Flight Centre Price Beat Guarantee Rip-off

MathNerd on 26/07/2018 - 07:10

Hey guys, got stuck in a bit of a pickle and wondering what your experiences have been.

Yesterday I went to a Flight Centre store to do a price beat.
Basically, saw a flight on Aunt Betty for $1380, the same flight @ FC is ~$1700.
I read their T&Cs, take a printout of the final payment page for 2 tix and go to the store to begin a price beat guarantee.

All goes well until the end, where the consultant added on 2 "Captain's Package" things (buying 2 tix), for $49 each.
The worst part, is he insisted they're "Compulsory" for every international booking.

Fortunately, I didn't have my GCs on me then (I went to FC as I've got $2700 FC GCs to burn), so I delayed payment.

Is there a way to get them to drop this ripoff charge (by telling the head office the booking ID over the phone etc)? That consultant I got assigned to is adamant it's compulsory, but I've spent all afternoon reading the T&C's and can't find anything about it.

Any help would be massively appreciated.

Really want to avoid paying it rather than chasing a $98 refund through an ACCC complaint.

Similar threads here and here.

Thanks!

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Comments

  • azvc on 26/07/2018 - 07:58
    +3

    Just read through the T&C's as well, didnt find anything on the Package being compulsory.

    If the ultimate goal is for you to use the FC gift card balance in store, you can try and get the facts/verbal confirmation on Flight Centres info/booking line. Maybe that rep will back off? Escalate to manager if he still wouldn't budge.

    • MathNerd on 26/07/2018 - 08:06
      +1

      Thanks heaps for this. I'll call their head office (I hope that 133 133 gets me there) and ask for confirmation of this stupid charge.

  • MeesusEff on 26/07/2018 - 08:01
    +5

    I price beat my Europe tickets a few months ago, said I already had insurance and she didn't mention the captain's package. So total paid was a dollar less than the price I saw online. Just say no, and that you would go to another consultant if he insists.

    • MathNerd on 26/07/2018 - 08:07

      Excellent, that's great to hear. I think it really depends on the consultant you get, they're sometimes from different breeds altogether!

      • MeesusEff on 26/07/2018 - 08:55
        +1

        Yeah, apparently they get dismal pay and everything is from commissions and upsales. I got email confirmation from my FC person before heading in. As your consultant has already done the work for it, I think if you say you will go to another FC he will drop the package

  • klonky on 26/07/2018 - 08:09

    Are you sure it wasn't just their booking fee? $49 sounds about right for that.

    • azvc on 26/07/2018 - 08:11

      Sarcasm is strong with this one!!

    • MathNerd on 26/07/2018 - 09:47

      Haha, sure as anything! It is clearly stated as "2 x Captains Value $49.00pp. Totallinng $98.00. Your package includes… blah blah blah".

    • Love a bargain on 26/07/2018 - 20:08

      price beat should be on the total price including booking fee

  • doweyy on 26/07/2018 - 08:10
    +2

    That's really odd, we booked through FC for the Canada Trip at the end or the year and didn't get charged this whatsoever, unless it's a new charge that was very recently brought in, it sounds dodgy. I'd try on the phone and see what they say for comparison.

    Our booking was in-store also with a consultant, they were hesistant to price match at first also, but we just quoted the T&C's and they obliged (otherwise it would have been free as per their policy)

    • MathNerd on 26/07/2018 - 09:49
      +2

      Thanks doweyy. This Captains Package trash has always been there, it's not new. It just looks like the consultant was being a prick and taking me for a fool to know any better. So glad I didn't pay on the day.

      • doweyy on 26/07/2018 - 10:38

        Ahh that makes complete sense then, just sounds like he's trying to rort you out of a non-compulsory add-on by lying, definitely just go to the next operator and tell them to take the sale instead!

  • Ocker on 26/07/2018 - 08:11
    +1

    Made a booking to USA and a cruise 2 weks ago and that charge was not even mentioned. Also, the staff are assessed on their sales volume so this could be a factor.

    • MathNerd on 26/07/2018 - 09:49

      You're very lucky. Good on you.

  • slow on 26/07/2018 - 08:19

    I got Flight Centre to match an international online price a short while back (was much cheaper than their price) and they matched it without any issues or added fees

    • SnoozeAndLose on 26/07/2018 - 08:36

      Did price match in Feb no added charge or anything. I used gift card to pay.

      • MathNerd on 26/07/2018 - 09:53

        Great to hear. I'll bring it up with the consultant (if I even bother going back to him)!

    • MathNerd on 26/07/2018 - 09:53

      Very lucky. Some people get lucky by getting a great consultant, looks like I missed the boat on that one!

  • FishesBum on 26/07/2018 - 08:21
    +3

    I wont deal with FC.
    Several years ago visited one of their outlets & was quoted $2850 for a trip we were looking at.
    This was their "best price" …….. well thats what the "insultant" suggested!
    Decided not to be lazy, and do the research myself & obtained better accommodation and just as good flights for around $1000 cheaper !
    Never again, me.

    • MathNerd on 26/07/2018 - 09:54
      +4

      Literally all they're useful for is Price Beat. And even that they made a rort as seen here.

  • Alan Laz on 26/07/2018 - 09:14
    +4

    I've never found a compelling reason to use flight centre. The internet, with excellent price transparency, is your friend.

    • MeesusEff on 26/07/2018 - 09:27
      +5

      Discounted gift cards. Youirewards gave $150 off $1000 giftcards, so I pricebeat with FC and got $300 less than the cheapest online price.

    • MathNerd on 26/07/2018 - 09:55
      +1

      I agree with you wholeheartedly. However, I had $2700 in FC GCs that I had to let go of, so thought I'd bite the bullet and try out FC. What a farce they are!

    • slow on 26/07/2018 - 10:28
      +1

      For the same price I would rather use flight centre than some dodgy online travel agent, particularly if it is an itinerary with several flights and tight connections. Much better chance of getting a resolution if something goes wrong

      • Eeples on 28/07/2018 - 22:05

        I put FC in the same category ie. dodgy airline travel agent.

        I prefer to book with the actual airline.

        • MathNerd on 30/07/2018 - 15:04

          Booking with the actual airline is always the best option (best = fare conditions and ability of airline reps to help you etc). However the price differential between the airline and an OTA is almost always too large, and hence the decision to go with a third party.

        • Love a bargain on 30/07/2018 - 15:40

          @MathNerd:

          many airlines offer price promise these days

        • Eeples on 01/08/2018 - 10:54

          @MathNerd:

          This is not my experience.

  • purplelady on 26/07/2018 - 10:41

    I was offered that too. She just said, "This is the best price I found, $888. And if there's price drop in the next month, we have the price beat cover so you will get the difference returned to you". Only after I questioned it, she said it will be returned in gift cards. Then, I saw a flyer on the desk re. captain's package and saw price beat cover there and asked her, again, only then she said, "Oh yeah, that $888 already includes Captain's cover". WTH??? But then when I asked if it was compulsory, she said it wasn't. Later on when I asked for price beat, she didn't mention that anymore. But I didn't end up buying from her, as she took few hours to get back to me with the approval. I couldn't wait and booked somewhere else.

  • try2bhelpful on 26/07/2018 - 10:49

    Had no problem booking with FC last year and the Captain's package was not compulsory. People have been having problems with Aunt Betty, lately, so it wouldn't surprise me if we see a change in Flight Centres T&Cs to nominate the groups they will price match; a blanket statement on their part is asking for trouble.

  • MeesusEff on 26/07/2018 - 12:34

    If you have problems with Aunt Betty, try to pricebeat with Fly365. They have no credit fees for Mastercard (just pretend you were going to use it to pay if you were to book), I just looked at Aunt Betty and card payment comes with little fees.

    • MathNerd on 30/07/2018 - 15:05

      Aunt Betty was good in showing the final price when paying with MasterCard as it also wasn't showing a surcharge. It had the cheapest ticket on the web by a fair margin and is also 100% Australian so didn't expect any problems price matching with them.

      • SnoozeAndLose on 01/08/2018 - 10:57

        I got FC price beat BestJet, Bestjet can be use with POLI(direct bank transfer - no fee) and no booking fee.

  • knobbs on 26/07/2018 - 15:50

    Booked out trip in 2 weeks with FC to Canada/USA. The packages certainly aren't mandatory. They are mandatory if you want a price grantee for 1 month after you book, but as previously stated they only give you the difference in GCs. The packages are a complete rought and to me they seem to be scamming money from gullible people. Saying that I did find value in their $99 premium captain package or whatever crap it was. As we got $150 each off accommodation which was cheaper than what I could find it for.

    I also tried to use their price beat guarantee but they had exclusions from a lot of the sites I was trying to match.

    I went through their T&Cs and it was a joke any of the other benefits. Their next business day refund doesn't sound next business day at all.

    Next business day refund
    Where you seek a refund for a cancelled booking for which payment has been made to the supplier, we will not provide a refund to you until we receive the funds from that supplier. However, if you have purchased the Captain's Value package or a Captain's Premium package you will receive the full refund for your airfare that you are entitled to (if any), the next business day for cancellations processed prior to noon Australian Eastern Standard Time. If your airfare is non-refundable however, no refund will be due. All usual airline and Flight Centre cancellation fees will be deducted from your refund.

  • ozb10 on 26/07/2018 - 19:25

    They also tried to sell me that package last time I did a price beat, which I declined, it is definitely not "compulsory". I was confident I won't change my flight and the fare was lowest around, so paying that is pretty much paying for nothing.
    Good luck getting a refund from FC or ACCC. Please report back on the result.

    • Savas on 26/07/2018 - 22:18

      I don't think the ACCC can do anything? they only provide information.

  • Love a bargain on 26/07/2018 - 20:09

    try to get another consultant to book the same flight for you. the one you had is a prick and doesn't deserve the business

  • hashtagbargain on 26/07/2018 - 22:34

    Hey op, how’d you end up with $2700 worth of fc gc?

  • Store RepOzJD @ Flight Centre on 27/07/2018 - 07:51
    +1

    Hey OP, feel free to email me at [email protected] and I'll sort it out for you. :-)

    Captain's package is not compulsory; but does include the $28 ticketing fee, and price drop protection right up until the time you fly (was previously 30 days)

    Regards,
    JD

    • MathNerd on 27/07/2018 - 12:18

      Thank you JD. PM'd.

      • SnoozeAndLose on 28/07/2018 - 15:08

        Did they drop the final $49 charges?

        • MathNerd on 30/07/2018 - 15:06
          +1

          Yes, I went back to the original consultant, spoke to that FC's manager and had it dropped. Was happy in the end.

    • SnoozeAndLose on 27/07/2018 - 18:32
      +1

      Hi JD, i went to one of the FC today to trying to do price beat and being told there are $28 booking fee per passenger on top of the Price Beat. Is that true?

      If it is the case then what is the point of doing price beat,also i am being told that if i want to do price beat i need to send the screen shot of all steps to get to the price and send it to the head office for approval(require 6 hours) then i need to pay on the same day.

      Please let me know if it is true or not.

      • Love a bargain on 28/07/2018 - 14:44

        From my experience of getting price beat from FC (have done it a couple of times and same happened both times)

        1) the amount they price beat included all booking & CC charge - eg if they other website shows a total of $1000 at the final payment stage, then FC would charge you $999 including booking & CC fee (you have to use the same form of payment, eg BPAY/ debit card/ VISA/ Mastercard/ AMEX)

        2) yes, payment had to made on the same day

        • SnoozeAndLose on 28/07/2018 - 14:49

          I am in question about the $28 per person airline charges.

          The agent said that it is what they get charged by yhe airline therefore they need to pass on.

          I told him it is not price beat then.

          He said it is the rule, i will bring in Aunt betty for them to beat as they are the same company.

        • SnoozeAndLose on 28/07/2018 - 15:17

          What number do you call for price beat? Or you just call the store and the store person price beat for you? Are u paying by gift card?

        • Love a bargain on 29/07/2018 - 18:35

          @LoveBargain15:

          Not sure what the airline charges you're referring to is but the logic is that they price beat the final price (i.e. the amount you will end up paying if you book through the other site) by $1. They should not be charging any compulsory charges on top (i.e. you save $1 overall).

          In the times I've done FC price beat, I just rang the number that's on the website. My call was then transferred to a random agent in their network. I was in Sydney and I think I got someone from as far as Wollongong (or something like that) once.

  • lost in transit on 28/07/2018 - 15:20

    Just booked a return flight to Texas down to Mississippi for Sept. they matched an internet price with Qantas when they had there sale recently. No extra charges.

    • Eeples on 28/07/2018 - 22:09

      Can I ask why you why you just didn’t book with Qantas?

  • AssociatedFelix McNamara @ Flight Centre on 30/07/2018 - 10:23

    Hi there,

    Thanks for reaching out and for the opportunity to help you.

    Whilst there are added benefits to purchasing one of our Captains Packages; I would like to confirm they are definitely not compulsory.

    Please feel free to follow this link for further information:
    http://travl.to/fccaptainspackage

    For more information as to our 'Lowest Airfare Guarantee' please follow this link: http://travl.to/fclag

    Should you need further assistance, please feel free to contact your Flight Centre consultant; or email me at: [email protected] - along with your booking details and or the store you booked with.

    Happy to help!

    Best regards,

    Felix.

    • MathNerd on 30/07/2018 - 15:07

      Thanks for the info Felix, very helpful.

  • SnoozeAndLose on 01/08/2018 - 10:57

    I got FC price beat BestJet, Bestjet can be use with POLI(direct bank transfer - no fee) and no booking fee.

    • Love a bargain on 01/08/2018 - 19:07

      but that means you'll have to pay HC by POLI. Some might want to pay by CC

      • SnoozeAndLose on 01/08/2018 - 19:40

        I pay by GC from the suncrop deal. Save 2% plus $50 gift card

  • crazyboy on 13/08/2018 - 20:47

    Do they price match travelgenio as well?
    I will be paying by cash so I am not expecting any additional charges right?

  • Wally23 on 16/08/2018 - 15:01
    +1

    I just posted on another FlightCentre price beat thread here. Certain agents try to trick you into paying the Captains Package for $49 per person by stating that the fee is compulsory or company policy. Stick to your guns and demand that they not add the captains package fee.

  • crazyboy on 18/08/2018 - 20:58

    I went and they didn't go price match. They say as per policy they only do price match for companies with presence in Australia. SO travelgenio, budgetair, skiddo, kayak, no price match :(

    I booked online from budget air as difference was $200.

    • Love a bargain on 19/08/2018 - 13:50

      that's in their T&Cs… so you have to make sure the company you wanna them price match is eligible

    • SnoozeAndLose on 19/08/2018 - 14:08

      Bestjet, auntie betty?

      FC always match these two websites

      • crazyboy on 20/08/2018 - 21:10

        Aunt Betty is one of their own website.
        Yes they will do price match but difference was $100, so I decided not to do.

        I don't think they have a list of companies they price match.

        • Love a bargain on 21/08/2018 - 12:50

          they don't have a list of companies but a list of criteria that you just have to check

  • djsydney on 20/01/2019 - 19:09

    Hi guys.. I have an international fare that I want to price beat with FC. I understand that they do that with an Australian website(byojet) in my case. I have a 100$ voucher from Monopoly(mcd). Can I use that as well?

    Regards,
    Dinesh

    • SnoozeAndLose on 20/01/2019 - 19:11
      +1

      Not anymore unless yiu also purchase $500 worth of accommodation

      • djsydney on 20/01/2019 - 19:46

        Where is that written of you could point me to that please?

        • djsydney on 20/01/2019 - 19:49

          I found this - Redeemable in full at any Flight Centre retail store within Australia towards a new travel booking. A
          minimum spend of $1,000 applies in order to redeem the Voucher

        • SnoozeAndLose on 20/01/2019 - 20:00

          This is what get repoted by number of member here

          • djsydney on 21/01/2019 - 14:57
            +1

            @SnoozeAndLose: My experience has been the same today :(

            • SnoozeAndLose on 21/01/2019 - 14:59

              @djsydney: Gard that you find out and confirmed.

              FC gift card become less useful.
              Try to use them with Studentflight

    • redwood on 20/01/2019 - 21:01

      Flight Centre no longer price beats unless you purchase $500 accomodation with the flights. Learnt it the hard way.

      • sydguy18 on 27/03/2019 - 22:17

        Same response from FC today with a price match request. $500 accomodation required for price matches

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