Google Flights - option to book subject to United States or Australian regulations

[SBD]

Hi all,

Can anybody point me to some advice (or even just information) about this notice that appears on Google Flights? What "United States regulations" and "Australian regulations" are material, in what ways are they different, and what's worth knowing/thinking about here?

And are the booking options here actually just related to ticket price, or are there other considerations beyond price?

Context happens to be the purchase of a one-way domestic flight on United, to connect with an international UA flight from the United States to Australia (on which I'm ticketed by VA using VFF points).

I'm always going to book directly with the airline - just wondering why (aside from the dollar difference) people would pick the first over the second option, or vice versa.

Appreciate your knowledge/input/ideas.

Kind regards,

SBD

 

[FL360]

I am guessing when you book a ticket you are subjected to the local consumer laws and regulations, the two prices quoted are subject to two different ways to book - and subject to different local consumer laws. For example, EU consumer laws on flight tickets have much better protection etc.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

There might be some marginal differences depending on the point of sale.

If it’s a US domestic ticket, DOT protection will apply anyway. But there might be some added protections like 24-hour right to cancel free of charge.

Buying the ticket in Australia might give you some benefits under ACL, but I’m not sure if those are any better than DOT or the contract of carriage.

 

[odysseus]

FL360's take is the one I have as well. Just depends which sales option you'd prefer, including which currency you may prefer to use.

 

[SBD]

Thanks all - I will look a little deeper when I have time but this is a good set of thoughts for me to consider. For now I'm tempted by the US regulatory option, mostly for the free 24-hour cancellation (I don't plan to use it, but I might if a much better fare appeared tomorrow).