Flight centre expo, cheap fares?

[Bronco59]

Hi all, this is my first post so be gentle. I am flying to Denver at the end of September and I have seen adds for the flight centre expo. do they have the supposed cheap flights or do I just keep looking myself? I mainly ask because it's a 6 hour return drive which I am happy with if it's going to save a few hundred dollars

 

[yohy?!]

Hi all, this is my first post so be gentle. I am flying to Denver at the end of September and I have seen adds for the flight centre expo. do they have the supposed cheap flights or do I just keep looking myself? I mainly ask because it's a 6 hour return drive which I am happy with if it's going to save a few hundred dollars

i wouldnt expect so, have never heard of flight centre offering fares below what you can buy online

welcome to AFF

 

[Kangarucci]

If there is a Flight Centre close by to you make an appointment to see them on the Friday or the weekend of the Expo. They will give you the same 'deals' as if you went to the Expo.

 

[Hvr]

Welcome aboard Bronco59, go to a real travel agent and discuss your travel requirements.

Or even plan it yourself using on-line assistance. FC do a basic search for fares that pay them a commission, add a surcharge and present it to you as a work of art. Their change and cancellation conditions are usually onerous so be aware.

 

[coles525]

Also look into other "travel agents", as well as the airline direct.

I havent yet booked, BUT I looked at 2 travel agents, plus 2 airlines.

The results:

1st place: Travel agent 2
2nd place: Airline 2
3rd place: Airline 1
Last place: Travel agent 1.

Total costs for atleast 3 of them, include extra costs for using all available cc's (ie: diners is higher charge then visa).

What im saying, don't just go to the 1st quote.

This is for the exact same flight in regards by airline 1, via either direct, or 2 agents.

Hope I make sense.

 

[cjd600]

i wouldnt expect so, have never heard of flight centre offering fares below what you can buy online

welcome to AFF

I disagree - the last few years of Flight Centre's 2 annual expos (global + usa), they have had deals equivalent to the cheapest fares you would get on airlines 'best' sale over the year.
Well worth it,especially for USA travel.

To save travel time,maybe try Kangarucci's idea of making an appointment directly with FC, to get around the need to 'book on the premises'!

But I have used the FC expos to book USA travel for the family a few times (global is usually feb,USA expo is usually July), and prices are at 'rock-bottom' when compared with any subsequent or previous specials,online or elsewhere

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Hi all, this is my first post so be gentle. I am flying to Denver at the end of September and I have seen adds for the flight centre expo. do they have the supposed cheap flights or do I just keep looking myself? I mainly ask because it's a 6 hour return drive which I am happy with if it's going to save a few hundred dollars

I went to one of those USA/Canada Expo's a couple of years ago at the Southbank Convention & Exhibition Centre in BNE which I found disappointing as I thought there would be quite a few general information booths eg tourist bureaux, more hotel & tour wholesalers like some industry expos I've been to in the past.

Instead it seemed to be a massively overcrowded booking hall with FC Consultants from all their branches crammed in under the one roof doing bookings reminincent of a David Jones Boxing Day sale.

Save your time, effort & petrol money & stay home. I'll be you can find something cheaper yourself online as I'm sure there's plenty of people here on AFF willing to help you.

Are you flying ex BNE? If so what is your approx. departure date & what other stops to you want besides DEN? How many adults & kids? Any other plans eg skiing or must do's?

 

[puppysparkes]

If there is a Flight Centre close by to you make an appointment to see them on the Friday or the weekend of the Expo. They will give you the same 'deals' as if you went to the Expo.

I knew of a few FC staff that did/do this for their customers including my partner who no longer works for them.

Don't expect prompt service on the day.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have been to a couple of the Expos - as others have said - do your homework first and see what is out there so you have something to compare.

There are huge crowds at the FC booking desks at the expo.

 

[Major]

I went to one of those USA/Canada Expo's a couple of years ago at the Southbank Convention & Exhibition Centre in BNE which I found disappointing as I thought there would be quite a few general information booths eg tourist bureaux, more hotel & tour wholesalers like some industry expos I've been to in the past.

Instead it seemed to be a massively overcrowded booking hall with FC Consultants from all their branches crammed in under the one roof doing bookings reminincent of a David Jones Boxing Day sale.

Save your time, effort & petrol money & stay home. I'll be you can find something cheaper yourself online as I'm sure there's plenty of people here on AFF willing to help you.

Are you flying ex BNE? If so what is your approx. departure date & what other stops to you want besides DEN? How many adults & kids? Any other plans eg skiing or must do's?

I had exactly the same experience a few years ago and totally agree with all suggestions

 

[Bronco59]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I have contacted Flightcentre and they say they can give expo deals from their branches so I have a phone appointment on Friday morning. I will also be checking other agents and on line. I fly interstate most months so am ok booking online. My sister lives in Denver so I am only after flights ex Melbourne. Once again thanks and I will let you know how I get on.

 

[doctau]

I went to one a few years ago, and got an "expo deal". It was cheaper than the normal FC rates, but only about the same as if I booked it myself directly

 

[Bronco59]

Well I ended up going into a flightcentre store to get my alleged expo prices. I wanted to fly ex melb direct to lax and then to Denver. I checked on line the day before and that morning so had a good idea of prices. She started off quoting me prices that were higher than I could get so I was not impressed. I live 3 1/2 hours north of melb and about 8-9 hours from Sydney so that's why melb was my preference. So after not being impressed she suggested flying albury(just over an hour away) Sydney-lax-Denver. I had not not considered that as regional prices are way high. To my amazement I got a price from qantas that was in my ball park. My only concession was leaving 2 days later. After checking qantas website my price was nearly $700. I was going to leave my car at one of the melb airport car parks but can now leave it at friends place in albury. That's saved around $200. So was it worth it? This time yes but if travelling from melb, no. It just pays to look around keep options open and be a bit flexible.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well I ended up going into a flightcentre store to get my alleged expo prices. I wanted to fly ex melb direct to lax and then to Denver. I checked on line the day before and that morning so had a good idea of prices. She started off quoting me prices that were higher than I could get so I was not impressed. I live 3 1/2 hours north of melb and about 8-9 hours from Sydney so that's why melb was my preference. So after not being impressed she suggested flying albury(just over an hour away) Sydney-lax-Denver. I had not not considered that as regional prices are way high. To my amazement I got a price from qantas that was in my ball park. My only concession was leaving 2 days later. After checking qantas website my price was nearly $700. I was going to leave my car at one of the melb airport car parks but can now leave it at friends place in albury. That's saved around $200. So was it worth it? This time yes but if travelling from melb, no. It just pays to look around keep options open and be a bit flexible.

how much did you end up paying (and which period)? did you save $700? the flight from Albury is on the same ticket? how did it compare to a separate ticket?

 

[Bronco59]

I am flying out on 30th September and leave Denver on the 2nd November. It is all ticketed QF. Price on Qantas website was just over $2500 and I paid $1850. Booking Albury flight separate from Sydney-Denver worked out around the same at $2500

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I am flying out on 30th September and leave Denver on the 2nd November. It is all ticketed QF. Price on Qantas website was just over $2500 and I paid $1850. Booking Albury flight separate from Sydney-Denver worked out around the same at $2500

seems like a good price!