Inflexible payment terms on international economy flights?

[GeorgeD]

Hello all,

Hoping you can help me!!! I'm trying to book a couple of international flights from Brisbane to Europe for March 2007. The only problem is that every flight I've investigated have terms that require payment within 2 weeks of booking for example.

I'm just trying to find an airfare that will allow me to pay 60 days before departure (bring on the Christmas bonus!).

I have been advised by a travel agent to wait until later in the year to get a flight with greater flexibility on the payment terms, but I need to book them by this weekend! I've seen lots of airfares advertised with general terms, but as soon as the airfare is reserved, the airline responds with stricter rules...aaah!!! :evil:

Does anyone have any suggestions? And any idea why this seems to be the case across the board? Are all the airlines in desperate need of cash? Or is it just because I'm trying to book plebby economy fares?

Thanks muchly for your expert help!! :mrgreen:

George

 

[Dave Noble]

If you are prepared to buy one of the more expensive and flexible fares , then you can get fares where you can hold them till almost until departure

If you want a cheap fare , they often have a TTL of a few days .

If you are not going until march, why the desperate need to book this weekend?

Dave

 

[GeorgeD]

They're a gift for my parents for their anniversary, and their anniversary is this weekend. I've been looking at flights for months, but as I'm well versed in the art of procrastination I've only just got around to choosing which one to go with...only to find out the payment terms on all of them are just about immediate payment! We're also throwing them one humdinger of a do to celebrate, so extra cash is somewhat short until Christmas. Talk about trying to live a Champage lifestyle on a lemonade budget!

How much extra do you think I'd have to pay for a more flexible airfare? For example, there's a deal with JAL for $2000 return. Would I be looking at paying $500 extra, $1000 extra, $1500 extra?

 

[Dave Noble]

I think that Emirates and JAL fares may allow it more easily from what I can see of fare rules, otherwise it is typically the more expensive ttickets, which could add a fare bit to the price


Dave