††† R.I.P. Best Flights

[albatross710]

I notice that 'Best Flights' has changed their business model and now just appears to be a standard search engine for 'hello world' and associated travel agencies.

Anyone know what they are up to? I used ot like referencing all of the fare deals from their site.

or has my connection been hi-jacked?

Alby

 

[AusTraveller]

Re: What's up with Bestfligths? new website

I notice that helloworld has changed their business model and now just appears to be a standard search engine for 'hello world' and associated travel agencies.

Anyone know what they are up to? I used ot like referencing all of the fare deals from their site.

or has my connection been hi-jacked?

Alby

No it's not just you. I also used to like referencing the fare deals. Now it seems if I click on "Flights on sale" at the bottom, all I get is Swiss fares to the UK. Pass. I'm sorry helloworld but its hello and goodbye from me.

P.S I remembered getting an email about this. And it contained the following promo (not sure if anyone can use this or if it is worth posting elsewhere if not already posted):

As a valued customer, receive a 15% discount* on your next international hotel booking on helloworld.com.au
To redeem this offer:
1. Go to helloworld.com.au
2. Enter your destination and dates.
3. Enter the promo code hellobest01 and click search. The discount will be applied to applicable hotels.


* PROMO CODE TERMS & CONDITIONS
The Promo Code is valid only on bookings conducted directly on helloworld. Not valid for bookings made through our call centre or a travel agent.
The Promo provided to you will have the value, exclusions and limitations notified to you at the time of your booking.
The Promo Code provides a discount on the base rate of participating international hotels outside of Australia. Charges apply for taxes, surcharges and applicable credit card fees. Excludes selected hotel chains including, but not limited to, Accor, Carlson, Choice, Drury, Fairmont, Four Seasons, Hilton, InterContinental Hotels Group, La Quinta, Loews, Mandarin Oriental, Marriott, Melia, Shangri-la, Starwood, Trust and Wyndham Hotel Group.
The Promo Code is valid on bookings made until 17 February 2014 for travel until 30 June 2014.
The Promo Code cannot be combined with any other offer/discounts/promotions from helloworld online.
Not Valid for group bookings.
This Promo Code cannot be combined with any other offer, discounts or promotions from helloworld.
You cannot redeem or exchange the Promo Code or applicable discount for cash.
If you wish to change a booking made using the Promo Code, the value of the discount received will not be refunded.
If lost or stolen, the Promo Code will not be replaced.
Helloworld reserves the right to withdraw, change or cancel the Promo Code without prior notice.


Ironically, the T's and C's are longer than the offer.....

 

[samh004]

Re: What's up with Bestfligths? new website

Appears the same to me, perhaps they have been bought out.

 

[Bofter]

Re: What's up with Bestfligths? new website

What is this obsession with new sites or new site layouts destroying previous functionality? I can't believe that this is all down to optimising for touch rather than desktop.

Due to that change in format and no easy access to sale fare listings, I no longer have a reason to visit bestflights or helloworld as they are now.

With someone like Qantas, I have no choice but to use their website if I want to do a Qantas internet booking. With bestflights/helloworld there are plenty of alternatives, and I will be looking to them instead. I hope for their sake that the response to their website isn't universally like mine.

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: What's up with Bestfligths? new website

A quick Google gives the answer

Best Flights closure sparks angry reaction | Travel Weekly

The old Bestflights layout was great to see general prices/sales/deals/fares and go from there

 

[albatross710]

Re: What's up with Bestfligths? new website

A quick Google gives the answer

Best Flights closure sparks angry reaction | Travel Weekly

The old Bestflights layout was great to see general prices/sales/deals/fares and go from there

Thanks for the various replies.

Although I never actually booked through bestflights I am sure that plenty of people did. The part that helloworld seems to have missed is the 'value' part of the website. I read that only about 5% of visitors to eBay actually transacted on the site but eBay had found a way to handle the 95% of lookers knowing they would promote and one day become customers. Possibly the same with bestfligths, plenty of visitors that needed to be handled cost effectively.

Online booking 'engine' is the easy part, the value was in the way they talked about the fare deals and made it all seem possible.


Alby

 

[Mal]

Re: What's up with Bestfligths? new website

Absolute idiots. I hated biggest frights as a travel agent, but it had significant value as a brand. To trash it is stupid.

 

[boylero]

Re: What's up with Bestfligths? new website

was my go to site for planning trips great layout............... and now!

 

[TheRealTMA]

Re: What's up with Bestfligths? new website

was my go to site for planning trips great layout............... and now!

Yes they have completely stuffed the site not to mention trashed the brand. Anyone would have thought it was a Jabawocky redesign by the Productivity Commission.

Bestflights had the best summary of currently available flights deals to various destinations, e.g. Europe E/BC&F, North America E/BC&F etc. Was one of the best resources for checking current flight specials, sales etc. Now it's completely gone and one is dumped back to a terrible traditional flight search enter from/to/dateout/datein. All that waste of time and useless.

Anyone know another Australian site that gives a summary of currently available airline offers?

 

[Gonetroppo]

Re: What's up with Bestfligths? new website

Webjet used to be very handy for searching by month with their "Deal Finder". Since they have tried to add in some Amex points widget to the functionality, I cannot get it to work at all - in any browser. Can anyone else get it to work? It's on the lower right of this page:
web jet . com . au / flights
(I do not have enough forum posts to allow URLS)

 

[Cruiser Elite]

R,I,P, Best Flights

Juat tried to log into Best Flights but it has disappeared into oblivion - swallowed up by Helloworld.

IMHO BF was the best site i had found to compare latest F & J deals from multitudes of carriers - simple 2 click process and right in front of you was prices of F & J to virtually any destination in the world - I will sadly miss it - seems many others will also:

Best Flights closure sparks angry reaction | Travel Weekly

Mods if referenced elsewhere please delete.

 

[SeatBackForward]

re: ††† R.I.P. Best Flights

From my experience with them, Good Riddance.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

re: ††† R.I.P. Best Flights

From my experience with them, Good Riddance.

Different strokes for different folks - i had great experience with them - but the best feature was the simplicity of listing of flight prices.

 

[SeatBackForward]

re: ††† R.I.P. Best Flights

Different strokes for different folks - i had great experience with them - but the best feature was the simplicity of listing of flight prices.

Well they tried to deny a refund on two tickets, despite that refund being due to my father passing away. Then they tried to gouge out $1000 in flight change fees, when the airline did it directly for $200.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

re: ††† R.I.P. Best Flights

Well they tried to deny a refund on two tickets, despite that refund being due to my father passing away. Then they tried to gouge out $1000 in flight change fees, when the airline did it directly for $200.

Sorry to hear that - but i can only report experiences i had which were faultless.

But their site was the best feature - what other site offered / offers 3 mouse clicks only to see a full list of current Y, J and F pricing to ALL conintents by almost ALL major carriers - IMHO their web site was just fabulous to compare flight prices.

 

[Cardinal]

re: ††† R.I.P. Best Flights

I booked a few flights through Best Flights. In my experience, their customer service and the final pricing compared to advertised price left a lot to be desired. But in terms of a website that gave you airline options, offers and possible routings you may not have previously considered, Best Flights was my first research stop.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

re: ††† R.I.P. Best Flights

But in terms of a website that gave you airline options, offers and possible routings you may not have previously considered, Best Flights was my first research stop.

I concur 100% - that is the part that will be sadly missed.

 

[knasty]

re: ††† R.I.P. Best Flights

I booked my honeymoon package through best flights. I added a night to their advertised offering and the price went down!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: ††† R.I.P. Best Flights

Well they tried to deny a refund on two tickets, despite that refund being due to my father passing away. Then they tried to gouge out $1000 in flight change fees, when the airline did it directly for $200.

my experience is exactly the same.

tried to charge their $500 cancellation fee on a full fare F ticket.

thankfully after a couple of emails they relented.

but bestflights was great for listing all the available airfares.

 

[agentgerko]

re: ††† R.I.P. Best Flights

Has there ever been a worse name than helloworld?