Flight Centre $28 Ticketing Fee

purplelady on 27/10/2017 - 13:21
Last edited 27/10/2017 - 13:22

Hi guys,

I went to Flight Centre to ask for a quote. Of course their price was higher, but she said they could price match (which I already knew). She also mentioned that they have Price Drop protection, so for the next 30 days, if the price drops, they will refund me the difference.

However, after lengthy conversation, I noticed a brochure next to me that said "Price Drop Protection", BUT there were 4 columns with things like Captain package, xyz package etc, with PRICE on it. Starting from $19, $49, etc etc.

Then I had this conversation with her:
Me: "So, what are these? Do I have to pay $49 for the price drop protection?".
The Agent: "You don't have to, but people usually buys the package as they are of really good value. But even if you don't get the package, you will need to pay $28 ticketing fee anyway."
Me: "Ok, so if I want to buy a $1000 flight ticket, the price I'll have to pay is $1000 + $28 + credit card charges?"
Agent: "Yes"

I haven't booked with them for years, is this new? Or did I get this thing wrong? Can someone please enlighten me?

Thanks!

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Comments

  • aoeueoa on 27/10/2017 - 13:37
    +1

    Don't know about that specifically. Any reason why you don't want to book it yourself online? Might be cheaper and save money doing it yourself.

    • purplelady on 27/10/2017 - 13:40

      I have some commissions which I can claim as flight centre gift cards that I want to use. Plus, I thought it's close to work, so if something happens I can just pop in and talk directly.

  • Pigey on 27/10/2017 - 13:57

    Might want to mention this ACCC article

    http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/travel/flight-centre…

    • purplelady on 27/10/2017 - 14:22

      Yeah, but there's no mention about $28 fee :/ unless I heard it wrong

  • toniyellow on 27/10/2017 - 14:12

    I price matched recently at studentflights (who are owned by Flight Centre). They checked to see what kind of credit card / ticketing fees the site I was matching them with charged and just included that in the price match

    e.g. the site I was comparing had the ticket for something like $1005 including credit card charges for visa and mastercard, or $1020 including credit card charges for amex. So they offered to do $1004 and $1019 depending on how I wanted to pay. These figures are made up as I don't have the ticket at hand, but the total definitely ended up being $1 less in total, no fees added afterwards.

    • purplelady on 27/10/2017 - 14:41

      oh ok, thanks.

    • JimmyF on 27/10/2017 - 18:47
      +7

      Really people have to STOP feeding these troll companies. As per your example they bet the price by $1?

      Why are we rewarding flight center with business, when they didn't offer the cheapest flight in the first place?

      All that happens is the cheap place goes under from lack of business and you're left with the flight center HIGHER prices.

      So spend that $1 extra and book with the place offering the CHEAPEST price. Not flight center.

      • toniyellow on 27/10/2017 - 19:42

        I don't know why you're so angry? If you're an experienced traveller just use the cheapest but travel agents have their place for other people, particularly inexperienced travellers.

        In my case I used them as i was going on uni exchange and one of the uni rules was that we must use a travel agent. My guess is because for many students it is their first time travelling, or at least first time travelling alone, and they uni want someone to be available to help if they need to change dates etc.

        I imagine most people go to the effort of price matching for other reasons than saving $1.

        • JimmyF on 27/10/2017 - 21:00

          Not angry, just don't know why people keep feeding the troll companies like flight center.

          Bets a flight by $1, and then slaps a 'booking' fee on it, so its more costly.

          http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/travel/flight-centre…

          Each to their own, but don't complain when there are no cheap places left to price match too.

        • dbui8743 on 28/10/2017 - 00:04
          +1

          @JimmyF:

          I only use those companies when there are discount gift cards from woolworths.

          And when they price match, you will not have to pay ticketing/booking fee. Basically, it will be exact matching with the other site.

        • purplelady on 28/10/2017 - 07:52

          @dennis3107: yeah me too, the only reason is I've got some cash from work which I can only claim as giftcards, flight centre is 1 of them.

          Oh… I see. I wonder if all branches need to beat the price? I got my sister to ask in another branch and they said they couldn't match it, and gave us the cheapest price they could do.

  • slow on 27/10/2017 - 14:27

    I recently got a price beat from Flight Centre (matched some dodgy online agent from Skyscanner) and they the total including their fees was less than the online price)

    • purplelady on 27/10/2017 - 14:42

      maybe what she meant was, the fee is included in the price match. Thank you!

  • madreece on 27/10/2017 - 14:35

    I price beat a fare at Flight Centre about six weeks ago and there was no ticketing fee.

    • purplelady on 27/10/2017 - 14:42

      I see.. hmm maybe I did get her wrong. Thanks :)

  • cypher67 on 27/10/2017 - 14:59

    How does the price drop protection work, do they alert me if it becomes cheaper or I have to watch the market like a hawk for 30 days and notify them?

    • pantsparty on 27/10/2017 - 15:04

      I do not like how they have worded their T&Cs:

      "Your genuine advertised fare must be presented to us on the same day as it was advertised and 30 days from the date of payment in full of your original Captain’s Package Fare booking and prior to departure." —>> What does this mean? If I book an airfare two months in advance and during the second month a better price is found then my "Captains package" is useless? Or is it the other way round?

      "If it is, we will refund you the difference by providing you with a Gift Card. Our standard Gift Card Terms and Conditions apply." —>> A gift card I likely will never use and will expire, awesome.

      • purplelady on 27/10/2017 - 15:10

        Yeah, it's only 30 days protection. I thought it was free, so I was happy to hear it. And the way she said it to me was "will be refunded". Only later on I asked "refunded?", then she added "travel vouchers".

        I assume so, cypher67. I doubt they will be the one telling me.

  • 88mph on 27/10/2017 - 22:45

    Op, my experience…
    Around 2 years ago, I went into my local FC to do the usual el-cheapo Skyscanner>Bestjet price match for an overseas trip. They did it, and told me they'll clip on a captains package free (claims it was a promo to get the word out there). The cunning bstrd in me smelt a rat but agreed as long as I pay exactly what Bestjet showed on the final screen. Ticketed via CC, walked out without a 2nd thought..

    Come 1 or 2 weeks before my flight, I get a call from the lady who ticketed me claiming flight prices had dropped, I was eligible for a $80 rebate! BUT only redeemable at that store on a future booking.

    As I frequently use them, redeemed it within a year or so, again on a pricematch (this time no freebie, hence did not clip it on)

    Bottom line, the captains package does work, but a real gamble to decide if it's worth paying money for it.

    BTW, never paid a booking fee at any flight centre, used both CBD and my local suburbia stores, last booking was approx Christmas hols last year.

    Interestingly, recently I booked a holiday directly with STA Travel, came up #1 via Skyscanner for my search criteria, first time ever…

    • purplelady on 27/10/2017 - 23:17

      Thanks for the info 88mph! Yeah I guess if you think it's going to go down in a month, then it's worth getting it.

  • LyndonBBear on 28/10/2017 - 00:13

    I recently booked flights to Sydney with FC. Only reason I didn't do it online was going with my Mother and she needs assistance package. It took FC person 1 & 1/4 hours to do this simple thing. The flights were with Virgin and I had checked prices before leaving home. The insurance site was down, this was her excuse and yes, we both wanted it in case Mother couldn't make it. There was a receipt docket supplied, but no break down of costs. We both thought we had been charged and paid for the insurance. A week later, after requesting a Tax Invoice, on closer inspection we found we'd been charged $19 each for the Captain's Essentials. I checked with Mum and she also says there was no discussion re this offer. Eventually got our tickets (why does this take over a week??) and inquired about this Price Drop Protection and she stated that it was obligatory. What a load of BS! I'm going to be ringing the Customer Relations to complain about this. She also never asked for a Velocity number.

    • Fexofenadine on 28/10/2017 - 12:32

      That sounds dodgy as, please keep us posted on the progress of your complaint for future reference!

    • purplelady on 28/10/2017 - 16:35

      That sounds awful! Seems like they were trying to squeeze out as much money as possible. Let us know the outcome please. Hope they respond soon.

  • dp1 on 28/10/2017 - 10:25

    I've never understood flight centre's success on the ASX. It's so painful compared to booking online, they must be reliant on gift cards and people who can't go online for their business model.

    • Love a bargain on 28/10/2017 - 14:05

      I think they rely on business customers too

  • Love a bargain on 28/10/2017 - 14:07

    My experience with getting FC to price match dodgy website that I don't trust is that the matched price should be inclusive of all charges/fees & it's easier to do it over the phone than in store

    • purplelady on 28/10/2017 - 16:33

      Really? Why is it easier over the phone?

      • Love a bargain on 28/10/2017 - 21:54

        Not sure. Maybe just my luck.

        I just ring up, say I wanna book a particular flight (or tell them straightaway that I wanna price match if I can get FC's price on its website) & they are always more than happy to oblige.

        Plus being able to have access to my computer (& the website being price matched) helps to take away the anxiety over what if the competitor's price changes from when you looked it up to when you get to a FC shop

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