Getaway from Getaway

[oldlady]

Be extremely wary of purchasing flights and accommodation from Getaway Escapes. They are not separate purchases! Very slick selling spiel over the phone, and once they've got your money, there seems to be no getting it back! We wasted $324.99! Flights and accommodation BOTH must be taken as a package, and the accommodation is the tops, no 3 star motels here. If you DO want the accommodation, MORE money is required. :evil::evil::evil:

 

[samh004]

Sorry to hear you were taken for a ride. I see you've found the other thread on Getaway Escapes.

 

[annesley]

Hi,

I have just found this and the other thread regarding Getaway and thought I might add a post.

I was cold called and usually dont listen to such things, but with a few reasons to travel coming up thought why not. I had quite a long conversation with the caller, the deal to my understanding was $199 for two tickets return direct to a capital city. It was also buy one get one free day, so basicall my $199 spend got me 4 rtn tix. Whats they catch I asked......well you need to book 7 nights accomodation for each pair of tix, but it doesnt have to be at the same time, can be broken into smaller stays and no blackouts, dont worry, you have a cooling off period. Yes, we have accomodation from $70 and lots of places all over.

I have gone through the paperwork that has arrived, blackout periods certainly CAN apply, the accomodation is at an unknown rate as you have to submit a request that takes 3-5 days to expect a response (and even though told they had special deals, these "specials" cannot be used in conjunction with the flights). Very, VERY difficult to get a price on accomodation, actually impossible so I said I would excersice my refund option. Need to listen to the tapes I was told.

I called back and there were notes against my name suggesting the best course of action was a refund (what the sales lady said and what the terms actually are were different). I just have to return the whole package (a few typed pages and a plastic card!!!). Shall update if there are any problems with the offered refund.

Honestly, in my circumstances, it seems cheaper to pay the little extra for the flight and HEAPS less on accomodation using wotif or such other.

Hope that helps any others who get such a phone call. Whilst I was directed to the webpage, it actually offers little useful information in determining price comparisions.

Oh, and the Ultimate Escape Pass.....I found similar discounts for online bookings (ie ammusment parks) or in the entertainment book. Nothing to noteworthy there either.

 

[samh004]

That’s an informative post, I hope you get your refund!

 

[serfty]

... and welcome to AFF annesley

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I can't really think of any benefits of taking a package 'deal' within Australia any longer.

Once upon a time you took a package because you could often get a special airfare which would help subsidise the cost of hotel accommodation for part or all of the time.

This day and age you are much better off purchasing your domestic airfares directly via the airline website (ie not webjet or Flight Centre) then booking your accommodation either through someone like www.wotif.com.au or www.needitnow.com.au or directly via the hotel website.

I would avoid at all costs anything where you are called directly by telemarketers - there is nothing in it for you, it's all about them.

Just sign up for the emails from the airlines so you will get advance notice of when the specials are coming out so you get a headstart & better chance of getting the flights and dates you want.

Involving a 'middleman' in the above just complicates things unnecessarily and you will pay more of course because they will need to make their money somehow.

People need to get better & more familiar with arranging their own travel rather than having the attitude "i'll just do it through a travel agent, it's easier". All too frequently we see posts of AFF where going through an agent is in fact quite the opposite.

 

[annesley]

Yep, totally agree with the above post. And as a general rule I always book my own online, both airfares and accomodation. Lets call this oversight a moment of weakness! opps!!!


Oh, and thanks for the welcome!!

 

[markis10]

The only time I have found wotif or similar to be cheap is with the mystery hotels, otherwise they are right up there with packages when it comes to being expensive.

 

[patricakallendavis]

SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM
These people took my mother for a ride but I got her money back by getting a charge back from the bank I we have reported them to Consumer affairs in both Victoria and Queensland where the office supposedly is located.

I am sorry to her you also got taken but we need to warn everybody about this scamming company preying on old people

 

[annesley]

Just to update,

After a couple of reminders, I was refunded in full. Would strongly suggest that such a "deal" is not the cheapest way of sourcing flights and accomodation. Also, a point to note, I was informed that ordinarily, the refund period (14 days) is from the date of sign up, which is the phone call, rather than reciept of the details, so do be aware of this if you know someone who is having second thoughts. Be prompt in contacting them or legally they dont have to refund.

 

[equus]

Be prompt in contacting them or legally they dont have to refund.

Depends on why you are requesting a refund. If it is just because you changed your mind (using the cold-call type legislation get out), then the 14 days may apply.

On the other hand, if the goods supplied don't match the description (i.e. they told you one thing, and the documentation adds other conditions or contradicts what was promised), then trade practices legislation gives you the right to a refund ("deceptive and misleading conduct, or conduct likely to mislead"), without them having the ability to limit the period. That said, you would need to request it in a reasonable time (that which a court would determine as reasonable, not the supplier). If you really wanted to try your luck, then strictly speaking, if they have mislead you, then they could be liable for damages for any loss you may have incurred.....

 

[danmancs]

Legally they do have to refund if what they provide does not match the description that was given to you at the time of making the decision to purchase, it is one of your statutory rights as a consumer, and cannot be removed regardless of what they tell you or put down in their fine print.

Your statutory rights

 

[gcgirl]

hey guys, am really sorry to hear about that,
i have put a new post up,
they have actually changed there name from getaway escapes to AUSFLIGHTS,

the same company the same scam, i worked there but was fired for not making sales, i knew it was a right rip off and now iv found out what they have done and are doing to people, the company is in burleigh heads, GOLD COAST,.


AND your right, theres nothing right about this company.

most deals seem to good to be true, although, i have been working at another accomidation place for a little while now, and theres no scam about this place, i now sell a accomidation package that you can take at a resort of your choice, and you have 18 months too use it and 165 different ones too choose from, so hopefully ill be calling u and youl know its completely not to good to be true with this one!!

 

[samh004]

most deals seem to good to be true, although, i have been working at another accomidation place for a little while now, and theres no scam about this place, i now sell a accomidation package that you can take at a resort of your choice, and you have 18 months too use it and 165 different ones too choose from, so hopefully ill be calling u and youl know its completely not to good to be true with this one!!

You just be careful. A post any more informative might be considered advertising and deleted.

 

[gcgirl]

Hey oooh thnx sorry, didnt realise!
Thanks