Economy Bookings Reviews

Economy Bookings
( 159 reviews )

Economy Bookings Review: Is it Legit?

Reviewopedia staff  -  Updated:  July 17, 2023

 

Economy Bookings is an online car rental platform that enables customers to find, compare, and book rental cars from various suppliers worldwide.

In this article, we'll take a look at Economy Bookings customer reviews, their services, and how they compare to similar companies.

How Does It Work?

Economy Bookings works with numerous car rental providers, including well-known brands such as Avis, Hertz, and Europcar, as well as smaller, local companies.

The company states that their service compares car rental offers in 20,000 airport and city locations in 180+ countries.

They go on to say that this wide range of options allows customers to choose the best car rental deal based on their preferences, budget, and travel requirements.

The booking process is relatively straightforward, as customers can filter their search results by factors such as car type, price range, and supplier.

Rental prices will be displayed up front before you choose to make your reservation.  

Economy Bookings also offers a mobile app for iOS and Android devices, making it convenient for customers to book and manage their car rentals on the go.

Refund Policy

When booking a car rental through EconomyBookings.com, it is essential to understand their refund and cancellation policies, as these can vary depending on the chosen car rental provider.

EconomyBookings.com's cancellation and refund policy can be summarized as follows:

For fully prepaid and partially prepaid bookings:

  • Cancel 48 hours or more before pick-up:  Refunded minus a €60 cancellation fee, unless prepayment is less than €60.
  • Cancel less than 48 hours before pick-up:  Refunded minus a €150 cancellation fee, unless prepayment is less than €150.
  • Cancel less than 24 hours before pick-up:  No refund provided.
  • No refunds provide for unused rental days.

Non-refundable cases include:

  • No prior cancellation notice.
  • Failure to pick up the car or provide necessary documentation.
  • Booking made less than 48 hours before rental starts.

Changes can be made at least 48 hours before rental starts and a fee of €18 applies, which can be waived with Cancel Protection.

Refund requests must be submitted in writing within 30 days from the drop-off date.

Cancellation requests should be emailed to [email protected] and refund requests must be submitted to [email protected].

In case of any doubts or queries, customers should contact Economy Bookings' customer support for clarification before confirming the reservation.

Customers can contact Economy Bookings by phone at (347) 897 9795 or by email at [email protected].

Customer Reviews & Complaints

On some ratings websites, Economy Bookings appears to have highly positive customer reviews.

However, a large portion of these reviews are often posted on a single day, which can indicate the company manages their reputation on these websites.

Elsewhere, Economy Bookings has mostly mixed customer reviews, with some very happy customers and other customers who have had negative experiences.

Some users have praised the platform for its user-friendly interface, affordable prices, and diverse selection of vehicles.

Others have had positive experiences with the company's customer service, citing their responsiveness and helpfulness in addressing concerns.

However, there have been some negative reviews and complaints as well.  These include:

  • Issues with hidden fees
  • Discrepancies between the price quoted during booking and the actual price charged
  • Difficulties obtaining refunds in certain situations
  • Reservations being subsequently canceled or no longer available after booking

According to the BBB, Booking Group Corporation Ltd. (the company behind EconomyBookings.com) has an 'F' rating and receives a rating of just 1.1/5 stars from 30 customer reviews.

The company has received 249 customer complaints in the last 3 years and 73 complaints in the last 12 months. 

However, these numbers should be considered in context with the very large number of customers that Economy Bookings serves.

Is Economy Bookings Legit?

Economy Bookings has been operating since 2008, and with millions of customers served, it can be considered a legitimate car rental platform.

The company operates in a very competitive industry where few competitors get high marks from customers.

Booking Group Corporation is headquartered in Latvia, but also has an office in New York.  Customers can find out more about the company at www.bookinggroup.com.

As with any online service, it's crucial to do your research, read reviews, and ensure that you understand the terms and conditions before making a booking.

Competitors and Alternatives?

Economy Bookings has an extensive network of car rental providers and offers competitive pricing, which allows customers to access a diverse range of options and potentially find lower prices than on other platforms.

Additionally, their mobile app can make the booking process convenient for users.

However, other car rental platforms like Expedia, Kayak, and Rentalcars.com also offer a wide selection of rental options and competitive pricing.

These platforms may have better-established reputations and more consistent customer reviews.

As such, it's essential to compare the options available on multiple platforms to find the best deal.

The Bottom Line

EconomyBookings.com offers a comprehensive car rental platform with an extensive range of options and competitive pricing.

While the service has received mixed reviews, it remains a legitimate option for those seeking to book a rental car.

To ensure a positive experience, customers should thoroughly research and compare Economy Bookings with other similar services, read the terms and conditions carefully, and be prepared to communicate with customer service in case of any issues.

If you have any experience with Economy Bookings or their services, please leave your reviews below.

Economy Bookings Customer Reviews

  • Sort Reviews By:

Horrible
January 14, 2025

HORRIBLE

I booked a car in Milan. When I got there no answered the phone number I was given to get my car. After 2 hours of trying I gave up and rented from another company at 5 times the cost. Economy Booking has refused to be responsible for the increased cost, despite the fact that they failed to provide what I contracted with them for. They are very polite as they are stealing your money

Inflexible policies, Go book using sharing apps
December 22, 2024

Economy promises a lot and delivers little. They coerce with cheaper prices, and then hide behind T&C with 0 flexibility when extenuating circumstances arise.

I had a car rental completely prepaid in advance. Before the rental, my credit card used for this got stolen. The car rental company denied my rental, even though it was prepaid, and they told me to get the refund through Economy because it is a 3rd party rental. Economy had no sympathy for a stolen card, and simply brushed everything off as Legal under their T&C. Useless company, can't even help with anything else. Go use ride share apps for a better and more flexible experience.

full coverage scam
December 3, 2024

This company offers insurance called full coverage. This is a scam. When you submit a claim do not expect anything from this fraudulent company. They are located in Latvia out of our judicial boundary. I recommend buying insurance in civilized country instead of being scammed by Con artists.

Pretty much a shady company with no refunds
November 3, 2024
I would say this company is pretty much a scam. If you make a reservation and cancel it turns out you don't get your money back. THat's unheard with legitimate rental car companies. They have a shady policy of giving you an E-Wallet credit towards a car rental in the future. The whole scheme is complex and is run by a Russian guy out of Riga, Latvia. That's enough to clue you in to run away from this company. My advice- stick to Expedia, Priceline and Orbitz if you want to rent a car.

Not to be trusted and dont bother with insurance.
October 22, 2024

My au pair used them and they looked for reasons to not repay her auto claim. (she hit a deer)

So she paid a ton for insurance that isnt useable. Also they make you repay it first and you have to hope they repay you.

Do not rent a car with this company
October 14, 2024
I made a reservation for a rental car through Economy Bookings and paid for the insurance cover. The voucher assured me that there would be no additional charges upon arrival for the rental. However, upon reaching the rental location, a representative from Renta Florida Cars informed me that I needed to pay a nonrefundable $1009 for car insurance along with a $300 deposit. The representative also mistakenly assumed I was a tourist and attempted to sell me tours. Feeling deceived, I decided to leave. Upon contacting Economy Booking to address the situation, I encountered a very rude and unprofessional woman who placed the blame on me for not calling the rental car company in advance. When I requested to speak with a superior, she abruptly ended the call. I strongly caution against using Economy Booking and Renta Florida Cars.

Economy Bookings scammed me out of more than 560 GB pounds
October 4, 2024
Economy Bookings confirmed up to the day before my flight to Stansted Airport that my pre-paid car rental booking was valid and confirmed. Arriving at the Europcar desk at the correct time and date to pick up my vehicle, I was told that Economy Bookings had tried to put three different bookings into the Europcar system, whereby none of them used a correct Europcar voucher number. Together with a Europcar representative, we called the Economy Bookings helpline, who basically said they could not correct their mistake and I would have to apply for a refund . On top of having to book a new car with Europcar at considerably more cost, Economy Bookings reviewed my refund claim and decided that I was a no show, for which there is no reimbursement. This, in spite of an email kindly written and sent to me by a Europcar representative at the time and date that I was at their desk, confirming in writing what had happened. As such I am seriously out of pocket. This company may be legally legitimate, which will be of help in reclaiming my money through other means, however it is obviously operating a SCAM on its customers. As such I can only recommend to stay well clear from booking anything through Economy Bookings.

Renters Beware
September 22, 2024

On Sunday, September 8, 2024, I arrived at Orlando International Airport and caught the shuttle to the rent a car site. The site is an out of the way rental office and I didn't see any cars on the lot to rent.

When I arrived to pick up my reserved rental car, I had all the required documentation. The representative stated that he could not rent me the car because he could not accept my renewed Virginia driver's license paperwork, along with my pictured driver's license.

He refused to rent me a car or refund me my deposit. I contacted Economy Booking and the company states they have the right not to refund the deposit or rent the car for a "No Show" if the documentation doesn't meet their requirement.

I requested an explanation for why the company would not accept my driver's license and they refuse to give me an answer or my refund. I had to file a disputed charge with my credit card company to receive my deposit.

Also, beware that the company charges you $10 dollars a day if you use your own insurance and there are a host of other charges, they will hit you with when you arrive at the rent a car site. In my opinion, this is not a credible rent a car company and I will never book another reservation with them.

I gave it one star because I had to give it a star rating in order to have it posted. The company doesn't deserve any stars.

SCAM, Fraud!
September 9, 2024

SCAM, Fraud! Beware!

Scam Scam Scam
August 30, 2024

Just TRY and get your refund when you’re completely 100% eligible. just look at the ridiculous number of maneuvers they hv created!! . They want you to trip up because their system will lock you out with “too many Attempts” and Even worse, they purposely make your registration fail via email link .. when you call for an over the phone desperate help with the refund, they have the script memorized!! “ We cannot issue a refund over the phone . You have to do that on our website.”…Again, their website “crashes you” on purpose.

Cancelations are not free
August 25, 2024

Every page declares that cancelations up to 1 hour before pick-up are free. THEY ARE NOT. Economy Bookings charged me approx. $80 to cancel.

To add insult to injury, the customer service rep repeatedly asked me why I didn't read the fine print!

Stay away from Economy Bookings
August 22, 2024
Rented a car on Economy Booking for Costa Rica for May 2024 and then cancelled as our plans/dates changed. Despite advertising as free cancellation they don't refund your money but instead give you a credit - you are now locked in. Because of this we rented a second vehicle with new dates to use the credit. We arrived in Costa Rica and the rental was not at the airport as advertised but a 15 minute drive away. A shuttle was provided after about a 45 minute wait - not particularly happy about that. Arrived at car rental location to find out that the rental through Nu Car Rentals had been subcontracted to a local company - not particularly happy with that. Despite paying for "Full coverage" through Economy Booking I was told that Costa Rica insurance laws are different resulting in additional charges otherwise we have no rental car and are stranded in Cost Rica. Car rental and return was fine and I kind of wish I had just booked through the local company in the first place. If the price is too good to be true, it is LOL. Will never use Economy Booking again due to deceptive advertising and practices.

They took 1000 EUR from me and I did not get a car
August 20, 2024
Avoid Ecoonomy Bookings they are useless and made me loose 1000 Eur because the name on my credit card was not the name of the driver. Avoid this kind of agents, go direct to the rental car companies, these are just stealing your money and provide no service, except false claims that you get the car cheaper. The only reason to use an intermediary is when they facilitate the deal or when you get a better price, but Economy Bookings make things complicated so that they have a chance to keep your money and give nothing in exchange

Scam artists, beware
June 1, 2024

Price advertised was not price charged. I tried to get credit within 30 minutes of charge to card. Impossible customer service to get a real person to speak to. Catch is in fine print once you are sucked into false advertised price? $70 dollar fee to credit the card you made the reservation on. Total scam!

Avoid Economybookings like the plague!
May 25, 2024

Avoid Economybookings like the plague!

(This should have been a 'no star' review.)

There is no refund, only a credit
May 22, 2024
There is no place that indicates that you receive a refund. The only thing you can get is a credit, which apparently induces another fee to be able to use it at a future date. This practice needs to be better publicized and Kayak should cut ties. I received my email from EconomyBookings.com and thought it was a scam so had to research to find these shady practices. Kayak should have some culpability here as I now have no choice but to "try" to use my credit with a shady company, plus incur more fees. Since the company is in Latvia, I do not stand a chance with this company. Very frustrating and credit card company just says to try working with the booking company.

Booking Fee, non-refundable, work with criminals
April 23, 2024
I booked a rental at Orlando airport, AZ Rentals which operates illegally and outside the airport authority left my family stranded at the airport. As it turns out AZ Rentals uses the public parking area's to conduct its business rather than the actual car rental area and is not licensed or permitted to operate at the airport. So if your flight is late, they simply leave before airport security catches them. They of course don't respond to any phone calls, and it took more than a day to get a hold of them them, at which time they said sorry get a refund from Economy Bookings. EconomyBookings then turned around and lied saying I had both cancelled my rental prior to pickup and then failed to pickup the vehicle. Also engaging in fraud. Thankfully though having notified the airport authority, they are doing what they can to shutdown AZ rentals at the airport. Economy bookings is just a book fee scam, Mastercard will certainly block their charge, especially when I have emails from the airport authority confirming AZ rentals illegal activities, and also emails of economy bookings fraudulent behaviour.

They do not honor their policies.
April 12, 2024
Save yourself some grief and avoid this company. I tried to adjust our rental period due to a flight cancellation, which is allowed per their Amendment Policy. They have refused to accept responsibility for the bogus contact number they provided which prevented me from doing so.

do not rent from economybooking.com
April 11, 2024

I have rented a car through that company for a month but because of personal reasons had to bring the car back after only 18 days. I have asked for a refund for the days I did not use the car, as done at every other rental company, but they refuse to refund me at all.

in that case cheap is very expensive...

Fraudulent and deceptive. Avoid at all cost.
April 7, 2024

I would avoid this company at all...

I would avoid this company at all costs. They advertise tree cancellation on rental cars, however if you cancel, you are issued a credit, not a refund to your original form of payment. If you ask to have your payment refunded to your original form of payment, you need them to go through an additional set of12 procedures that took an Economy Bookings "supervisor" 18 minutes to outline. I called this outfit, which is based out of Latvia and appears to have an office in New York, twice to try to get assistance cancelling a reservation. Both times the agents were rude and verbally abusive. The "supervisor" told me he would see me in kindergarten. At no time whatsoever was it disclosed on the website or by ANY of the representatives I spoke to that my "free" cancellation involves a $75/€60 fee in order to use or transfer the credit. This is straight out fraud. Cancellation is not free. It indicates that these fraudsters in Latvia are so desperate for a buck that they will do anything to cheat, deceive, swindle and lie to unsuspecting customers. Beware and book with them at your risk.