|
|
Re: Airline surcharge clarification
Posted by Papa Gio on 4/19/08
Thanks for the info. The point I was trying to make is that
all of the travel companies tell you that your airfare is
included in the program fee which is fixed; then they turn
around and add the fuel adjustment at a later stage in the
game. If the airfare is included in the program fee, then any
additional fuel adjustment costs should be adsorbed by the
travel company and not the travler; n'est ce pas? On 4/19/08, Francoise Boden wrote:
> I am reading what everyone is saying about airline
> surcharges,and I used to be in that business. I am a French
> teacher now.
> 1. The student companies do not purchase the airline tickets
> until they have received the final balance for your trip,
> typically 90 days before departure. Although the airlines
> have blocked the seat for them and have required a deposit
> for each seat, the airline cannot and will not guarantee the
> final ticket price until the ticket is actually purchased. A
> ticket to France from SFO could be a certain price 6 months
> ago, but because of fluctuating gas prices could be higher
> or lower at the time of purchase. The smart travel company
> should predict that and charge more than what the actual
> price at the time of your quote (when you sign on). That way
> they are covering any loss or any last minute surcharge. A
> company that charges you just one month before is
> irresponsible because by now they have received all your
> money and should have bought the tickets as soon as you paid
> the final balance.
> 2. Each airline surcharge is different. I was shopping for
> myself for this summer to go to France from SFO and the
> different amount of surcharges from airline to airline was
> incredible. The least expensive airline is Air Canada: the
> base ticket was $1,068, and by the time taxes and fees were
> added the ticket was $1,131. United Airlines was one of the
> most expensive: the base ticket was $1,000 (so at first it
> looks like a good deal), but at the end the ticket price was
> $1,478!!! American Airlines was from $1,200 base to $1,700
> final price!!! Air France was from $1,200 base to $1,500
final.
> In conclusion, when booking with a company, ask specific
> questions about which airline they will use and check the
> airline site for the surcharges. If the company tells you we
> don't know who we are going to use, that is not true! They
> have contracts with specific airlines and know exactly who
> they will use, especially huge established companies like
> EF. Also, their membership fee is a joke like EF, and
> others. It means nothing and just adds to their profit.
> Challenge it and they will back down and offer it as a
> discount, or tell them to put it towards the so-called
> surcharge.
Posts on this thread, including this one
- Airline surcharge clarification, 4/19/08, by Francoise Boden.
- Re: Airline surcharge clarification, 4/19/08, by Papa Gio.
- Re: Airline surcharge clarification, 4/23/08, by MR BODEN, misinformed.
- Re: Airline surcharge clarification, 4/23/08, by Francoise Boden.
- Re: Wrong Again, 10/01/08, by .............
|
1996 - 2008. All Rights Reserved. Please review our Terms of Use, Mission Statement, and Privacy Policy.