was stated in Rands, so that's what I should have been charged. It's clear to me that StudentUniverse is intentionally misleading students who are working hard to save money for travel. It's absolutely shocking that a company would operate in this way.
If you're not in the USA, I highly recommend that you avoid using StudentUniverse to book your flights. And even if you are in the US, I urge you to consider whether you want to support a company that operates in such a dishonest way.
Terrible Experience with Studentuniverse: Technical Issues and False Advertising
I had a really bad experience with Studentuniverse, let me tell you. I was looking for a direct flight on United and I found a great price on their website. I clicked on the flight and waited for it to load, but then it said "Sorry!" and told me that the flight wasn't available anymore. I was pretty disappointed, but I figured that maybe it was just a clickbait site trying to get me to click on their promoted prices.
So I decided to select another United flight that was a little more expensive but still a good deal. I went to book it, but every time I tried to go to the payment page, it said that my session had expired and I couldn't purchase the ticket. I tried reloading the page and using a different browser, but nothing seemed to work. The page was even worse on Safari.
At this point, I was getting pretty frustrated, so I decided to call customer care. They asked me to verify my account by sending them some student documents, which seemed fair enough. I typed up an email and sent it to them, but the whole time I was on the phone, the customer care rep kept confirming the details of the flight because apparently their website was having some issues. I was okay with booking the flight over the phone, though. I just wanted to get that good price. But then the person on the other end told me that I needed to send even more documents to verify that I was a student. I was starting to get really annoyed at this point, but I started taking more pictures anyway. About 30 minutes into the call, the rep told me that there wasn't actually a student deal on the flight I had selected. In fact, it was $300 more expensive than the flight listed on their site. I was so done with this whole thing. After that, the rep had the nerve to ask me to submit a bug report to their technical support and to keep looking for a student deal on their site.
I don't think I'll ever use Studentuniverse again after this experience. It was just too frustrating and time-consuming.
StudentUniverse: A Total Ripoff - Beware of Cheap Tickets and Flight Rescheduling Scams
I gotta tell ya, I had a pretty rough experience with StudentUniverse. I mean, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. These guys lure you in with these cheap tickets that seem too good to be true, and let me tell you, they are. You think you're getting a great deal, but then they hit you with the ol' switcheroo. Suddenly, your flight is rescheduled and they act like it's not their fault. They blame it on the airline, but I'm pretty sure they're in cahoots with them. They know that they can get away with changing flights for their budget class passengers, so they do it all the time.
I noticed that my flights were being changed left and right, but when I looked into it, I realized that the flights were still operating at the same time. It was all a scam to get me to pay more money. I mean, imagine thinking you're saving money by buying a cheap ticket, only to find out that you're now forced to stopover somewhere and pay for a hotel, taxi, food, and rebook your luggage. It's a nightmare.
At the end of the day, when you add up all the extra expenses, you'll realize that you're actually paying way more than if you had just bought a regular ticket in the first place. It's a total ripoff. I mean, if you're cool with all that hassle, then go ahead and book with StudentUniverse. But if you're like me and you don't want to deal with all that nonsense, then I suggest you steer clear of these guys. Trust me, it's not worth it.
Student Universe: A Scam During the Pandemic - Don't Book with Them
So, I recently booked a round trip flight from Denver to London through Student Universe. I saw the flight on the United website and the only discount was $20. I mean, come on, that's not really a discount at all. But, my daughter who is in college told me that her professors recommended booking through this company. So, I made the mistake of going through Student Universe. And then, the pandemic hit and my flight was cancelled. Now, I have to deal with Student Universe instead of United Airlines directly. It's been a real hassle.
I just tried to re-book 3 small domestic flights with the credit I had from the cancelled flight. I did some searching on Google flights and found that these 3 flights only cost $161 total. But, when I talked to the Student Universe rep, she quoted me $299.80 for all 3 flights. That's basically double the price of what I could pay right now. When I asked her why it was so expensive, she said that because the London to Denver flight was deeply discounted, we have to pay more now on these domestic flights. I mean, seriously? That's just ridiculous.
And then, I asked what would happen if my daughter got sick and couldn't make one of the upcoming domestic flights. The rep told me that all 3 domestic flights would be cancelled and we would lose the $299.80 credit. That's just a scam. I feel like Student Universe is just taking advantage of the pandemic and selling students and parents a bill of goods. They should be ashamed of themselves and their business practices.
If you're reading this review, Student Universe, don't try to blame this on airline policy or deeply discounted tickets. You're lying. That original ticket was NOT deeply discounted. You're just a middle man who is obviously just taking a big cut. Do NOT book anything with this company.
Poor Customer Service and Communication from StudentUniverse for Flight Refunds
I recently used StudentUniverse to purchase some flights, but unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and my plans were disrupted. While I understand that this was not their fault, I had to rely on StudentUniverse to communicate with the airline directly about getting a refund. This was a bit of a hassle, as I couldn't communicate with the airline directly and had to go through the whole process with StudentUniverse.
My boyfriend and I had StudentUniverse request refunds for our cancelled flight, which was cancelled by the airline. They informed us that it could take up to 2 months for the airline to respond, which was understandable. However, after 1 month, I called to check if they had heard back and they said they hadn't yet. One month later, my boyfriend received his refund, but I still hadn't. When I called again, they told me that they had never made a request for me. I was frustrated and confused as to how this could happen. How could they say they were requesting it for both of our flights the first time, but then tell me they hadn't heard back the second time, without mentioning that they never made the request in the first place?
After I brought this to their attention, they finally made the request for me. However, I had to wait an additional 2 months and then received an email saying they were offering me credit instead of a refund. I was upset and called again to ask why the airline was only giving me credit when my boyfriend had received a full refund. The person I spoke to said that the airline still had not responded and that the email was simply stating that I had the option to get credit if I wanted. However, the email did not sound that way at all, and I was frustrated with the lack of clarity.
The staff I spoke to seemed incompetent and unhelpful, and I was disappointed that they wouldn't let me speak to a supervisor. While I understand that some things are out of their control, the way they handled this situation was horrendous. I don't think I'll be using this site again in the future.
Have not received refund for a cancelled flight
Reservation code: umjczx
Amount £233.99
I booked a flight on may 7th, it was cancelled almost immediately due to covid.
I rang up within an hour of the flight being booked and was told the refund was applied straight away.
It is now a month and a half later and my refund is still not in my bank account.
Despite numerous emails telling me they have refunded me and it's my banks fault and to check with my bank (which I have more than once). I still have no refund and no refund pending on my bank account.
I would like my refund and not to continually be told it's my bank's billing cycle.
hidden fees
I purposely booked my flight through student universe because they claimed to have 1 free flight change. I was supposed to fly to Minnesota for an interview but changed the date of this interview. I contacted them today on 10/24 to change my flight. I figured I would have to pay the difference between the flights. I did not expect a $75 extra fee not mentioned anywhere on my tickets or in the confirmation. When I complained about this fee and that it was not mentioned anywhere, the person I was talking to tried to blame me and for not paying extra for an elite membership at $20 a person. I would like a refund of this $75 fee that was not mentioned anywhere. I needed the flight changed so I had to pay it up front despite the fact that I found it unsatisfactory.
flight booking
I had a medical emergency due to which I had to travel to India on 20th October, 2018. I trusted student universe to do my reservation and they highly disappointed me.
I had called qatar airways to check on baggage. From there I came to know that due to short layover period at Frankfort there will be issues with my checkin luggage. I immediately called student universe customer care. The representative admitted she was seeing a notification on my itinerary which she was reluctant to share. She checked with her supervisor and said the layover time is sufficient for baggage transfer at Frankfurt from AA to Qatar airways. However, to be sure she said she will call up AA and get a confirmation from them regarding this. Post that she was going to mail me. 2 hrs went by and my I received no update from student universe.I called up AA and they told me that student universe have goofed up my reservation and they tried to make changes to it. On calling up student universe, they then sent me the new change in itinerary which had longer layover period. This was 2.5 hrs before my boarding time. They wanted me to confirm post which they were going to confirm with AA. 1 hr went by and I received no communication from Student universe. My boarding time was approaching so I checked at AA desk at DFW airport where representative found that she was able to check my luggage only till Frankfurt. I called up student universe again and they said they were still in talks with AA. In the end it was just 1hr left for my flight to take off so I hurried to check in and found that I was not allowed to check-in my luggage. I boarded the flight without my luggage which had the necessary medical documents required for my surgery.
Not only the representative was unable to make changes to my itinerary as AA denied but added an extra Qatar airways flight from Kuwait to Mumbai which was not required considering my original itinerary was from DFW to Frankfurt to Mumbai. Now I fear I may face no show charges from Qatar airways because of this goof up from student universe. This has greatly broke my trust with student universe and I have cancelled my return flight to dfw. I had to go through this chaos with no fault of mine during my medical emergency
reference number : fvdlfh
I bought my to and fro travell from dallas to india in the month of february 2018. My journey is on 30th july 2018. I was unconfirmed on One of the connecting flights from amstradam to bangalore ..flight rederence AEDLIA through jet airways.
I have to travel on time for my fathers event which happens on the next day on 31st july 2018, i have been calling and following up with your agents sincd last 2 momths ..but there has been no resolution till date.
I have beem transfered to different agents without any concrete resolution..
I am never going to use your service if this is not resolved.
untrustworthy
Cheap almost always means bad quality, bad service, bad treatment or attitude.
You better pay more and save your nerves from extra worrying.
I am absolutely sure that StudentUniverse is the worst travel agency in the world because they don't appreciate their customers, care nothing about their problems and provide no help when needed. Moreover, the itineraries they offer are ridiculous and far from the reality.
In short: don't use this website.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
Stole my money
What a terrible mess! Please choose alternatives and never book through them. Absolutely appalling.
I booked a ticket, but later changed my mind and decided to cancel it. They refused to do it providing no acceptable reasons.
Then I asked for a refund and again my request was rejected. Look like I just gave them money as a present and they are not going to do anything about it. They just stole it. So sad I dealt with them. I am extremely upset and highly recommend you to use different services that don't steal money.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
failure to honour terms of the contract
Needed to rebook a reservation from EWR to EDI to accommodate a sudden medical procedure. Contract says penalties for this change should be $50 for Student Universe and $300 for the airline plus the change in airfare. The rep wanted to charge $100 for Student Universe, $300 for the airline, AND ANOTHER $100 for a "NO-SHOW" fee for the airline that was not mentioned in any of the penalties attached to the ticket we purchased. They wanted $590 for a change that should have cost $440 and refused to honor the terms of the contract they agreed. This on top of a ridiculously limited choice of only one (1) available flight for the new date, a flight that now required a day layover in Brussels. Entirely dissatisfaction's and extremely unethical behavior. I learned I can get flights on Norwegian airlines that are completely flexible and refundable for $599, Student Universe will never see another penny from us.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
About StudentUniverse
One of the key features of StudentUniverse is its exclusive discounts for students and youth travelers. By partnering with airlines, hotels, and other travel providers, the website is able to offer prices that are significantly lower than what is available to the general public. This makes it easier for students to afford travel and explore new destinations, whether it's for study abroad programs, spring break trips, or summer vacations.
In addition to its discounted prices, StudentUniverse also offers a range of tools and resources to help students plan their trips. The website features a user-friendly interface that allows users to search for flights, hotels, and activities based on their preferences and budget. It also provides helpful information about travel visas, travel insurance, and other important considerations for international travel.
Overall, StudentUniverse is a valuable resource for students who want to travel the world and experience new cultures. With its exclusive discounts, user-friendly interface, and helpful resources, the website makes it easy and affordable for students to explore the world and create unforgettable memories.
Overview of StudentUniverse complaint handling
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StudentUniverse Contacts
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StudentUniverse phone numbers+1 (800) 272-9676+1 (800) 272-9676Click up if you have successfully reached StudentUniverse by calling +1 (800) 272-9676 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have successfully reached StudentUniverse by calling +1 (800) 272-9676 phone number Click down if you have unsuccessfully reached StudentUniverse by calling +1 (800) 272-9676 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have UNsuccessfully reached StudentUniverse by calling +1 (800) 272-9676 phone numberUSA / Canada+44 80 8234 4107+44 80 8234 4107Click up if you have successfully reached StudentUniverse by calling +44 80 8234 4107 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have successfully reached StudentUniverse by calling +44 80 8234 4107 phone number Click down if you have unsuccessfully reached StudentUniverse by calling +44 80 8234 4107 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have UNsuccessfully reached StudentUniverse by calling +44 80 8234 4107 phone numberUK+1 (617) 924-6140+1 (617) 924-6140Click up if you have successfully reached StudentUniverse by calling +1 (617) 924-6140 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have successfully reached StudentUniverse by calling +1 (617) 924-6140 phone number Click down if you have unsuccessfully reached StudentUniverse by calling +1 (617) 924-6140 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have UNsuccessfully reached StudentUniverse by calling +1 (617) 924-6140 phone number+1 (617) 321-3109+1 (617) 321-3109Click up if you have successfully reached StudentUniverse by calling +1 (617) 321-3109 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have successfully reached StudentUniverse by calling +1 (617) 321-3109 phone number Click down if you have unsuccessfully reached StudentUniverse by calling +1 (617) 321-3109 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have UNsuccessfully reached StudentUniverse by calling +1 (617) 321-3109 phone numberPublic Relations Manager
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StudentUniverse emailsPR@studentuniverse.com100%Confidence score: 100%Supportcarlo.fabros@studentuniverse.com99%Confidence score: 99%Salesandre.azer@studentuniverse.com98%Confidence score: 98%Marketingdavid.sanderson@studentuniverse.com98%Confidence score: 98%danielle@studentuniverse.com98%Confidence score: 98%Communicationsocial@studentuniverse.com96%Confidence score: 96%communication
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StudentUniverse address130 Turner Street, Suite 530, Waltham, Massachusetts, 02453, United States
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StudentUniverse social media
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Checked and verified by Michael This contact information is personally checked and verified by the ComplaintsBoard representative. Learn moreJun 13, 2024
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