CheapOair is a US-based online travel agency (OTA) operated by Fareportal that searches over 500 airlines for discounted airfares. It does occasionally surface genuinely cheap flights — particularly for international routes. But Australian reviews paint a more complex picture: consistent issues around refunds, cancellation fees, and customer service make it a platform that warrants careful consideration before booking.
This review tells Australians exactly when CheapOair is worth using and when to book directly or through a more established platform.
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What Is CheapOair?
CheapOair is an online travel agency owned by Fareportal, headquartered in New York. Founded in 2005, it's one of the larger US-based OTAs with 33,000+ Trustpilot reviews and operations in multiple countries. It searches fares from 500+ airlines and charges service fees on top of the advertised fare — these service fees are how CheapOair makes money.
Key facts:
- Searches 500+ airlines simultaneously
- Available to Australians — searches from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and other Australian airports
- Charges service fees on top of displayed fares (varies by booking)
- 24/7 phone support available
- Mixed reviews — strong on price finding, problematic on cancellations
Where CheapOair Is Genuinely Useful for Australians
Complex Multi-Stop International Itineraries
CheapOair's strength is searching a very large number of airlines simultaneously. For complex itineraries — Australia to multiple European cities, multi-city Asia trips, open-jaw flights — it can surface fare combinations that Google Flights and Skyscanner miss. Worth checking alongside Google Flights for complex routing.
Budget International Flights
For price-sensitive straightforward bookings (Sydney–London, Melbourne–Tokyo, Brisbane–Bali) on standard economy fares with no change flexibility needed, CheapOair can be genuinely competitive. If a fare is significantly cheaper and you're prepared to not change or cancel, the price difference can justify the trade-off.
Last-Minute Availability
CheapOair's 24/7 phone support can sometimes assist with last-minute or complex bookings where speaking to a human is helpful. Multiple reviewers note positive experiences with specific phone agents for complicated bookings.
The Real Issues — What Australian Reviewers Say
Australian reviews on ProductReview.com.au reveal consistent patterns worth understanding before booking:
Refund Difficulties
Multiple Australian reviewers report refunds taking months to process, or being refused despite airline policy changes. CheapOair acts as a middleman — when airlines issue refunds, they refund CheapOair, who then refund the customer. This additional step can delay processing significantly. During COVID-19, many Australians who booked through CheapOair reported extreme difficulty accessing refunds that airlines had approved.
Cancellation Fees
CheapOair charges its own service fee on top of airline cancellation fees. Changing or cancelling a CheapOair booking typically costs more than changing or cancelling direct with the airline, because you pay both the airline's change fee and CheapOair's service fee. Read the full terms before booking.
Fare Display Issues
Some Australian reviewers report fares displaying as available, processing payment, then receiving an email stating the fare couldn't be honoured at the original price. CheapOair's terms allow for this — the fare is not guaranteed until ticketed. This is an industry-wide issue with some OTAs but appears more common in CheapOair reviews than with established alternatives.
Seat Selection and Baggage
Multiple reviewers note difficulty adding baggage and seat selection after booking through CheapOair, compared to booking direct with the airline. Always verify baggage allowances before completing a CheapOair purchase — the displayed fare may not include checked baggage.
CheapOair vs Alternatives for Australians
| CheapOair | Google Flights | Booking Direct | Skyscanner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Often competitive | Usually best comparison | Same or slightly higher | Good comparison |
| Cancellation ease | Difficult — extra fees | Redirects to airline (easy) | Best — direct with airline | Redirects to airline |
| Refund speed | Slow — middleman | Direct with airline (faster) | Fastest — direct | Direct with airline |
| Baggage clarity | Sometimes unclear | Clear | Clear | Clear |
| Complex itineraries | Good | Good | Limited | Good |
| Best for | Price checking + cheap simple fares | Comparison and booking redirect | Flexible, changeable bookings | Comparison |
How to Use CheapOair Safely as an Australian
If you decide to book through CheapOair, these practices significantly reduce risk:
- Read the full fare rules before paying — check refundability, change fees, and baggage inclusion explicitly
- Screenshot your booking confirmation immediately — document everything including the displayed price and fare rules
- Verify the booking with the airline directly — after booking through CheapOair, find your booking reference and verify it on the airline's website
- Only book non-refundable fares you are certain about — CheapOair's cancellation process is where most issues arise; avoid booking through them for trips where changes are likely
- Pay with a credit card — in case of disputes, credit card chargeback provides a layer of protection. Use your Australian travel credit card.
- Check the price on Google Flights first — if CheapOair's fare is similar to what Google Flights shows going directly to the airline, book direct. Only use CheapOair when the price difference is meaningful and you don't need flexibility.
Our Verdict
CheapOair can find genuinely competitive fares — particularly for complex multi-city itineraries where searching 500+ airlines simultaneously adds value. The risk is in what happens if something goes wrong: cancellations are expensive, refunds are slow, and customer service can be difficult. For standard flexible bookings, booking direct with the airline or through Google Flights is safer. For a non-refundable budget fare on a simple route where price is the only priority, CheapOair is worth checking.
Always compare on Google Flights before booking through CheapOair. If the price difference is under AUD $50–100, book direct — the flexibility and customer service are worth more than a small price saving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CheapOair safe for Australians?
CheapOair is a legitimate US-based OTA that processes millions of bookings. The safety concern is not fraud — it's the difficult cancellation and refund process if your travel plans change. Australian ProductReview ratings reflect consistent issues in this area. Safe for non-refundable bookings you are certain about; risky for bookings that may need changing.
Is CheapOair actually cheap?
Sometimes. CheapOair's search across 500+ airlines can surface genuine deals, particularly for complex routes and international itineraries. Always compare against Google Flights and direct airline websites before concluding CheapOair's price is genuinely lower — service fees may reduce the apparent saving.
What happens if I need to cancel a CheapOair booking?
You pay both the airline's cancellation or change fee AND CheapOair's service fee. Refunds are processed through CheapOair as the middleman and can take significantly longer than cancelling direct with the airline. Multiple Australian reviewers report 2–3 month waits for refunds. If cancellation flexibility is important, book direct with the airline.
How do I contact CheapOair from Australia?
CheapOair has 24/7 phone support — the Australian number is listed on their contact page. Phone support is generally rated more positively than online/chat support in reviews. For complex changes or disputes, calling is recommended over email.