Google Flights vs actual availability?

[stevied71]

Hi All,

Found an awesomely priced flight Business Class flight from Virgin MEL - LHR on Google Flights, but when I go through the booking process and enter CC details I keep getting "flight is no longer available".

Even when I search again the flights come up.

Is this often the case with Google Flights? This was on Etihad airframe

Out VA 7060, 7011
Return VA7012, 7094

I called Virgin and the flights are avail but the price is 4k more than what was listed (which I can't find on Virgin site).

 

[bam71]

Cut and paste the Google Flights link .......

 

[stevied71]

Cut and paste the Google Flights link .......

Book flights with confidence | Google Flights

 

[bam71]

Thats coming up ( for me anyway) of $6965.00 ... hmmmmm... I'm guessing its a mixed class fare. J to AUH then economy to LHR

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thats coming up ( for me anyway) of $6965.00 ... hmmmmm... I'm guessing its a mixed class fare. J to AUH then economy to LHR

I get the $6965 as well. Maybe a cached price for the OP with a mixed class?

But going back to the OP's question - not all fares listed on google are available. There was a cracking fare ex CAI to Australia for $1500 flying Oman and Garuda, but not able to be booked anywhere, and not on ITA matrix. (The alternative WY connecting on KUL was bookable).

 

[stevied71]

Thats coming up ( for me anyway) of $6965.00 ... hmmmmm... I'm guessing its a mixed class fare. J to AUH then economy to LHR

Hi, shows as all business.

When you open the calendar option there is a mass of flights for the same price. Might have to try one of those.

 

[stevied71]

I get the $6965 as well. Maybe a cached price for the OP with a mixed class?

But going back to the OP's question - not all fares listed on google are available. There was a cracking fare ex CAI to Australia for $1500 flying Oman and Garuda, but not able to be booked anywhere, and not on ITA matrix. (The alternative WY connecting on KUL was bookable).

All flights appear to be business class, example below. But seems to be an impossible flight on any day...

 

[AIRwin]

I found the same flights for $6,897 on Skyscanner (booked via Bestjet.com)

 

[bam71]

Beware Bestjet.

Bestjet.com

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sorry - I misunderstood the OP. You're trying to book the advertised $6900 fare? Not a cheaper one than that?

If so, I just selected the flights, on the date you provided, and it took me straight to the VA website with a price of $6946. Just asked me to enter in the names and it takes me to the CC page for payment.

 

[stevied71]

Sorry - I misunderstood the OP. You're trying to book the advertised $6900 fare? Not a cheaper one than that?

If so, I just selected the flights, on the date you provided, and it took me straight to the VA website with a price of $6946. Just asked me to enter in the names and it takes me to the CC page for payment.

Every time after entering CC details I get the flight unavailable message.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Every time after entering CC details I get the flight unavailable message.

oh

There's not a lot you can do, except maybe try with an OTA. Webjet is advertising VA in the $9K range (I was gonna suggest using their 'fare lock' if they advertised it at the lower $6.5K level!).

Depending on which program you're looking to assign points to, SQ has J class return to LHR for $6557 and VS (Atlantic) for $6770

 

[ftm]

It is most likely a cached fare - all the OTA websites don't do an actual search of availability each time you search as it takes too long, so they pull results from a cache, which may be a few days old, and no longer exist.

There is an EY fare for $7035 that I can see...

EY 461 W 30AUG MELAUH 2145 0550 31AUG
EY 019 W 31AUG AUHLHR 0810 1300 31AUG
EY 012 W 02OCT LHRAUH 0935 1950 02OCT
EY 460 W 02OCT AUHMEL 2205 1720 03OCT

 

[Must...Fly!]

There's usually a way to save 5 or 10% on EY fares, do some googling for codes (easier if you have an AU-issued AMEX)

 

[trooper]

Beware Bestjet.

Bestjet.com

Fair enough.. but note a LOT of those complaints are "they charged me to change dates/cancel/whatever" which you wouldn't avoid no matter HOW you booked!

 

[Ryan Healey]

I've come across the same issue but i'm glad that some light has been shed onto this