Am I really out $1600 - Jet Star

[JohnK]

Everyone is being a bit harsh towards the OP.

Hi, Would you be happy to pay $1600 more if they had gone up ? Works both ways with Airline Travel, Hotels, Cruises etc.

No one wants to pay more but for me it's the constant deception.

I purchased a return airfare BNE-AKL on VA for $277. I thought it was a bargain. I had to hurry up as sale was ending. I was happy. Less than a week later there is an identical sale but this time the return airfare is $257.

You call it business. I call it deception. I have little respect for airlines or the people that run them. Bottom feeders....

 

[Archipelago]

I'm somewhat appalled by the expectations of the OP in this situation.

Given that this is a forum for frequent flyers, it does raise eyebrows that the OP could be so oblivious to the way airlines work (in particular LCC's)
There seems to be a belief on the part of the OP that the airline is somehow at fault and needs to compensate you.

You chose to book the flights at the price advertised on the day of booking. The fact that cheaper fares for the same route and travel dates were released later are a fact of life and a normal procedure on the part of the LCC.
To continually play the "QF customer loyalty" card, even when other forum members have stated that this will not fly given the specifics of your case - smacks of naivety or arrogance. You state clearly that you consider yourself to be a frequent international traveller (in your mind, as you say). That you are now looking for goodwill from Jetstar due to your perceived value as a QANTAS customer seems to show that you are not willing to accept that sole responsibility rests with you alone. The airline did not breach any contract with you AFAICS

From what I can see, your key decision making came from needing to secure travel for specific dates for this trip. You did so accordingly, booked and paid the price quoted, and now seem intent on throwing toys from the pram all because the airline released an amount of cheaper fares at a later date. Again, a normal procedure for a LCC. By making the booking based on your criteria, you forego the flexibility factor which is arguably one criteria for booking travel when looking for savings in fares.
If you do not have the flexibility to wait on booking a time critical travel period, then accept that you may end up paying a higher fare as a result.

Enjoy your trip at the prices you paid, and use this as a learning experience.

 

[Mark3000]

Archipelago sums it up perfectly.
The OP can be understandably disappointed but it is totally unreasonable to call the airline and complain.
This is how the world works. Would you call Comsec to complain if the shares you bought got cheaper?

You bought tickets at a price you were happy with. So you are not " out $1600" you were happy to pay that price at the time.

 

[Alanslegal]

Everyone is being a bit harsh towards the OP.


No one wants to pay more but for me it's the constant deception.

I purchased a return airfare BNE-AKL on VA for $277. I thought it was a bargain. I had to hurry up as sale was ending. I was happy. Less than a week later there is an identical sale but this time the return airfare is $257.

You call it business. I call it deception. I have little respect for airlines or the people that run them. Bottom feeders....

Shakes head.

There is absolutely no deception there. You bought a sale fare - not the most cheapest ever fare. Sadly for you there was a better sale a week later.

But whats important is and I'm 100% sure of this, is that if the prices went up $20 the following week you would not be sending the airline a $20 cheque nor would the airline be asking for the difference either.

 

[mannej]

Shakes head.

There is absolutely no deception there. You bought a sale fare - not the most cheapest ever fare. Sadly for you there was a better sale a week later.

But whats important is and I'm 100% sure of this, is that if the prices went up $20 the following week you would not be sending the airline a $20 cheque nor would the airline be asking for the difference either.

And it's not just limited to the airline industry - I'm sure John will agree but the view may be based on his personal view of JQ here.

 

[Quickstatus]

Yup no refund. In fact no airline would give you a refund of the difference. And a LCC definitely would not.

 

[A.Butts]

Archipelago hit the nail on the head. When one's expectations are not met, the supplier gets the blame. You lowered your expectations when you booked Jetstar on a Qantas credit card. Jetstar are not obliged to honour anything that Qantas does, especially in loyalty or rewards. No more discussion needed here. Look forward to Hawaii and enjoy it. Remember, you have a return trip with Jetstar yet,,, careful what you say on an open forum !

 

[PineappleSkip]

I am in the low sympathy brigade. I have booked tickets before and seen the price go down later. Disappointing but the reality is I got the tickets for the date I wanted, at the price I was prepared to pay. Plenty of times I have also not booked, waited and watched the price go up. No less painful really. I've never even considered complaining that I missed out on an earlier or later sale price.

Cheers skip

 

[JohnK]

And it's not just limited to the airline industry - I'm sure John will agree but the view may be based on his personal view of JQ here.

Not necessarily. My example was Virgin.

Aren't there stores with guaranteed lower price protection for a certain length of time after you buy and the item goes on sale? Or is that with credit cards?

 

[Austman]

I remember reading, in the 90s, over on FT, how it was pretty much standard practice for the North American airlines to refund fares that dropped in price (a long time after paying for them - not just the next day or week). They don't seem to do it any more, but it seems they used to.

 

[footy99]

I bought a Pepsi for $1.49 last week.

This week they are 99c.

Have been on the phone to IGA for 6 hours demanding that they refund the difference! Talked to 3 supervisors - nothing. I am a valuable customer! How dare they!

It's not even about the money anymore. Just awful customer service!

You call it business. I call it deception. I have little respect for supermarkets or the people that run them. Bottom feeders....

 

[JohnK]

You call it business. I call it deception. I have little respect for supermarkets or the people that run them. Bottom feeders....

I have read that somewhere before!

But you are right. Add them to the list.

 

[coco50]

Customer loyalty given my Q status. Goodwill. As I said if they know this would likely they would offer this closer to departure would have been a good move. In my mind as a frequent international traveler

I think that you feel entitled to something because of your status. Remember that although JQ is part of the Qantas umbrella, it is run as a separate business and what you are asking is, in the opinion of many, unreasonable.

 

[coco50]

I bought a Pepsi for $1.49 last week.

This week they are 99c.

Have been on the phone to IGA for 6 hours demanding that they refund the difference! Talked to 3 supervisors - nothing. I am a valuable customer! How dare they!

It's not even about the money anymore. Just awful customer service!

You call it business. I call it deception. I have little respect for supermarkets or the people that run them. Bottom feeders....

You must have plenty of time available to complain about something so trivial.

 

[Baysider]

I am in the low sympathy brigade. I have booked tickets before and seen the price go down later. Disappointing but the reality is I got the tickets for the date I wanted, at the price I was prepared to pay. Plenty of times I have also not booked, waited and watched the price go up. No less painful really. I've never even considered complaining that I missed out on an earlier or later sale price.

Well said. Hopefully on average you come out in front. Frequent travellers learn to know when fares are more likely to drop, and wait for that time, however if you have fixed dates and don't want to take a risk, you might have to pay a little more for that guarantee. We have all been there. The OP clearly chose the latter and has learned something. No use complaining, its life.

 

[Baysider]

You must have plenty of time available to complain about something so trivial.

He's pulling our leg and drawing a parallel !

 

[coco50]

He's pulling our leg and drawing a parallel !

I thought so! I just wanted to get another post up, having been dormant for a while!

 

[mikenz]

You can add the MAX bundle but it explicitly states that unless you add it at time of booking, you cannot take advantage of later offered lower fares - in different words, but that is what it states.

I don't know anything about the MAX bundle, but if it makes the fare refundable can't you just add the bundle, cancel the flights and book again?

 

[Quickstatus]

I don't know anything about the MAX bundle, but if it makes the fare refundable can't you just add the bundle, cancel the flights and book again?

From NoStar fare rules:


"Your fare is non-refundable if you have changed to a Starter Fare with Max Bundle after making your original booking or if you request a refund after the end of the day of the scheduled departure. "

So you can add a bundle later but not for the purposes of converting a non refundable fare to a refundable fare.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I bought a Pepsi for $1.49 last week.

This week they are 99c.

Have been on the phone to IGA for 6 hours demanding that they refund the difference! Talked to 3 supervisors - nothing. I am a valuable customer! How dare they!

It's not even about the money anymore. Just awful customer service!

You call it business. I call it deception. I have little respect for supermarkets or the people that run them. Bottom feeders....

Why would you waste 6 hours on the phone? If you still have the bottle of pepsi can't you take it back, get a refund, and purchase at the new price? Takes a few minutes.

(at least you can do the above with coles, safeway and aldi, I'm guessing IGA has a similar policy)