USIT Cowboys?

Teg Veece

I'm heading over to the states this summer on an intership visa through USIT. My girlfriend is flying out too mid summer on a J1 and we're both planning on getting the same flight back.
I paid my deposit and the USIT handling fees (about €750 altogether) and had only my flights left to pay for. I noticed that they were a good €100 euro cheaper on line so I rang USIT (3 times!) to confirm that it was ok to go ahead and book them seperately. On all three occasions I was informed that that was fine but that if I wished to change the date of the flights, USIT couldn't help me. Fair enough.
I was also informed that J1 users must book through USIT so I checked that it would be possible for my girlfriend to pick the same aer lingus flight home as me and I was told that there would be no problem with that.

One week later, after booking my flights online, I get a call from USIT telling me I need to sort out my flights. I told them that it was already done and dusted to which they replied that I had to book my flights through them! After a looong argument, they agreed to allow me keep my flights but I had to pay them €40... I have no idea what for.
But then my girlfriend goes into USIT to book her flights and she's told that they no longer book flights with Aer Lingus and that she has no choice but to go with BA meaning, not only an extra €100+ onto the flights but also we can't get the same flights home.

Why can you book your flights separately with SAYIT but not with USIT? I would change to SAYIT but we've paid too much money at this stage to do so.

Any advice from anyone?

Our man in Havana

USIT are cowboys, no question of that. The amount of profit they make between the flights and the insurance is unreal.

There is no restriction on what airline is used, just them trying to force you into a dearer flight.

I would query them on this €40 though.

BTW SAYIT are not much better but at least you can book your own flights.

tintinr35

Teg Veece wrote:

I'm heading over to the states this summer on an intership visa through USIT. My girlfriend is flying out too mid summer on a J1 and we're both planning on getting the same flight back.
I paid my deposit and the USIT handling fees (about €750 altogether) and had only my flights left to pay for. I noticed that they were a good €100 euro cheaper on line so I rang USIT (3 times!) to confirm that it was ok to go ahead and book them seperately. On all three occasions I was informed that that was fine but that if I wished to change the date of the flights, USIT couldn't help me. Fair enough.
I was also informed that J1 users must book through USIT so I checked that it would be possible for my girlfriend to pick the same aer lingus flight home as me and I was told that there would be no problem with that.

One week later, after booking my flights online, I get a call from USIT telling me I need to sort out my flights. I told them that it was already done and dusted to which they replied that I had to book my flights through them! After a looong argument, they agreed to allow me keep my flights but I had to pay them €40... I have no idea what for.
But then my girlfriend goes into USIT to book her flights and she's told that they no longer book flights with Aer Lingus and that she has no choice but to go with BA meaning, not only an extra €100+ onto the flights but also we can't get the same flights home.

Why can you book your flights separately with SAYIT but not with USIT? I would change to SAYIT but we've paid too much money at this stage to do so.

Any advice from anyone?

man it depends on where ur goin but usit quoted me j1 flights direct from dublin with delta for 365 +45 tax for 24,25, 29th may
424 +45 tax for 26,27,28,30,31stst may

to be honest thats really cheap for a j1 package, if u cant get back with the ball and chain on the same day, big deal!!!