Buying Tickets through agent in another country.

[mnbbrown]

Hi,

I was looking for flights from BNE to LAX in Dec/Jan of this year and the best price I was able to find on an Australian flight was ~$1500AUD... but if I did exactly the same search on an Indian website (makemytrip.com) I could the flights at about 72,000 rupees (~$1350)...

Why the different prices? What's to stop me buy the ticket from an international supplier?
I'm sure this question has been asked before, but I wasn't able to find an answer...

Cheers,
Matthew

- First time I've posted on this site... had a look around... wish I'd found it 5 years ago... would've saved me a lot of time and trouble ...

 

[Austman]

GST (10%) could be one factor. Exchange rates could be another.

 

[mannej]

Is that $150 saving worth it though?

Do your research to make sure that the site is reputable, and that if there are changes etc, they will look after you.

There are stories of people being left out in the cold due to a lack of communication from some of these online Travel Agents.

 

[Travel Guru]

GST (10%) could be one factor. Exchange rates could be another.

No GST on international travel so must be some other factor.

TG

 

[richie9x]

GST (10%) could be one factor. Exchange rates could be another.

International flights to/from Australia are GST free, no matter who is selling them. Even connecting domestic flights on the same ticket are GST Free.

 

[Austman]

No GST on international travel so must be some other factor.

TG

International flights to/from Australia are GST free, no matter who is selling them. Even connecting domestic flights on the same ticket are GST Free.

My error!

I have bought from agents overseas many times but it was for travel originating from that country.

 

[fiscal]

Hi,

Why the different prices?

It may be fees? Australia must disclose all fees in the price, but other countries do not.

 

[RAM]

I have found this for both flights and hotels/apartments from time to time. Occasionally I set my machines time zone to the country of the website and that gets me treated as from that country quite often. As for issues with reputable web sites I use a credit card (Gold) that has travel insurance cover and internet fraud cover. To date, pre-deal checks have not seen me have any issues. Worst issue was getting faxed a credit card form to confirm I was authorising a one-off out-of-country transaction (which I checked with cc provider and they confirmed that the "deal" country often used them). Total saving on that booking (4 nights London - $400) for an hours effort.

 

[orangehenry]

I have found this for both flights and hotels/apartments from time to time. Occasionally I set my machines time zone to the country of the website and that gets me treated as from that country quite often. As for issues with reputable web sites I use a credit card (Gold) that has travel insurance cover and internet fraud cover. To date, pre-deal checks have not seen me have any issues. Worst issue was getting faxed a credit card form to confirm I was authorising a one-off out-of-country transaction (which I checked with cc provider and they confirmed that the "deal" country often used them). Total saving on that booking (4 nights London - $400) for an hours effort.

Any specific websites where you can report this happening?