Looking to book cheap flights online and stumbled across eDreams? You’re probably wondering: is eDreams legit, or is this another travel booking scam waiting to take your money? With flight prices soaring and everyone hunting for deals, third-party booking sites like eDreams have exploded in popularity—but so have the warnings and horror stories flooding Reddit and Trustpilot.
Quick Answer: Yes, eDreams is a legitimate, legally registered online travel agency operating since 1999. With over 375,000 Trustpilot reviews and a 4.3-star average rating, eDreams does deliver real airline tickets and hotel bookings. However, legitimacy doesn’t equal trustworthy. The company has significant issues with hidden Prime subscription charges, difficult refund processes, poor customer service, and unexpected fees that turn “cheap” flights into expensive headaches.
This comprehensive 2025 review breaks down everything you need to know about eDreams based on real customer experiences, exposing the hidden catches, explaining how their pricing actually works, and helping you decide whether booking through eDreams is worth the risk.
What Is eDreams? Understanding the Business Model
eDreams operates as an online travel agency (OTA), which means they don’t actually own airlines, hotels, or rental cars. Instead, they aggregate inventory from hundreds of airlines and travel providers, displaying search results when you hunt for flights. Think of them as a middleman between you and the airline—they earn commissions by facilitating bookings.
Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, eDreams has grown into one of Europe’s largest OTAs. They’re part of eDreams ODIGEO, a publicly traded company on the Madrid Stock Exchange, which also owns other travel brands like Opodo and Go Voyages. This corporate backing provides some legitimacy—they’re not a fly-by-night operation disappearing overnight.
How eDreams Makes Money
Understanding eDreams’ business model explains why customer experiences vary so dramatically. They generate revenue through multiple channels:
Airline Commissions: Airlines pay eDreams a percentage (typically 5-10%) for every ticket sold through their platform. This explains why eDreams can sometimes offer slightly lower prices than booking directly—they’re willing to sacrifice part of their commission to attract price-sensitive customers.
Prime Subscription Fees: This is the controversial one. eDreams pushes their “Prime” membership heavily, charging €59.99 annually (or equivalent in local currency). The pitch promises exclusive discounts and benefits, but the execution has sparked thousands of complaints about deceptive sign-up practices and difficult cancellations.
Service Fees: While eDreams advertises low flight prices, they add various fees during checkout—booking fees, payment processing fees, and charges for customer service access. These additions can inflate your final price by €20-50, sometimes eliminating any savings compared to booking directly with the airline.
Ancillary Upsells: During the booking process, eDreams promotes travel insurance, seat selection, baggage add-ons, and car rentals. They earn commissions on each of these extras, creating incentives to upsell aggressively regardless of whether customers actually need these services.
Also Read: Finding the Best Hotels in London Just Got Easier with This Comprehensive 2025 Guide
eDreams Trustpilot Reviews: What 375,000+ Customers Actually Say
Trustpilot provides the most comprehensive view of real customer experiences, with eDreams accumulating over 375,000 reviews—one of the highest review counts for any travel company. The overall 4.3-star rating seems decent at first glance, but digging deeper reveals a polarized picture.
Positive Customer Experiences
Approximately 60% of reviewers give eDreams 4 or 5 stars, praising several aspects of their service. Common positive themes include:
Straightforward Booking Process: Many customers appreciate how quickly they can search flights, compare prices, and complete bookings. The website and mobile app interface are generally intuitive, allowing users to filter results by price, duration, and number of stops effectively.
Competitive Pricing: When everything works smoothly, eDreams can deliver genuine savings. Users booking months in advance or targeting specific routes sometimes find prices €50-100 lower than airline direct bookings, especially for European budget carriers and multi-city itineraries.
Helpful Customer Service (Sometimes): A subset of customers reports positive interactions with eDreams support agents who resolved issues quickly, provided refunds when appropriate, or offered credits for future bookings as goodwill gestures. These experiences tend to occur when customers catch problems early and persist through initial automated responses.
Prime Membership Value (For Heavy Travelers): Frequent flyers who book 4+ flights annually and understand exactly what they’re signing up for sometimes extract legitimate value from Prime membership, saving €10-30 per flight through member-exclusive rates.
Negative Customer Experiences and Red Flags
The remaining 40% of reviews paint a concerning picture, with recurring complaints that prospective customers should understand before booking:
Hidden Prime Subscription Charges: This dominates negative reviews. Customers report being automatically enrolled in Prime during checkout through pre-ticked boxes, unclear opt-out procedures, or misleading language that makes the subscription seem like a required fee rather than optional service. Many discover the €59.99 charge on their credit card statement days after booking, often finding cancellation extremely difficult.
Refund Nightmares: Flight cancellations should result in straightforward refunds when airlines issue them. However, numerous customers report eDreams holding onto refund money for months, providing endless excuses about “processing times,” or refusing refunds that airlines already paid back to eDreams. Some customers eventually receive partial refunds missing €50-200 compared to what airlines actually refunded.
Baggage Fee Confusion: Many travelers arrive at airports only to discover their ticket doesn’t include checked baggage despite eDreams’ booking confirmation suggesting otherwise. Airlines sometimes refuse to honor what eDreams promised, leaving customers scrambling to pay unexpected baggage fees or worse, missing flights entirely.
Impossible Customer Service: Reaching actual human beings at eDreams proves frustratingly difficult. Automated email responses provide generic answers that don’t address specific problems. Phone support features long hold times (30+ minutes common), and agents often read from scripts without authority to resolve issues. Chat support regularly disconnects mid-conversation, forcing customers to restart the process repeatedly.
Booking Reference Problems: Several travelers report arriving at airports only to find their booking reference number doesn’t exist in airline systems. Despite having eDreams confirmation emails, they’re not listed on flights, forcing last-minute rebooking at full prices or missing trips entirely. While eDreams eventually processes refunds in some cases, the immediate stress and disruption cannot be recovered.
Also Read: Expedia Last Minute Hotel Deals: Save Up To 60% Tonight (2025)
The eDreams Prime Controversy: Hidden Subscription or Valuable Membership?
No aspect of eDreams generates more customer fury than their Prime membership program. Understanding how this works—and how it trips up unsuspecting customers—is essential before booking.
What Prime Promises
eDreams markets Prime as a premium membership offering:
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Exclusive discounted flight prices (typically €10-30 off regular eDreams prices)
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Priority customer service access
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Flexible booking options and easier changes
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Additional discounts on hotels and car rentals
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Free trial period (usually 30 days)
For travelers booking multiple flights annually, these benefits could theoretically offset the €59.99 annual fee. The problem isn’t the concept itself—it’s the execution and how eDreams enrolls customers.
The Deceptive Sign-Up Tactics
Hundreds of reviews describe similar experiences: during checkout, Prime enrollment appears as a pre-selected option that looks like a required part of the booking process rather than an optional add-on. The language used—phrases like “Complete Your Booking” or “Unlock Your Discount”—implies customers must accept Prime to proceed.
The 30-day free trial sounds risk-free, but eDreams buries crucial details in fine print. Many customers don’t realize they’ve signed up for auto-renewal until the €59.99 charge appears on statements weeks later. The company sends renewal reminder emails, but they often land in spam folders or use vague subject lines that customers ignore.
The Cancellation Nightmare
Cancelling Prime proves remarkably difficult compared to signing up. The cancellation option doesn’t appear prominently in account settings—customers must navigate through multiple menu layers, answer retention surveys, and endure aggressive warnings about losing “valuable benefits.” Some country-specific websites hide cancellation features entirely, forcing customers to contact support directly.
Reddit threads are filled with users sharing cancellation links for different country versions of eDreams, with many requiring Google Translate to navigate German or Spanish cancellation pages even for English-language accounts. Banking representatives report difficulty blocking eDreams charges due to how the company processes payments.
The Reality: Is Prime Worth It?
For the tiny percentage of customers who:
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Book 4+ flights annually through eDreams
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Travel exclusively on routes where eDreams offers genuine Prime discounts
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Carefully track subscriptions and remember to cancel if travel patterns change
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Accept the customer service trade-offs
…Prime might break even or provide marginal value.
For everyone else—especially casual travelers booking 1-2 trips per year—Prime represents poor value that primarily benefits eDreams’ revenue stream rather than customers’ wallets.
Also Read: 7 Magical Christmas Markets in Germany You Must Visit in 2025
Common eDreams Complaints and How They Handle Them
Beyond Prime subscription issues, several other problems repeatedly surface in customer feedback.
Flight Cancellation and Change Difficulties
When airlines cancel flights or customers need to make changes, the third-party booking layer creates complications. Airlines often redirect eDreams customers back to eDreams for rebooking, while eDreams claims only airlines can make changes. Customers get trapped in circular finger-pointing, sometimes missing rebooking windows or incurring charges from both parties.
The “Flexi Fare” option eDreams sells promises flexibility for changes, but customers report restrictions that make this feature useless. One reviewer purchased Flexi Fare for a flight six months out, only to discover all changes must be made within 60 days of departure—rendering the flexibility worthless for long-term bookings.
Hidden Fees and Price Discrepancies
The initial flight price displayed rarely matches the final checkout cost. eDreams adds:
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Booking fees (€15-25)
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Payment processing fees (€3-8 depending on payment method)
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“Insurance” that’s pre-selected but optional
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Seat selection charges that airlines include free when booking direct
These additions sometimes push the total cost higher than booking directly with airlines, eliminating the supposed savings that attracted customers initially.
Misinformation About Ticket Inclusions
Baggage allowances represent a particular pain point. Budget airlines have complex policies about carry-on vs. checked bags, and eDreams’ booking confirmations sometimes misrepresent what tickets actually include. Customers arrive at airports expecting included baggage only to discover they must pay €50-100 extra at check-in counters.
Similar confusion surrounds seat selection, meal inclusions, and booking classes. What eDreams confirms in booking emails doesn’t always match airline records, leaving travelers stuck resolving discrepancies at airports when it’s too late to fix problems.
Is eDreams Safe to Use? Security and Privacy Concerns
Setting aside customer service issues, is eDreams technically safe for payment processing and personal data handling?
Payment Security
eDreams uses standard payment security protocols including SSL encryption for transactions. They’re PCI DSS compliant, meaning they meet industry standards for processing credit card information. From a pure technical security standpoint, entering your payment details on eDreams poses similar risks to any legitimate e-commerce site.
However, recurring Prime subscription charges concern many customers who worry about ongoing card access. The company stores payment information for auto-renewal convenience, but this creates vulnerability if customers forget about subscriptions or struggle cancelling.
Data Privacy
eDreams operates under EU data protection regulations (GDPR), providing more robust privacy protections than many companies. Their privacy policy outlines how they collect, use, and share personal information relatively transparently. They don’t sell customer data to third parties in ways that violate GDPR, though they do share information with airline partners and affiliated companies within their corporate structure.
The primary privacy concern isn’t malicious data misuse—it’s the marketing communications customers receive after booking. Expect promotional emails, sometimes excessive, encouraging repeat bookings and upselling various services. Unsubscribing proves straightforward through email footer links at least.
eDreams vs. Booking Direct with Airlines: Cost Comparison
The fundamental question customers must answer: does eDreams actually save money compared to booking directly?
When eDreams Can Be Cheaper
Specific scenarios favor eDreams pricing:
Multi-City Complex Itineraries: Booking separate legs from different airlines directly costs more than packaged deals aggregators like eDreams offer. If you’re flying London-Rome-Athens-London using three different airlines, eDreams might package this cheaper than three separate bookings.
Budget Carrier Combinations: Combining multiple budget airlines (Ryanair-EasyJet-Wizz Air) on a single eDreams booking sometimes undercuts buying individual tickets, especially when eDreams absorbs some commission to be competitive.
Last-Minute Deals: Occasionally, eDreams negotiates inventory from airlines desperate to fill remaining seats, offering genuine bargains 24-72 hours before departure.
When Direct Booking Wins
For most standard bookings, airlines direct proves better value when factoring total cost:
Transparency: Airlines show final prices upfront without surprise fees during checkout. What you see initially closely matches what you pay finally.
Customer Service: If problems arise—cancellations, changes, delays—you deal directly with one entity responsible for your entire journey. No middleman confusion about who handles issues.
Loyalty Programs: Booking direct earns frequent flyer miles, status credits, and elite benefits that third-party bookings rarely provide. These accumulate over time into free flights and upgrades.
Flexibility: Airlines offer more lenient change and cancellation policies for tickets booked directly. They’re motivated to retain customers long-term, whereas eDreams makes money whether you’re happy or not.
Baggage Clarity: Airlines clearly display what your ticket includes regarding baggage, seat selection, and other services. No ambiguity about what you’re getting.
The Math: A Real Example
Let’s compare a common route: London Heathrow to Barcelona:
British Airways Direct Booking:
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Base fare: £89
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Taxes and fees: £25
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Total: £114
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Includes: Small cabin bag, checked bag (23kg), seat selection, meal
eDreams Booking:
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Base fare: £72
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Booking fee: £18
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Payment processing: £4
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Subtotal: £94
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Add checked bag (not included): £30
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Total: £124
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Does NOT include: Seat selection, meal, priority boarding
In this scenario, eDreams appears cheaper initially (£72 vs. £89) but costs £10 more after mandatory fees and baggage, while providing fewer inclusions. This pattern repeats across most routes—advertised savings evaporate when factoring total costs.
Reddit’s Verdict: What Travel Communities Say About eDreams
Reddit’s r/travel community discusses eDreams frequently, and the consensus leans heavily skeptical:
Common Advice:
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“Perfectly legit, but the discount comes from reduced customer service. If anything goes wrong, you’re screwed.”
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“They keep renewing Prime against my will. Even my bank can’t stop charges. eDreams are thieves.”
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“Book direct with airlines unless the eDreams price is €100+ cheaper. Not worth the hassle for small savings.”
Many Redditors acknowledge eDreams delivers real tickets but warn the customer experience makes savings not worth it. The community consistently recommends booking directly with airlines unless facing unusual circumstances like complex multi-city itineraries where eDreams provides substantial value.
Tips for Booking Through eDreams Safely (If You Must)
If you’ve found a genuinely compelling deal on eDreams that direct booking can’t match, follow these protective strategies:
Avoid Prime at All Costs
During checkout, carefully uncheck any Prime membership boxes. Look for language like “Apply Discount” or “Complete Booking” that might hide subscription enrollment. Read every confirmation screen carefully before finalizing.
If you want to test Prime’s free trial for a single trip, immediately set calendar reminders to cancel three days before the trial ends. Don’t rely on memory—the cancellation deadline sneaks up faster than expected.
Use Credit Cards, Never Debit
Credit cards provide better fraud protection and chargeback options if eDreams doesn’t deliver what they promised. If you dispute a charge with credit card companies, they investigate and can reverse transactions while you provide evidence.
Debit cards offer weaker protections, and recovering money requires more effort. Some banks struggle blocking recurring eDreams charges even after customers request it.
Screenshot Everything
Before completing checkout, screenshot every page showing:
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Exact flight details, times, and routing
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Baggage allowances and inclusions listed
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Total price breakdown
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Cancellation and change policies
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Booking confirmation page
These screenshots become invaluable evidence if discrepancies arise between what eDreams promised and what airlines honor.
Verify Booking Directly with Airlines
Within 24 hours of booking through eDreams, visit the operating airline’s website. Use the booking reference eDreams provided (sometimes labeled differently than airline booking references—check confirmation emails carefully) to confirm:
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Your name appears correctly
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Flight times match what eDreams showed
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Baggage allowances match expectations
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Seat selection worked if you paid for it
If anything looks wrong, contact eDreams immediately while you’re within the 24-hour grace period many airlines offer for free cancellations.
Pay Extra for Direct Customer Service
If eDreams offers customer service package add-ons during checkout (some bookings include these options), consider paying the €10-20 fee. While it’s annoying spending extra for something that should be included, this sometimes provides access to human agents who can actually help if problems arise.
Book Well in Advance
Last-minute eDreams bookings maximize risk. If problems emerge 24 hours before departure, you’ll struggle finding alternatives that don’t cost double or triple your original budget. Booking 2-3 months ahead provides buffer time to identify and resolve issues before your travel date.
Alternatives to eDreams: Better Options for Finding Cheap Flights
If eDreams’ risks outweigh potential savings, several alternatives exist for finding competitive flight prices:
Skyscanner
Skyscanner functions as a metasearch engine showing prices from airlines, OTAs, and other sources. Unlike eDreams, Skyscanner doesn’t handle bookings—they redirect you to the actual seller. This transparency lets you compare eDreams prices against direct airline prices and other OTAs simultaneously, helping identify the legitimately best deal.
Google Flights
Google Flights provides powerful search capabilities with price tracking, calendar views showing cheapest dates, and price drop alerts. They also redirect to actual sellers rather than booking directly, maintaining transparency about who you’re purchasing from.
Momondo
Owned by Booking.com, Momondo offers similar metasearch functionality as Skyscanner with a different interface some users prefer. They often surface budget airline prices that other engines miss, providing comprehensive results for price comparisons.
Direct Airline Websites
Never underestimate simply checking airline websites directly. Flag carriers (British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France) frequently match or beat OTA prices when you compare total costs including fees. Budget airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet intentionally make their prices less visible on OTA platforms, incentivizing direct bookings through exclusive deals and promotions.
Hopper App
Hopper uses predictive algorithms to forecast whether prices will rise or fall, advising when to book or wait. Their price freeze feature lets you lock current prices while deciding, protecting against increases. Hopper actually books through their own service with better customer support than eDreams typically provides.
Final Verdict: Is eDreams Legit But Not Worth It?
So, returning to the central question: is eDreams legit?
Yes, technically. eDreams is a legally registered company that’s operated for over 25 years. They issue real airline tickets that airlines honor. They’re not a complete scam in the sense of disappearing with your money without providing anything.
But legitimacy doesn’t equal trustworthiness or good value. The consistent patterns of deceptive Prime subscriptions, refund difficulties, poor customer service, and hidden fees make eDreams a risky choice for most travelers.
You should consider booking through eDreams only if:
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The price difference versus direct booking exceeds €100+ per person
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You’re booking a complex multi-city itinerary that airlines won’t package together
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You understand all risks and have protective measures in place (credit cards, screenshots, verification)
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You’re prepared to invest significant time and effort resolving issues if they arise
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You’re absolutely certain you’ve declined Prime membership successfully
You should absolutely avoid eDreams if:
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The savings versus direct booking are marginal (under €50 per person)
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You’re booking last-minute travel without buffer time for problem resolution
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You value peace of mind and customer service access
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You’re not comfortable aggressively advocating for yourself when dealing with customer support
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You’re unsure about understanding all fees and terms buried in fine print
For most travelers, the modest savings eDreams occasionally offers don’t justify the hassle and risk. Booking directly with airlines provides transparency, better customer service, loyalty rewards, and peace of mind that’s worth €20-50 extra per ticket.
