$400 J class Asia- J'burg - Asia airfare error jumped on by travel agents!

[AlphaVictor]

Hi all,
Quite a funny one - don't know how this will pan out but I think MH will not honour tickets.

"A Flight Centre consultant reportedly found an incorrect Business Class Malaysia Airlines return airfare loaded into the GDS between Bangkok/coughet and Johannesburg to the sum of around A$400, instead of the RRP of A$4200, according to a report received by e-Travel Blackboard.
e-Travel Blackboard learned of the mishap last week after word spread quickly when the Flight Centre consultant told other industry friends of the incorrect airfare.

It is believed that over 50 J class tickets were ticketed by just one TMC including its management, staff, friends and families, before Malaysia Airlines picked up the error and pulled the fare from the GDS.
The report e-Travel Blackboard received on Friday was that the airline was quoted as saying "They were like pigs at the trough".

The situation now awaits clarification as to whether the traveller, agent, GDS or airline will absorb the cost.It is not known how many other travel agents ticketed this incorrect MH J class airfare.
Malaysia Airlines declined to comment on Friday."

Sourced from e-Travel Blackboard: Australia's Number One Industry Newsletter

 

[BiziBB]

Hi all,
Quite a funny one - don't know how this will pan out but I think MH will not honour tickets.


The report e-Travel Blackboard received on Friday was that the airline was quoted as saying "They were like pigs at the trough".

The situation now awaits clarification as to whether the traveller, agent, GDS or airline will absorb the cost.It is not known how many other travel agents ticketed this incorrect MH J class airfare.
Malaysia Airlines declined to comment on Friday."

Sourced from e-Travel Blackboard: Australia's Number One Industry Newsletter

Discussed on FlyerTalk, too, but in a 'who kept this a secret, from us?' way?

Having visited Malaysia recently, I find the 'pigs...trough' quote strange!
Since visiting Malaysia, I have considered Malays and pigs mutually exclusive. Just visit any shops with leather products, especially shoes, to see what I mean.

 

[futaris]

[FARE GONE] How did we miss this? Biz Class, MH BKK/HKT-JNB AUD$400 - FlyerTalk Forums

I'm surprised that it wasn't posted on FT...

 

[Travel Guru]

If it's been ticketed they won't have a choice but to honour it, but depending on who's error it was, MH's or Galileo, the GDS may have to fork out for them if it turns out it was their error as is usual practice.

TG

 

[AlphaVictor]

UPDATE - MH to honour tickets (31st March 2008) - etravelblackboard

"Malaysia Airlines has confirmed it is expecting to face losses of up to AUD$320,000 after more than 100 tickets were issued at a special rate due to a pricing error discovered in the GDS system.

e-Travel Blackboard broke the news of the incorrect Business class airfare between Bangkok/coughet and Johannesburg which was loaded at BHT 11,580 (AUD$407), instead of the RRP of BHT 111,580 (AUD$4200) on March 17.

Malaysia Airlines’ Regional Manager Australia & New Zealand, Mr Abdul Manaf Harun told e-Travel Blackboard the airline would absorb the expected losses.

"We expect slightly more than 100 tickets have been ticketed at the special price, and losses are expected to be in the range of AUD320,000. We will honour air tickets which have been ticketed," he said.
It is believed that word of the incorrect airfare spread fast amongst the travel community across Australia, with Queensland accounting for more than 50 per cent of the tickets issued.

The airfare has since been withdrawn from sale."

 

[littl_flier]

If it's been ticketed they won't have a choice but to honour it, but depending on who's error it was, MH's or Galileo, the GDS may have to fork out for them if it turns out it was their error as is usual practice.

I really hope this is the case (and it seems that MH has agreed to honour it) but it wouldn't be the first time an airline has decided not to honour a mistake fare and to cancel all tickets several weeks after the tickets were issued.

I booked an Air Canada fare that was posted on FT in December and the ticket was validated & issued and the credit card was charged. Then Air Canada decided about 7 weeks later that they had stuffed up and it was going to cost them too much and cancelled all tickets and issued refunds. I wasn't contacted by Air Canada to inform me that my flights had been cancelled and received an auto email from Expedia telling me that Air Canada had cancelled my flights etc. The refund appeared a week later.

The thing I don't get is that if a retailer puts a mistake fare on a Fridge for example and sells it to me at a bargain price (and acknowledges they've sold it by issuing a receipt or in my case, an e-ticket) they couldn't turn up to our homes and take the fridge and issue a refund. The fact that it's intangible makes things much easier.

I'm not too fussed about it anymore although a quick trip to South America would have been nice.

There's a thread here on it: (FARE GONE) EWR-YYZ-SCL-EZE-MEX OW in C class at $673 ?? on AC - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[Keith009]

A friend's colleague from KUL has just enjoyed a nice holiday in South Africa and has now surfaced back in KUL on the mistake fare. No dramas.

 

[aus_flyer]

In Australia, I think the airline would have quite a bit of difficulty simply cancelling and issuing refunds.

After all, there should be a contract.

Offer + acceptance + consideration = agreement

 

[Travel Guru]

I don't think MH had any choice but to honour the fares, as if a ticket is issued, to me its a contract of sale, and in the case of yours littl-flier, im not sure what went on there, but it sounds a bit dodgy to me.

Good luck to anyone who did ticket the MH fare, im sure I know of a few SAFA's who work in the industry and would have jumped on it.

It's a lesson for someone at MH to double check their data entry next time!! :mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

TG