Epic fail for Qantas Price Promise [resolved]

[Roberto]

I actually don't know why anyone would even bother with the Qantas Price Promise just to MATCH the price you can get somewhere else.
Just use the Qantas website to find the flight you want and make the booking elsewhere. I've found that:
a) You get to see other airlines - not just Qantas, and
b) Even if you do choose to fly Qantas - it's always cheaper elsewhere.

 

[RobJ]

I've never checked because I've never for a moment thought this offer meant anything.

 

[mickeyc747]

I could not agree more some areas of QF really don't care others are outstanding so as stated below is what I do. Also to the OP use the Airline Customer Advocate if you get no satisfaction from QF.

I actually don't know why anyone would even bother with the Qantas Price Promise just to MATCH the price you can get somewhere else.
Just use the Qantas website to find the flight you want and make the booking elsewhere. I've found that:
a) You get to see other airlines - not just Qantas, and
b) Even if you do choose to fly Qantas - it's always cheaper elsewhere.

 

[cambriamarsh]

I actually don't know why anyone would even bother with the Qantas Price Promise just to MATCH the price you can get somewhere else.
Just use the Qantas website to find the flight you want and make the booking elsewhere. I've found that:
a) You get to see other airlines - not just Qantas, and
b) Even if you do choose to fly Qantas - it's always cheaper elsewhere.

Really cheaper elsewhere? I've never seen it from NZ, which sites are usually cheaper?

 

[greenfish]

I actually don't know why anyone would even bother with the Qantas Price Promise just to MATCH the price you can get somewhere else.
Just use the Qantas website to find the flight you want and make the booking elsewhere. I've found that:
a) You get to see other airlines - not just Qantas, and
b) Even if you do choose to fly Qantas - it's always cheaper elsewhere.

I'll happily pay (a little) more to book directly with QF as it is so much easier to deal directly with the airline if you need to make / forced to make any changes to your flights. I've been caught twice wth having to change bookings and then being charged a substantial extra charge by the agent.

I

 

[Roberto]

Really cheaper elsewhere? I've never seen it from NZ, which sites are usually cheaper?

Try using skyscanner.com.au to search for flights

As an example flying Economy AKL-SYD on 16 March 2016 on QF 146:
Qantas price = $295.90

The cheaper deals are:

helloworld.com.au = $226.24
DeNA Travel = $229.54
Expedia = $233.24
GotoGate = $240.23
BYOjet = $245.00
eDreams = $258.10;
ZUJI = $273.00
Skiddoo = $276.24
Bravofly = $292.09

Note that these costs do not include credit card fees if charged. As an example Expedia charges a maximum credit card fee of $7 and that includes AMEX and no fee if you use a Mastercard Debit card. Compare that with the Qantas credit card fee.

 

[cambriamarsh]

Try using skyscanner.com.au to search for flights

As an example flying Economy AKL-SYD on 16 March 2016 on QF 146:
Qantas price = $295.90

The cheaper deals are:

helloworld.com.au = $226.24
DeNA Travel = $229.54
Expedia = $233.24
GotoGate = $240.23
BYOjet = $245.00
eDreams = $258.10;
ZUJI = $273.00
Skiddoo = $276.24
Bravofly = $292.09

Note that these costs do not include credit card fees if charged. As an example Expedia charges a maximum credit card fee of $7 and that includes AMEX and no fee if you use a Mastercard Debit card. Compare that with the Qantas credit card fee.

Ok thank you

 

[BAM1748]

Try using skyscanner.com.au to search for flights

As an example flying Economy AKL-SYD on 16 March 2016 on QF 146:
Qantas price = $295.90

The cheaper deals are:

helloworld.com.au = $226.24
DeNA Travel = $229.54
Expedia = $233.24
GotoGate = $240.23
BYOjet = $245.00
eDreams = $258.10;
ZUJI = $273.00
Skiddoo = $276.24
Bravofly = $292.09

Note that these costs do not include credit card fees if charged. As an example Expedia charges a maximum credit card fee of $7 and that includes AMEX and no fee if you use a Mastercard Debit card. Compare that with the Qantas credit card fee.

I noted when I booked last week QF only charged me $2.50 using a debit visa.

 

[Portsoft]

Most "Price Promises" that will cost a business real money are wrapped in very restrictive conditions. they fall into the if it sounds to good to be true .... category

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Most "Price Promises" that will cost a business real money are wrapped in very restrictive conditions. they fall into the if it sounds to good to be true .... category

That's the thing though - most 'price promises' don't cost as much money as losing the business altogether to another company. If a travel agency is undercutting QF, you can be assured that other agency is still making a small profit.

QF (or any airline) would rather match the competitor and keep the small profit for themselves.

Price promises such as those offered by IHG hotels (where you get the night for free) are usually extraordinarily restrictive.

 

[kreuky]

Just to share my experience - I normally use bestjet.com to get the price promise as they are almost always around $30-50 cheaper than Qantas (for international fares). Basically free 1000 QFF points and you're paying a cheaper fare than QF direct. However, this time I used another company, who had a ABN and was almost $400 cheaper. The website name did not match the company's trading name (but the trading name is clearly stated on the website) so I thought I'd give the price promise a go. Of course, as expected, they came back claiming the website did not have an ABN. I pointed out that nowhere does it say in the terms and conditions that the website name must match the trading name and that the company that owns the website does have an ABN. They still refused to honour it so I kicked up and stink and eventually they agreed to cancel and refund my original booking (which was the cheapest Saver level fare). I went ahead and booked it on an even cheaper overseas website and saved myself almost $500.

Moral of the story - stick to bestjet.com