Ripped off by Alpha Flight Guru

[MEL_Traveller]

AFG has been calling me wanting my business. Looking at the thread above the one flight I had went without a hitch. Cheaper? Maybe not all that much.

From what I understand about their operation, it doesn't matter if you have 10 flights without a hitch... it's the one flight where the airline has been tracking the points and denies you boarding, leaving you stranded. I'd be too stressed before every check-in!

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Seems simpler to churn a few credit cards and get the cheap travel that way

 

[C&C]

Avoid Alpha Flight Guru.
The manager Kate Reece is rude and seems incapable of following simple requests.
Despite her claims that she had 4 consultants working on my business class flights to Europe she would either miss a leg of the journey or book flights to locations we had not asked for. Finally we went to a travel agent who gave us exactly what we wanted for a price which matched AFG.

Unfortunately you are correct. However they claim to be business and first class specialists.
I suspect they are not considering what is best for their clients but what will make them the most money.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Unfortunately you are correct. However they claim to be business and first class specialists.
I suspect they are not considering what is best for their clients but what will make them the most money.

Would be interesting to know exactly what they make in commission on each ticket. You'd have to think it would be in the vicinity of $2-3K per person. Also you need to factor in to the equation that points or SC will not be earnt on AFG tickets unlike commercial airfares.

 

[bad]

From what I understand about their operation, it doesn't matter if you have 10 flights without a hitch... it's the one flight where the airline has been tracking the points and denies you boarding, leaving you stranded. I'd be too stressed before every check-in!

You are right of course that without hitch can apply to anyone or any airline. The statistics are not in AFG favour however.

 

[moa999]

know exactly what they make in commission on each ticke

I wouldn't call what AFG does a commission.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Would be interesting to know exactly what they make in commission on each ticket. You'd have to think it would be in the vicinity of $2-3K per person. Also you need to factor in to the equation that points or SC will not be earnt on AFG tickets unlike commercial airfares.

From what I've read, some points brokers buy points at about 1c each. At least that's in Aussie dollars. Guess they must change that accordingly for other currencies (so like USD0.8c). Sell those tickets for $5000 plus and you have a fair bit of profit.

Some of these companies also open legitimate FF accounts and buy miles for passengers (in their own names). You could buy Lifemiles to Europe for about AUD3400, plus tax. And sell it for AUD5000. Not much of a saving, but a good profit for the company. In part I guess this is why many companies now have a minimum 12 days or so before new members can buy miles. But a smart company could string out the booking process for that long.

 

[C&C]

Alpha Flight Guru must be getting a little sensitive to bad publicity because rather than contact me and attempt to rectify the situation, they tried to have Trust Pilot delete a negative review I posted.
For a questionable operation like AFG to survive in a competitive industry, I am surprised they don't understand the concept of customer service.

 

[BAM1748]

Alpha Flight Guru must be getting a little sensitive to bad publicity because rather than contact me and attempt to rectify the situation, they tried to have Trust Pilot delete a negative review I posted.
For a questionable operation like AFG to survive in a competitive industry, I am surprised they don't understand the concept of customer service.

It seems they are no gurus.