No. CheapOair is a legitimate online travel agency owned by Fareportal Inc. It has been operating since 2005 and issues valid airline tickets. The complaints about CheapOair relate to its fee structure and customer service quality, not its legitimacy as a business.

Is it safe to book on CheapOair?

Yes, booking on CheapOair is safe from a security standpoint. Your payment is encrypted and you receive valid tickets. The financial risks are: unexpected booking fees ($35–$50/ticket), expensive cancellations ($75–$200), and difficulty reaching support during disruptions.

Why does CheapOair have so many complaints?

The most common complaints are: booking fees not disclosed until checkout, expensive cancellation/change fees ($75–$200), long hold times for customer service, and difficulty getting refunds for cancelled flights. The BBB has logged thousands of complaints against Fareportal.

What is CheapOair's BBB rating?

CheapOair's parent company Fareportal holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has been BBB Accredited since 2015. Despite the high rating, the BBB has logged thousands of customer complaints, primarily about hidden fees, cancellation difficulties, and customer service responsiveness. BBB ratings reflect a company's responsiveness to complaints, not the absence of complaints.

Are CheapOair prices actually cheap?

CheapOair's search results show low base fares, but after adding the $35–$50 per-ticket booking fee, the total is often comparable to or higher than booking directly with the airline. Always compare the total checkout price across multiple platforms.

What are the fee-free alternatives to CheapOair?

Google Flights (free fare comparison, no booking fees), booking directly with the airline (same published fare, no intermediary fees), and consolidator agencies (wholesale fares on international routes, fees included in quoted price). All avoid CheapOair's per-ticket service charge.

Is CheapOair Legit? Fees, Reviews & Safer Alternatives (2026)

Is CheapOair legit and safe to book with? We analyze their hidden fees, real user reviews, BBB rating, and compare with better alternatives for 2026.

Last updated: 2026-06-16

CheapOair is a legitimate, licensed online travel agency (OTA) that has been operating since 2005. It is owned by Fareportal Inc., a New York-based company that also operates OneTravel. Fareportal holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and is a member of the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), which means it is authorized to issue airline tickets in the United States. CheapOair is not a scam — it is a real business that processes millions of bookings annually.

However, 'Is CheapOair legit?' is one of the most-searched questions about the platform, which reflects widespread consumer frustration with its fee structure and customer service rather than concerns about outright fraud. This guide separates the factual business credentials from the documented consumer complaints to help you make an informed decision.

Documented Consumer Complaints

Hidden Booking Fees ($35–$50/ticket): The most common complaint: CheapOair's search results show prices that exclude their service fee. The fee appears only at the final checkout step, making the initial price comparison misleading. This is not illegal but is widely considered deceptive by consumers.
High Agency Change/Cancellation Fees ($75–$200): CheapOair charges its own agency fee for changes or cancellations, separate from and in addition to whatever the airline charges. This effectively doubles the cost of modifying a booking compared to booking directly with the airline.
Refund Processing Difficulties: Multiple consumer review platforms document cases where airline-authorized refunds took weeks or months to process through CheapOair, with customers reporting multiple calls and escalations required to receive their money.
Customer Service Quality: Reviews on Trustpilot, BBB, and Google consistently cite long hold times, difficulty reaching supervisors, and agents who are unable to resolve issues on the first call. The BBB shows thousands of complaints filed against Fareportal.
Phone Booking Surcharge ($35/ticket): Travelers who call for assistance with complex itineraries or have questions before booking are charged an additional $35 per ticket, discouraging the use of human support.

How CheapOair Compares to Other Booking Options

#1 CheapOair — Understanding what you're evaluating

Type: Online Travel Agency (OTA) | Savings: Advertised low prices (fees added at checkout)

Key advantage: Legitimate licensed agency with controversial fee practices — not a scam, but requires careful price verification

CheapOair is a real, licensed travel agency. It can occasionally offer genuinely lower fares, particularly on domestic routes. However, you must always verify the final checkout price (including all fees) against alternatives before committing. The platform is safe to use — your ticket will be issued, and it will be a real airline ticket. The risk is overpaying due to hidden fees, not fraud.
- ARC Licensed
- BBB A+ (Parent)
- Hidden Fees
- Real Tickets
#2 Direct Airline Booking — Transparent pricing and simplest customer service

Type: Airline Website | Savings: No intermediary fees

Key advantage: Zero intermediary fees, direct relationship with the carrier, full loyalty benefits

Booking directly with the airline eliminates all third-party fees and gives you a direct relationship for changes, cancellations, and disruption rebooking. Many airlines now offer price-match guarantees. For simple itineraries, this is often the safest and most transparent option.
- Zero Fees
- Direct Support
- Full Loyalty
- Price Match
#3 Google Flights (Metasearch) — Verifying whether CheapOair's price is actually cheaper after fees

Type: Comparison Tool | Savings: Free — shows all-in prices from multiple sources

Key advantage: Use this to compare CheapOair's final checkout price against direct airline and other OTA prices

Google Flights shows all-in prices from airlines and OTAs. Use it as a verification tool: if CheapOair shows a flight at $300 but adds $50 in fees at checkout ($350 total), check Google Flights to see if the same flight is available for $340 direct from the airline. This 30-second check can save you money and hassle.
- Free
- All-In Pricing
- Verification Tool
#4 Consolidator Agencies (e.g., Camli) — International flights where wholesale pricing genuinely beats retail

Type: IATA-Accredited Agency | Savings: significant savings on international routes

Key advantage: Transparent pricing from wholesale airline contracts — no hidden fees, includes human support

Consolidator agencies offer genuinely different (lower) fare classes from wholesale airline contracts. Unlike CheapOair's model of adding fees to published fares, consolidators provide fares that are not available through retail channels. Pricing is transparent and includes support without surcharges. Most effective on international and premium cabin routes.
- Transparent Pricing
- Wholesale Fares
- Free Support
- International

CheapOair Credentials vs. Consumer Experience

Feature	Credential	Status	Consumer Impact
Business License	ARC Membership	Active — authorized to issue tickets	Your ticket will be real and valid
BBB Rating	Parent (Fareportal) A+ rated	Active — responds to complaints	You can file BBB complaints if needed
Booking Fee Disclosure	Legal (not required to show upfront)	Fees shown at checkout only	Always verify final price before paying
Refund Processing	Obligated to pass through airline refunds	Documented delays in processing	May require multiple follow-ups
Ticket Validity	Issues real airline tickets	Tickets appear in airline systems	Your reservation is real and confirmed

Key Metrics

Operating Since: 2005
BBB Rating (Parent): A+
Booking Fee: $35–$50
Change Fee (Agency): $75–$200

Practical Guidance for Using CheapOair

If you decide to book on CheapOair:

Always compare the FINAL checkout price (after all fees) against Google Flights and the airline's own website.
Screenshot your booking confirmation and fare rules immediately after purchase.
Understand that changes/cancellations will cost $75–$200 on top of airline fees.
Book online (not by phone) to avoid the $35 phone surcharge.
Check the airline's website to confirm your reservation appears in their system after booking.

Consider alternatives if:

You are booking an international or premium cabin flight (consolidators often beat CheapOair even after their fees).
You anticipate needing to change or cancel (book direct with the airline to avoid double fees).
You want transparent all-in pricing without checkout surprises.
You value responsive customer support without surcharges.

Red flags that are NOT scam indicators:

Seeing a lower price in search results than at checkout — this is their fee model, not fraud.
Long hold times on customer service — this is understaffing, not a fake company.
Slow refund processing — the refund will eventually come, it just takes longer than direct airline refunds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CheapOair a scam?: No. CheapOair is a legitimate online travel agency owned by Fareportal Inc. It has been operating since 2005 and issues valid airline tickets. The complaints about CheapOair relate to its fee structure and customer service quality, not its legitimacy as a business.
Is it safe to book on CheapOair?: Yes, booking on CheapOair is safe from a security standpoint. Your payment is encrypted and you receive valid tickets. The financial risks are: unexpected booking fees ($35–$50/ticket), expensive cancellations ($75–$200), and difficulty reaching support during disruptions.
Why does CheapOair have so many complaints?: The most common complaints are: booking fees not disclosed until checkout, expensive cancellation/change fees ($75–$200), long hold times for customer service, and difficulty getting refunds for cancelled flights. The BBB has logged thousands of complaints against Fareportal.
What is CheapOair's BBB rating?: CheapOair's parent company Fareportal holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has been BBB Accredited since 2015. Despite the high rating, the BBB has logged thousands of customer complaints, primarily about hidden fees, cancellation difficulties, and customer service responsiveness. BBB ratings reflect a company's responsiveness to complaints, not the absence of complaints.
Are CheapOair prices actually cheap?: CheapOair's search results show low base fares, but after adding the $35–$50 per-ticket booking fee, the total is often comparable to or higher than booking directly with the airline. Always compare the total checkout price across multiple platforms.
What are the fee-free alternatives to CheapOair?: Google Flights (free fare comparison, no booking fees), booking directly with the airline (same published fare, no intermediary fees), and consolidator agencies (wholesale fares on international routes, fees included in quoted price). All avoid CheapOair's per-ticket service charge.

Compare Transparent Fares on Camli