Scams like these

[MEL_Traveller]

'Hundreds of fares on sale' I suppose could be technically correct. Just a single airline would need to lower its prices to affect 'hundreds' (if not thousands) of fares offered by that airline alone.

From a quick look around the ACCC website, the webjet advertising doesn't seem to be against the rules?

In many ways OTAs for hotel bookings are similar... most of us probably receive emails form expedia, booking.com (etc) offering '80%' off. I suppose according to the ACCC website, as long as the rooms do sell for the original price at some time, the advertising is correct. (And I suppose someone booking at a peak business or holiday time probably does pay the full asking price for the rooms.)

My biggest concern is the advertising around those river cruises in Europe. 'Fly free' they say... with package prices of $6000+ per passenger. You can find similar priced cruises with other companies for around $2500... but you need to fly yourself.

I don't know if you are actually 'flying free' at all??

 

[ozbeachbabe]

'Hundreds of fares on sale' I suppose could be technically correct. Just a single airline would need to lower its prices to affect 'hundreds' (if not thousands) of fares offered by that airline alone.

From a quick look around the ACCC website, the webjet advertising doesn't seem to be against the rules?

In many ways OTAs for hotel bookings are similar... most of us probably receive emails form expedia, booking.com (etc) offering '80%' off. I suppose according to the ACCC website, as long as the rooms do sell for the original price at some time, the advertising is correct. (And I suppose someone booking at a peak business or holiday time probably does pay the full asking price for the rooms.)

My biggest concern is the advertising around those river cruises in Europe. 'Fly free' they say... with package prices of $6000+ per passenger. You can find similar priced cruises with other companies for around $2500... but you need to fly yourself.

I don't know if you are actually 'flying free' at all??

At least with those OTA's like Expedia you will be able to find some hotels at 80% off their published online prices even if it may not be a hotel you want to stay at. I'm questioning whether Webjet even have a sale because there's no way of knowing if they're lying or not as they don't say anything like "HKG on Sale for $699.00 save $300.00 book by Sat 06 Jun" then on Sun 07 Jun HKG fares revert to $999.00. It's impossible to measure the authenticity of their advertising because there's absolutely no pricing details mentioned.

Like those 'fly free' ads for Canada tours it seems like there's no shortage of people snapping up the chance to book those irresistible deals. I wonder what the land only component is? I think booking the cruise only portion through a US based cruise company like Vacations to Go or similar would get you a better deal, even taking the USD to AUD exchange rate into account.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

. I wonder what the land only component is?

Perhaps not surprisingly, it seems to be incredibly difficult to find the 'land only' content of those river cruises for departure ex Australia. Google is also difficult to use to find it as everything Australian based comes up and they all include the airfare. But as I mentioned, similar cruises (not offered by ATP) come in around $2500.

I would prefer the prices ex Australia say 'airfare included' rather than 'fly free' if that's actually what's happening.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Perhaps not surprisingly, it seems to be incredibly difficult to find the 'land only' content of those river cruises for departure ex Australia. Google is also difficult to use to find it as everything Australian based comes up and they all include the airfare. But as I mentioned, similar cruises (not offered by ATP) come in around $2500.

I would prefer the prices ex Australia say 'airfare included' rather than 'fly free' if that's actually what's happening.

A suggestion that if you want to search and even book flights or cruises via US/UK sites, the best way is to use a VPN or proxy that is country located. Then you can appear to be in the US/UK and get country based searches and pricing. Many companies these days use geolocation to route your queries to an Australian site if you are coming from an Australian IP address. (BTW: VPN or Proxies are cheap and many have a month trial so you could check that out at no cost.)

I'm not sure if it is still happening but some cruise lines (Holland, e.g.) have been known to not allow their US or UK agents to sell cruise fares to domiciled Australians. They say that fares for 'foreigners' must be purchased through the local country agent. (And at significantly higher prices - just like Foxtel restricing our legal access to GOTs.) There are documented cases (according to Fodor and social media) of Australians buying cruises via US companies and then refused boarding in the US (on Australian passport) unless they paid some thousands of dollars extra. Of course in such cases Australian consumer law does not apply.

Trips and cruises on sale in the UK can be vastly cheaper than Australian prices. The Rocky Mountaineer and Alaska cruise can (could last time I looked) be had for at least 1/3rd less than Australian prices. Even European SC and APT cruises are cheaper in the UK than here.

Same applies to airfares originating in Australia. The restrictive airline practice that we have to buy return air fares originating in Australia in Australia (or through Australian sites or TAs) is most annoying. For example, November last year, BNE-VCE return on Emirates was EUR4500 pp in F through EK Italy, or AUD$13500 through EK or QF here.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Trips and cruises on sale in the UK can be vastly cheaper than Australian prices. The Rocky Mountaineer and Alaska cruise can (could last time I looked) be had for at least 1/3rd less than Australian prices. Even European SC and APT cruises are cheaper in the UK than here.

Same applies to airfares originating in Australia. The restrictive airline practice that we have to buy return air fares originating in Australia in Australia (or through Australian sites or TAs) is most annoying. For example, November last year, BNE-VCE return on Emirates was EUR4500 pp in F through EK Italy, or AUD$13500 through EK or QF here.

I'm aware of the sales restrictions re cruises... I saw crossings on the QM2 UK-USA (or whatever the ship is they use these days)... only 600 pounds one way purchased in the UK. Compared to a couple thousand dollars buying the same ticket from here.

I can understand the pricing for airlines though. They base it on what the point of origin can bear. The problem, I guess, is that people actually pay it from here. If people didn't buy it, the fares would drop to the same levels they are ex Europe.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I'm aware of the sales restrictions re cruises... I saw crossings on the QM2 UK-USA (or whatever the ship is they use these days)... only 600 pounds one way purchased in the UK. Compared to a couple thousand dollars buying the same ticket from here.

I can understand the pricing for airlines though. They base it on what the point of origin can bear. The problem, I guess, is that people actually pay it from here. If people didn't buy it, the fares would drop to the same levels they are ex Europe.

For airfares, the 'trick' is to buy one one-way fare to kick off and from then on return fares from Europe with 12 month expiry dates! You might lose the final one but you'll save a great deal in the process.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

A suggestion that if you want to search and even book flights or cruises via US/UK sites, the best way is to use a VPN or proxy that is country located. Then you can appear to be in the US/UK and get country based searches and pricing. Many companies these days use geolocation to route your queries to an Australian site if you are coming from an Australian IP address. (BTW: VPN or Proxies are cheap and many have a month trial so you could check that out at no cost.)

Good tip thanks for that.

I'm not sure if it is still happening but some cruise lines (Holland, e.g.) have been known to not allow their US or UK agents to sell cruise fares to domiciled Australians. They say that fares for 'foreigners' must be purchased through the local country agent. (And at significantly higher prices - just like Foxtel restricing our legal access to GOTs.) There are documented cases (according to Fodor and social media) of Australians buying cruises via US companies and then refused boarding in the US (on Australian passport) unless they paid some thousands of dollars extra. Of course in such cases Australian consumer law does not apply.

We booked a cruise on Celebrity Summit in 2011 through Vacations to Go and Australian passports was no issue. You need to provide your passport numbers when doing the booking so I can't understand the Fodor examples where it's alleged that the Aussies were denied boarding unless they paid thousands of dollars extra.

Why wasn't the booking refused at the beginning when the Australian passport numbers would have been provided? Princess Cruises cannot be booked for Aussies through VTG unless travelling with US or Canadian passport holders on the same booking.

The restrictive airline practice that we have to buy return air fares originating in Australia in Australia (or through Australian sites or TAs) is most annoying. For example, November last year, BNE-VCE return on Emirates was EUR4500 pp in F through EK Italy, or AUD$13500 through EK or QF here.

I knew that a BNE/SIN/BNE was more than a SIN/BNE/SIbut N I didn't realise until the recent Expedia Brazil examples that there were cheaper fares ex Australia eg BNE/SIN/BNE if they were ticketed in just about every other country besides Australia.

For airfares, the 'trick' is to buy one one-way fare to kick off and from then on return fares from Europe with 12 month expiry dates! You might lose the final one but you'll save a great deal in the process.

When you have to 'buy' a one way fare to position to the overseas country the cheapest option is to go for a carrier that has a LCC fare structure such as JQ that doesn't charge a whole heap more for purchasing a one way ticket or just do a one way award ticket.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I knew that a BNE/SIN/BNE was more than a SIN/BNE/SIbut N I didn't realise until the recent Expedia Brazil examples that there were cheaper fares ex Australia eg BNE/SIN/BNE if they were ticketed in just about every other country besides Australia.



When you have to 'buy' a one way fare to position to the overseas country the cheapest option is to go for a carrier that has a LCC fare structure such as JQ that doesn't charge a whole heap more for purchasing a one way ticket or just do a one way award ticket.

brazil was fairly unique in that it doesn't allow airlines to charge fuel surcharges. not sure how that works for other countries?

one way to Europe is good on Sri Lankan ex SIN... $1000 in business class (including London). Friends combined this with a $350 one way starclass from the last sale round. pretty compelling!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I did a random fare quote yesterday on the Webjet site for BNE/NRT/BNE 19-27 August & the fare was AUD420.00 each way (all the additional Webjet fees and charges took the total price up to AUD922.60 so a total of AUD82.60 on top of the advertised fare.

While they do display on top of the availability that there is a Webjet booking price guarantee of $21.95 and a Webjet processing fee of $29.95 they don't mention that in addition to the Webjet fees of $51.90 they will also pass on the Qantas fee of $30.00 which you would only pay if you chose to pay by credit
card on the QF website if you didn't take advantage of the fee free options such as Bpay or paying with a QF gift voucher.

Webjet are the merchant so when you book with them the charge that appears on your credit card statement will be "Webjet" not "Qantas Airways" so why do they oncharge the "payment and service fee (Qantas Airways)" of $30.00 when QF isn't even the merchant? That is a scam as it's plain dishonest.





Yeah whatever. Same same every week.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I did a random fare quote yesterday on the Webjet site for BNE/NRT/BNE 19-27 August & the fare was AUD420.00 each way (all the additional Webjet fees and charges took the total price up to AUD922.60 so a total of AUD82.60 on top of the advertised fare.

While they do display on top of the availability that there is a Webjet booking price guarantee of $21.95 and a Webjet processing fee of $29.95 they don't mention that in addition to the Webjet fees of $51.90 they will also pass on the Qantas fee of $30.00 which you would only pay if you chose to pay by credit
card on the QF website if you didn't take advantage of the fee free options such as Bpay or paying with a QF gift voucher.

I think the price guarantee is questionable... if you book and pay on the spot, the seat should be confirmed. No need for 30 minutes 'extra time' during which prices could go up. I wonder if the 'guarantee' would be considered the same as 'insurance'... in which case I believe you should be entitled to opt out?

But then webjet makes no guarantees about being the cheapest!

I note they also have a webjet 'exclusive' - 3000 bonus qantas points for booking 1-30 June. But the small print then says 'valid for the first 600 bookings only'. I wonder how that works out... I reckon they should withdraw that advertising as soon as the first 600 bookings have been made. So maybe they aren't selling that many tickets (given we're already at 7 June and the offer is still there).

 

[yohy?!]

Webjet have form for not honouring advertising prices on their own website also, these days I would have been quick smart reporting them to ACCC

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Webjet have form for not honouring advertising prices on their own website also, these days I would have been quick smart reporting them to ACCC

looking at some of the web feedback... there seems to have been a problem with people booking fares, only to be told later by webjet that the fares had sold out, and additional payment would now be required. I wonder if this was a problem with the webjet booking engine not being updated in a timely manner? (to match actual inventory?)

Given there are at least a couple of reports of people being asked to pay in the region of $400 more to secure the same seats, I wonder if the 'price guarantee' is going to cover that, and whether webjet is now in fact covering any additional monies (and not seeking to claim it from the passenger)?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

looking at some of the web feedback... there seems to have been a problem with people booking fares, only to be told later by webjet that the fares had sold out, and additional payment would now be required. I wonder if this was a problem with the webjet booking engine not being updated in a timely manner? (to match actual inventory?)

Given there are at least a couple of reports of people being asked to pay in the region of $400 more to secure the same seats, I wonder if the 'price guarantee' is going to cover that, and whether webjet is now in fact covering any additional monies (and not seeking to claim it from the passenger)?

Not sure how long ago this was and how long Webjet have had the mandatory 'price guarantee' added to the booking, but if they had paid the price guarantee why were they being asked for more money? It's not like you can deselect the option of the price guarantee.

 

[whatmeworry]

Yep price guarantee is webjet's current greatest scam.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not sure how long ago this was and how long Webjet have had the mandatory 'price guarantee' added to the booking, but if they had paid the price guarantee why were they being asked for more money? It's not like you can deselect the option of the price guarantee.

IIRC the complaints about wanting extra money were 2013. but as you say, not sure when the price lock guarantee surcharge came in. the complaints I read didn't mention having paid it.

 

[moa999]

And just wait till you try and change a Webjet fare -- fees galore

 

[ozbeachbabe]

And just wait till you try and change a Webjet fare -- fees galore

The pièce de resistance is when they arrive at the airport complaining to the airline about the above fees & charges charged by Webjet.

I note that Fly Buys use Webjet as the agent to redeem points for flights. Might suss out what a rip off that would be for comedy relief.

 

[QF WP]

Thursday was a popular day for my scam emails

 

[QF WP]

I don't drink Coke so would have never entered their "lottery"



You had me perplexed at that point Andrew.

 

[Foreigner]

UK warns travellers to avoid being victims of passport thefts:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/t...w-passport-hustlers-steal-your-documents.html