Flight Centre - Company Owned or Franchises?

[Worldtraveller8888]

Was wondering if anyone knew if Flight Centre stores were company owned or franchised?

Thks,

WT

 

[markis10]

Probably a mix, they launched a franchise scheme a few years back but I am not sure how popular it was/is.

 

[ChrisBNE]

Was wondering if anyone knew if Flight Centre stores were company owned or franchised?

Thks,

WT

There are a handful of franchises, but majority are owned by FC.

 

[Worldtraveller8888]

Thanks Chris. That's what I thought.

WT

 

[Travel Guru]

All of the Flight Centre stores are company owned, the franchise model only extended to Escape Travel and there's only a handful of those nationwide which are franchised, all other (Flight Centre, Student Flights, Travel Associates and most Escape Travel) are company owned.

TG

 

[Worldtraveller8888]

Thanks TG. Interesting choice by them to maintain company ownership.

Could be the reason behind a lot of their success - tight control over stores? Other frachised based models seem to be dwindling in numbers.

WT

 

[Isochronous]

Has anyone ever been quoted different prices for the same flights from Flight Centre and one of the other brands (e.g. Student Flights etc)?

 

[odysseus]

Has anyone ever been quoted different prices for the same flights from Flight Centre and one of the other brands (e.g. Student Flights etc)?

I've seen some specials - though not for flights but other travel products - that are only shown through one brand and not the others.

Honestly, I'm not sure why they have so many brands!

 

[11sjw]

Honestly, I'm not sure why they have so many brands!

The perception of choice.

 

[samh004]

Honestly, I'm not sure why they have so many brands!

As above, but also the fact they can appear to be the right company for different groups of people, while still offering essentially the same fare. As an example, Student Flights is clearly targeting a specific group of people.

 

[mannej]

Honestly, I'm not sure why they have so many brands!

Is it not any different to Woolworths owing BWS, Woolies Liquor and Dan Murphys?

 

[samh004]

Is it not any different to Woolworths owing BWS, Woolies Liquor and Dan Murphys?

Did FC create the different brands or buy out smaller companies though? I think BWS and Dan’s started as independent operators.

 

[Travel Guru]

Did FC create the different brands or buy out smaller companies though? I think BWS and Dan’s started as independent operators.

A mix of both, CruiseAbout was bought by FC and expanded, but others were started by FC to as has been said appeal to different segments of the market.

Escape Travel was originally branded Great Holiday Escapes, so specialised in selling holiday packages, because still to this stay alot of people have a perception that all FC do is sell flights, but it was rebranded early 2000's to Escape Travel.

Re the question regarding being quoted 2 figures for flights from 2 different FC brands, all FC staff determine their own markup when you're sitting in front of them; not as much today as when it was predominately nett fares back 7 or 8 years ago, but still today they can choose what service charge if any they tack onto a gross fare they're quoting, hence the price disparity.

Student Flights obviously has access to student fares which 99% of FC stores dont, so that could also explain any price difference.

TG

 

[harvyk]

Has anyone ever been quoted different prices for the same flights from Flight Centre and one of the other brands (e.g. Student Flights etc)?

Don't know about different brands, but I've been quoted different prices for flights between stores... I'll now drive past their tuggeranong store to get to either their woden store or northbourne ave store because the prices offered by the tuggeranong store was always more expensive for the same flights.

 

[Sprucegoose]

All of the Flight Centre stores are company owned, the franchise model only extended to Escape Travel and there's only a handful of those nationwide which are franchised, all other (Flight Centre, Student Flights, Travel Associates and most Escape Travel) are company owned.

TG

And listed on the market if you want ownership!