Which one of you is Steve Hui?

[Robert K]

We're not the target market. I didn't feel like i was being sold to. It was more of a "hey guys, this is what i'm doing". I do find it of dubious value.

 

[drewbles]

We're not the target market. I didn't feel like i was being sold to. It was more of a "hey guys, this is what i'm doing". I do find it of dubious value.

Still advertising which IMHO is a no no (any advertisement is commercial).

 

[equus]

The "points concierge" offering could be construed awfully close to being "otherwise arranging for another person a right of passage, on a conveyance" which would create a requirement to be licensed as a Travel agent if operating in NSW and the display of the license number in all advertisements.

Offering strategies is one thing, but the "service" supposedly being offered with respect to points bookings looks awfully close to being a travel agent - and does not appear to be appropriately licensed.

 

[hdfb]

The "points concierge" offering could be construed awfully close to being "otherwise arranging for another person a right of passage, on a conveyance" which would create a requirement to be licensed as a Travel agent if operating in NSW and the display of the license number in all advertisements.

Offering strategies is one thing, but the "service" supposedly being offered with respect to points bookings looks awfully close to being a travel agent - and does not appear to be appropriately licensed.

Well why don't you just dob them into the NSW government? What is wrong with selling a service you are capable of doing? This person isn't a doctor or even a paralegal, he is just organising travel for people that want to maximise point earning capacity. I hardly see why the government would need to regulate a business like this one.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well why don't you just dob them into the NSW government? What is wrong with selling a service you are capable of doing? This person isn't a doctor or even a paralegal, he is just organising travel for people that want to maximise point earning capacity. I hardly see why the government would need to regulate a business like this one.

that's not the point though is it?

If (and I mean 'if') the service provided needs to be registered or whatever under relevant state legislation then surely there's no problem in doing so?

iflyflat is not hiding anything, so if they need to be registered that should be fairly straight forward right?

 

[hdfb]

that's not the point though is it?

If (and I mean 'if') the service provided needs to be registered or whatever under relevant state legislation then surely there's no problem in doing so?

iflyflat is not hiding anything, so if they need to be registered that should be fairly straight forward right?

Such regulation is prohibitive to productivity. Government needs to get out of our lives when it comes to something as mundane as booking travel. As I said, if you've got the money and someone has a service they want to sell you, you should be able to make that transaction. I appreciate the important role Government does in regulating things like health and legal services, but travel agents? What a joke.

 

[Hvr]

Such regulation is prohibitive to productivity. Government needs to get out of our lives when it comes to something as mundane as booking travel. As I said, if you've got the money and someone has a service they want to sell you, you should be able to make that transaction. I appreciate the important role Government does in regulating things like health and legal services, but travel agents? What a joke.

Well regulation wasn't introduced just to make life hard.

Way too many TAs stole money, didn't book tickets etc and cost consumers a lot of money. Regulation is essential to try and prevent thieves from ripping off customers.

Nor is booking travel mundane for many people. They are spending large amounts of money for the trip of a lifetime and having open season for scammers etc will not help the industry.

 

[equus]

Well why don't you just dob them into the NSW government? What is wrong with selling a service you are capable of doing?

I am not personally concerned one way or the other. If I have complicated needs, that require professional handling, then I use an appropriately licensed, insured, registered and recommended professional. If I don't need that level of expertise, I do it myself.

Everything may well be legitimate, (or grey enough to skirt the boundaries). For me, it is more a question of whether or not appropriate guarantees are in place.

In this case, I am simply pointing out that there appear to be gaps. As far as what is wrong with selling a service you are capable of, it depends whether or not you need a license and associated insurance. In the case of travel agents, various governments have decided that you do.

Now, Travel Compensation funds exist to protect against defaults, and that may not be a concern here if only points are being used. However, there are myriad things which can go wrong (probably more so when doing these sorts of bookings). The provider may well be capable and diligent in sorting out any issues, but what guarantees exist if things do go wrong, and a traveller ends up stranded because of some error?

This service does not appear to be a backyard job, or cheap, and so I would have expected some of these things to have been covered off.

Myself, it is not something applicable to me, I don't live in NSW where this is based, and all I intended was to raise the question for people to consider. Ultimately, everyone makes their own decisions. Personally, I place most credence in recommendation and reputation, and then knowledge that appropriate insurance arrangements (however provided) are in place, but then (like most members on this forum), I probably understand a little more about points redemption than the average man on the street.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Such regulation is prohibitive to productivity. Government needs to get out of our lives when it comes to something as mundane as booking travel. As I said, if you've got the money and someone has a service they want to sell you, you should be able to make that transaction. I appreciate the important role Government does in regulating things like health and legal services, but travel agents? What a joke.

consumer protection laws exist for a very good reason... both to regulate industries and also, in the event something goes wrong, to make it easier for consumers to seek redress.

if you think regulation is prohibitive to productivity, I would think the other way here. A consumer is more likely to spend money if they know the party they are dealing with has complied with any necessary regulation and they are covered if things go wrong. That would seem to assist small business rather than hinder them no?

 

[zainman]

I think people are just worried Steve is taking away all the premium award inventory to/from Australia and we will only end up booking Y awards.. :shock:

 

[iFLYflat]

Hi guys,

A healthy debate, not a problem.

Definitely, I've researched and got sign-off what is the relevant licencing and registrations necessary as part of setting up my business. And I have what is appropriate coverage.
I don't hold any client monies and all payment is passed onto the relevant travel provider at the time of the booking. If this business was to collapse, there would be no unpaid bills, and have no impact on customer travel. Travel has been fully settled, and would be provided to the customer by the airlines independently of iFLYflat.

An update on the TCF.
The TCF is in the process of unwinding, as state government realised that many more consumers were booking their own travel on-line and it fell outside the TCF coverage scope.

While the TCF's role was intended to provide a safety net to consumers in case travel agents took advance bookings and moneys and then went broke, leaving the consumer high and dry (which it has done). It does not provide coverage when travel is booked via overseas websites and it realised that it became a hindrance to local travel agents competition, and added to their costs.

These days it is more common for credit card travel policies to provide worldwide travel insurance coverage. That's why it is worth paying the small surcharge to pay with your credit card when booking travel, even if the credit card insurance its that amazing.

Link:
http://www.tcf.org.au/files~/mediareleases/media_release_26-06-13.pdf

"The Plan proposed travel agent licensing no longer be required after 30 June 2014, with the consequence that the TCF will wind down, with its closure scheduled for mid to late 2015.
There will accordingly be no requirement for TCF participation after 30 June 2014."

Cheers

 

[Sprucegoose]

i don't see a diff between him and the ausbt guys.

Yes they still feed off the brains on this site

 

[Robert K]

Yes they still feed off the brains on this site

That's my point. And i'm sure the ausbt guys are making way more money then steve. why aren't people up in arms about that.

 

[drewbles]

That's my point. And i'm sure the ausbt guys are making way more money then steve. why aren't people up in arms about that.

Because they're not spamming AFF?

 

[zainman]

Because they're not spamming AFF?

#14
.............

 

[Robert K]

Because they're not spamming AFF?

30 posts is spamming? Starting ANOTHER AJ bashing threads is spamming.

 

[drewbles]

30 posts is spamming? Starting ANOTHER AJ bashing threads is spamming.

I quote from the Mac Dictionary:

spam |spam|noun [ mass noun ]1 irrelevant or unsolicited messages sent over the Internet, typically to large numbers of users, for the purposes of advertising, phishing, spreading malware, etc.• unwanted or intrusive advertising on the Internet: [ as modifier ] : an autogenerated spam website.

(my bolding)

Methinks your idea of spam is different.

 

[winfred]

I quote from the Mac Dictionary:


(my bolding)

Methinks your idea of spam is different.

It is not spamming as it is relevant and not unsolicited. The mods would have removed the posts if it is spamming.

 

[winfred]

Hi Steve, there must be easier way to earn a living. I wish you good luck and I think you will need it together with lots of determination and perseverance.

 

[drewbles]

It is not spamming as it is relevant and not unsolicited. The mods would have removed the posts if it is spamming.

It's soliciting a commercial service. Read into it what you will. Obviously the mods do not agree with me, and that's fine.