Price discrimination - tourists pay 5x what locals pay

[cirqueboy]

We booked LIM-CUZ return on LAN last year on the US Expedia site, tix were around US$150 each way.

One thing about CUZ, it gets very foggy and flights are often delayed...

 

[casanovawa]

I seem to recall when i was in Egypt down in Aswan and went to visit the Temple of Philae there was a guy from Algeria that i went out in the boat to it and i think and he was able to tell me on the price board that i think it was 1 Egyptian Pound for Egyptians and maybe 2 EPs for others from the arab speaking countries, and i think for others like me it was 50 EPs...

I think we aught to try screw other nationalities if they feel its so appropriate, bit of reciprocity, not that we have quite as many world famous tourist sites as some of the countries...

 

[Mal]

It happens everywhere.

Visit Oxford. The great educational town in the UK. Different prices apply to locals vs tourists. And yes I know (as a local once got me into places for free!).

BTW. Australia does it too. SeaWorld (for example) has issued discount vouchers for people in certain postcode brackets.

 

[kelvedon]

Even happens in Australia. The MONA gallery in Hobart is $20, but free admission for Tasmanian residents.

 

[Simo]

Book the flights when you are in the country.

Or pay the surcharge.

 

[Mattg]

Did you check TACA? They'd have to be cheaper than $330. Unless you are after Qantas SCs.

Just had a look and TACA wanted $314. However they only had one flight/day from Juliaca to Lima and it wouldn't have fit in with my schedule. (Qantas SCs are useful but I don't think I realistically have a chance to make WP this/next year so I'm not booking flights purely around SCs earn.)

 

[Cynicor]

Am I the only one who feels that it is fair for this to happen in certain places, such as publicly owned attractions in developing countries? Someone has to pay for upkeep in those Thai temples and if I've just flown in J and can pay $400 a night for a hotel room, I truly don't mind paying $5 to get into the temple even though the locals pay 50c.

It's a bit different for private companies, I feel. In Kuching the guys who ferry you across the river are 50 sen for everyone. I actually thought they were going to try to rip us off but they didn't.

 

[travelislife]

Book the flights when you are in the country.

Or pay the surcharge.

This will make no difference. Even once you get to the country you are still classified as a non resident.

 

[Mattg]

Am I the only one who feels that it is fair for this to happen in certain places, such as publicly owned attractions in developing countries? Someone has to pay for upkeep in those Thai temples and if I've just flown in J and can pay $400 a night for a hotel room, I truly don't mind paying $5 to get into the temple even though the locals pay 50c.

It's a bit different for private companies, I feel. In Kuching the guys who ferry you across the river are 50 sen for everyone. I actually thought they were going to try to rip us off but they didn't.

I agree with you in part about publically owned attractions in developing countries. I too don't mind paying $5 to help out a developing country, but I think it's a bit different when an airline (private company) charges $120 to locals or $620 to foreigners. The difference is not $5 and the money is not helping those in any developing country.

 

[TheDan]

Actually, I more feel like Australian companies are favouring tourists and discriminating against their own.

Residents of Australia



Residents of Germany:

 

[Archphoto]

Am I the only one who feels that it is fair for this to happen in certain places, such as publicly owned attractions in developing countries? Someone has to pay for upkeep in those Thai temples and if I've just flown in J and can pay $400 a night for a hotel room, I truly don't mind paying $5 to get into the temple even though the locals pay 50c.

It's a bit different for private companies, I feel. In Kuching the guys who ferry you across the river are 50 sen for everyone. I actually thought they were going to try to rip us off but they didn't.

I agree totally with both comments, tourist attractions fair enough, but large corporate companies?? Give me a break!! (My Thai producer however, hates the idea of me, and other foreigners, being expected to pay more - she expects "fair-play" for all.:mrgreen

That Hire Car example is spot on with my comment earlier about price gouging - same car, same fuel, same place - why are AU residents expected to pay more than visitors? (Could you theoretically book from the German site and save the extra $$$?)

 

[TheDan]

@Archphoto: Actually its not even the German site, I got both quotes from the Australian price comparison website vroomvroomvroom.com.au. The only difference is the selected residency. N.B. Americans actually get the car an additional 4$ cheaper than Germans, while NZ residents are charged the same as Aussies.

Might be interesting if you could get through by ticking "German", but pay with an Australian credit card. If that would work, I doubt they will ask for a proof of residency at the car hire branch.

 

[garyinoz]

South America in general is very good at having a local resident price, a south American price and a foreigner price. If you're going to spend any time there traveling around then you'd better get used to it. I flew Cuzco to Lima with StarPeru, much cheaper than LAN. I also booked other flights on LAN whilst there through the local site. I.E. Ecuador, Guayaquil to Quito was much cheaper on Vuelos a Chile, Perú, Argentina, Ecuador, España y Latinoamérica (Sudamérica) - LAN.com than lan.com/au. Helps to have a bit of Spanish too.

I also tried to use QFF points, had to ring up as they weren't listed online. In short there was no availability.
Enjoy Peru.

 

[casanovawa]

There may be nothing wrong with the locals of a city being able to get into a few attractions for a bit less so they can go more often than a once off visitor, especially if their taxes are subsidising the place and then they had to pay the same as the visitor on top, but if we are going to get somewhat screwed around the world, then lets get a bit of our own back rather than being so pious and correct...

That can also be addressed by having a system or ticket where you can pay a bit more but get year round access or several visits that a tourist quite obviously won't use... But with a bit of a fair go for all ethos, it can grate a bit to have big discounts for some and prices bumped up for others...

Not even going into how much we get charged even by our own airlines to fly places and what specials the foreigners get coming here...

 

[johnd]

The MONA gallery in Hobart is $20, but free admission for Tasmanian residents.

Does anyone know if/how they check residency when entering the MONA gallery?

 

[DisarmDoors]

Take the train...it's brilliant!

 

[ashleyn]

Trans Alpine train in NZ, Ferry on Lake Lucerne, happens all over the world.

 

[JessicaTam]

Does anyone know if/how they check residency when entering the MONA gallery?

Driver's licence, I believe.

 

[samh004]

It happens everywhere.

I'm reminded of ZQN where bars give out residents cards to the locals, so during happy hour tourists pay one price and locals another even cheaper price. As a seasonal local (well not the past 2 years), we get the cards too... but can look very bad when you're paying half the price for the same thing.

 

[JSavill]

I think it is a little tight to complain - have you any idea how little a Puruvian makes a month (about $450), why shouldnt they have a little compensation