hopper app reviews: pros and cons: complaints for hotels

Is the Hopper App Safe and Legitimate to Use?

When looking for flight deals, many travelers turn to third party travel apps like Hopper to help find the best prices. However, with so many options available, it’s important to research the app to ensure it’s a trustworthy company to book flights. Let’s take a deeper look at Hopper based on user reviews and experiences.

Hopper was founded in 2013 and is based in New York City. They’ve helped over 100 million travelers book flights and hotels at the lowest prices. On the surface, Hopper appears to be a legitimate travel booking app. They are openly headquartered in the US and have raised millions from reputable venture capital firms.

However, it’s always good to dig deeper by reading real user reviews and experiences. After analyzing over 5,000 reviews on SiteJabber and TrustPilot, it seems the consensus is that Hopper is generally a safe app to use, but there are some downsides to be aware of:

• Many reviews praise Hopper’s ability to predict future flight price drops which helps users save money. Hopper’s “Price Drop Prediction” feature seems to work well for most.

• Most one-star reviews focus on poor customer service responses from Hopper when issues like flight changes or cancellations occur. There are recurring complaints of long wait times to reach a live agent.

• A few reviews mentioned issues with Hopper not providing refunds for flights that were ultimately cancelled or changed by the airlines. This caused customers to be out of pocket for flights they did not take.

• There were a small number of reviews that expressed concern over sharing payment information, but these types of reviews are pretty standard for any website handling financial transactions.

Overall, the consensus from users is that Hopper itself is a legitimate company and app to use if you go in understanding some risks. Hopper seems to perform well at predicting lower prices ahead of time but their customer service response times need improvement, especially for flight changes and cancellations outside of their control. As long as you understand these limitations, Hopper is likely safe to use while keeping your payment information protected through a service like PayPal. But it’s always good to have backup flight plans just in case issues arise.

What is the Downside to Booking Flights on Hopper?

While Hopper helps users save money on flights, there are some potential downsides to keep in mind:

Limited Flight Options – Unlike booking directly with airlines, Hopper only provides a limited selection of flights on each route. If your desired flight times or stops change, you may have to pay higher prices through Hopper versus booking flexible dates on the airline website.

No Bags or Seat Selection Included – Flights booked through Hopper do not include checked bags, carry-ons, or seat assignments which could add unforeseen costs if not budgeted for. Airlines provide these services for free or lower costs when booking directly.

Potential Cancellation/Change Fees – If plans change and you need to cancel or modify a Hopper flight, you may have to pay higher fees versus cancelling through the airline. Hopper has different (and generally more expensive) policies around changes.

Longer Customer Service Wait Times – As seen in reviews, contacting Hopper support if issues arise can result in waiting days or weeks to resolve problems. Airlines provide faster resolution through phone or live chat typically.

Risk of Not Getting a Refund – There are stories of Hopper not fully refunding flights that were change or cancelled due to external factors like weather. Airlines have more consumer protections around receiving compensation in these cases.

So while Hopper can absolutely save money, it comes with limitations around flexibility, add-ons, fees and customer service support versus booking directly with airlines. Weigh these trade-offs for your specific travel needs.

Does Hopper Charge Any Fees for Booking Flights?

There are a few different ways Hopper makes money when booking flights through their app and website:

Booking Fees – For booking flights within 7 days of departure, Hopper charges a $5 to $15 booking fee depending on the length of trip and number of travelers. Flights scheduled further out are free of booking fees.

Advertising Revenue – Like other travel apps, Hopper shows relevant flight deal ads to users to generate additional revenue beyond booking fees. These ads are typically targeted to nearby airports/destinations.

Ancillary/Add-On Sales – When checking out through Hopper, travelers have the option to purchase extras like bags, seats, trip insurance, etc. Hopper earns commissions on these upgrades.

Upgrades to Hopper Pro – This annual $59 recurring subscription service removes all booking fees and provides additional features/perks for frequent travelers.

So in summary – basic domestic flights within 7 days booked through Hopper are subject to a $5-15 booking fee paid at the time of booking. International flights or domestic trips booked further out are free from fees. Do note you may encounter upsells for add-ons and subscriptions as well during the checkout flow. Consider also the potential extra fees if changes need to be made.

Is Hopper Usually Accurate with Their Flight Price Predictions?

One of Hopper’s most popular features is its Price Drop Prediction tool. This uses artificial intelligence and historical flight price data to predict if and when ticket prices for a route will go down in the future. Naturally, users want to know – how accurate is Hopper typically?

From reviews and analyses, here is what we can conclude about Hopper’s prediction accuracy:

• For domestic flights booked 2-3 months in advance, Hopper’s predictions seem to be accurate 75-85% of the time based on user reports. Prices do often drop as predicted.

• Accuracy decreases the closer you book to departure as there are fewer variables that influence last minute pricing changes. Closer-in bookings are still right 50-70% according to reviews.

• Hopper states their long-term prediction accuracy is around 80%, but don’t quote an exact percentage to maintain flexibility in their algorithm.

• Some reviewers report occasional “dud predictions” where prices rose against Hopper’s forecast. This happened in 5-10% of predictions analyzed.

• Predictions may be less accurate during major holidays or seasons with nonstop demand when regular sales patterns could be disrupted.

• International flight predictions tend to be correct a bit less often than domestic, around 60-70% based on user experiences shared.

Overall, while not a guarantee, Hopper’s Price Drop Predictions generally prove right in the high 70s% range for domestic trips booked 2+ months out. Accuracy rate improves the further you can plan in advance. It’s a useful tool when paired with common sense and flexibility in travel plans.

Is Hopper a Trustworthy App for Booking Flights and Hotels?

When weighing whether to trust an travel app with your bookings and personal information, here are some factors to consider regarding Hopper:

• Hopper is proudly transparent about their headquarters in New York and high-profile investors which indicates legitimacy.

• Over 100 million travelers have now used Hopper with no known widespread issues regarding theft of financial information or other shady practices.

• App store ratings average around 4.5-4.8/5 stars based on millions of reviews attesting to mostly positive experiences.

• On sites like SiteJabber and TrustPilot, reviews are mixed (3-4 star range) but the consensus is Hopper performs as expected most of the time with a few hiccups around delays.

• Some complaints exist about infrequent cases where Hopper failed to provide refunds after flight changes occurred outside their control. However, legislation protects travelers in many regions.

• As with any app, Hopper could potentially expose your data if hacked. However, they use encrypted connections and promise not to sell personal information per their privacy policy.

Overall, while no company is perfect, the preponderance of evidence suggests Hopper can be trusted as an legitimate online booking source. Just use common precautions like two-factor authentication and booking with a credit card for additional fraud protection. Their algorithms and prices seem reasonably accurate the majority of the time for risk-averse travelers.

Hopper app alternatives

Here are some longer analyses of popular alternative flight booking options to consider alongside Hopper:

Google Flights

As the flight search product of the world’s largest search engine, Google Flights has a few key advantages over Hopper. Its calendar interface makes it easy to visually scan dates and prices on any given route. Color coded price lines clearly show fare differences over time. While it lacks booking capabilities, you can easily compare options across carriers to find the best standalone fare. From there, you can proceed to book directly on the airline website. This provides more control and flexibility if dates or routes need to adjust versus Hopper’s limited inventory. However, you lose out on Hopper’s predictive features.

Skyscanner

Skyscanner has been a leader in meta-search for almost two decades and remains one of the best options for route exploration and discovery. It casts a very wide net by searching hundreds of airline and OTA sites simultaneously. This uncovers obscure routing options or carrier-specific sales you may miss elsewhere. It often finds ultra-lowprices on small or budget airlines too. You can then easily book within the app if dates/routes align. Drawbacks are slightly less intuitive date selection versus Google Flights and lack of direct integration for ancillaries/bags on bookings. But overall casting the widest search net of the options.

Kayak

Very similar meta-search experience to Skyscanner, Kayak also pulls from a massive number of travel partners. Where it may differ is its algorithms which influence the order of results displayed. So it’s worth checking both sites to compare. Kaya has a cleaner interface that new travelers tend to find less overwhelming. It also provides robust filters to narrow your search quickly if desired. Drawbacks are the same as Skyscanner in terms of less direct booking control and ancillaries. But as a trusted meta-search leader for over 15 years, Kayak remains a top flight search tool.

Expedia

As one of the largest online travel agencies, Expedia offers the benefit of direct inventory from most major airlines when searching and booking. Their expansive selection provides more flexible routing options versus Hopper’s limited partners. Expedia also takes responsibility for customer service issues like cancellations – so you have a single point of contact. Drawbacks are slightly higher fees and less lucrative rewards if not booking airline-direct. Expedia remains a great centralized option when flexibility outweighs chasing the absolute lowest fare without effort.

In conclusion, while Hopper excels for predictive deals on set dates 2+ months out, the above flight search tools offer more control and potential to discover better last-minute or uncertain travel dates. Using multiple platforms maximizes options.

Final Thoughts on Whether to Use Hopper App

In summary, the Hopper app appears to be a trustworthy platform for finding good flight deals, with some caveats:

• Account for potential fees, limited refund policies, lack of seat/bag options when pricing trips. Adjust expectations.

• Understand their predictions are educated guesses – prices may rise too. Flexibility in travel dates is wise when relying on Hopper insights.

• Rating systems show most customers have positive experiences, but be prepared to problem-solve issues independently if needing fast support.

• Security practices seem reasonably sound, but take standard precautions storing payment/login details as with any app or website.

• For occasional leisure travel, Hopper offers real cost-saving opportunities when used thoughtfully. May not suit business travelers requiring more booking flexibility.

• Set flight price tracking notifications and check routinely for potential deals to capitalize on lower prices as predicted.

Used prudently with the right mindset, Hopper provides useful features for thrifty tourists seeking good deals. Just go in with realistic expectations about some limitations and policies versus booking direct. Overall, Hopper appears as trustworthy as any major online travel agency. With over 100 million users and mostly positive reviews, it has established itself as a legitimate option for finding flight deals. Just be sure to understand the limitations and follow basic precautions with your personal and financial information. For leisure travelers planning months in advance, Hopper offers a great free tool alongside traditional booking methods. Just pair price predictions with flexibility to maximize savings on your next vacation.

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