Air Canada $ v. Travelocity $

Will AirCanada match travelocity's pricing?
Same flight same days with a $50 advantage going to Travelocity.

You sure? Isn't is a case whereby the Travelocity fare has legs on other airlines, while AC is on its code-share (but same flight)? In which case, AC.com would charge for the fuel surcharge while the other airline would possibly not.

Anyway, if you have the *exact* details and the fare codes, phoning AC reservations, you *should* be able to get the same fare. With a bit of luck and a good wind. Possibly having them phoning their fare desk.

With still two other possibilities. I have had occasions when they never mamged to, in similar circumstances, even though the agent agreed he should. Just a quirk in RES-III.

Or it may also be that if you proceed with Travelocity, it never gets to the point where the ticket is issued. The worst I ever had (not sure if with Travelocity or ITN, but likely the former) was with a car rental or a hotel (not sure which). I accepted a certain rate. Confirmation came at a different price. I had to phone them to cancel. Quite upset. I tried hard convincing the person that this was utterly unaccetable, but she kept blaming the underlying reservation system. Which is no party in my deal with them.

Here's the flight from travelocity with the fare rules. I can't decifer most of this:
Fare details for LLXITSP



NONREFUNDABLE INSTANT PURCH SPECIAL FARE FARE

BK CODE

L -



PENALTY

CANCELLATIONS BEFORE DEPARTURE TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE. WAIVED FOR UPGRADE TO HIGHER FARE/DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER. NOTE - THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE FARE PAID MAY BE APPLIED AS A CREDIT TOWARDS PAYMENT OF ANY HIGHER APPLICABLE FARE -EXCURSION/NORMAL ECONOMY-. IN THE EVENT OF CANCELLATION OF THE NEW TICKET THE ORIGINAL NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE. AFTER DEPARTURE TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE. WAIVED FOR UPGRADE TO HIGHER FARE/DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER. NOTE - IN THE EVENT OF UPGRADE THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE FARE PAID MAY BE APPLIED AS A CREDIT TOWARDS PAYMENT OF ANY HIGHER APPLICABLE FARE - EXCURSION AND HIGHER. THE ORIGINAL NON-REFUNDABLE AMOUNT REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE. OUTBOUND - CHANGES CHANGES NOT PERMITTED. INBOUND - CHANGES BEFORE DEPARTURE CHARGE USD 200.00 FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION. CHILD/INFANT DISCOUNTS APPLY. WAIVED FOR UPGRADE TO HIGHER FARE. NOTE - PENALTY ONLY APPLIES WITHIN THE ADVANCE PURCHASE DEADLINE. CHANGES AFTER DEPARTURE CHARGE USD 200.00 FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION. CHILD/INFANT DISCOUNTS APPLY. WAIVED FOR UPGRADE TO HIGHER FARE. NOTE - VOLUNTARY REROUTING/REBOOKING IS PERMITTED ONLY UNTIL THE DATE OF EXPIRATION SHOWN ON THE FLT COUPON CONCERNED



RES/TKTG

RES MUST BE MADE NO LATER THAN 7 DAYS BEFORE DPTR FROM ORIGIN. TKT MUST BE PURCHASED NO LATER THAN 7 DAYS BEFORE DPTR FROM ORIGIN OR 3 DAYS AFTER RES IS MADE, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. SGMTS USING THIS RULE MUST BE CONFIRMED.



MIN STAY

RETURN TRVL IS VALID ON THE 1ST SUN AFTER 12:01 A.M.. MEASURED FROM DPTR FROM GATEWAY.



MAX STAY

RETURN TRVL MUST COMMENCE NO LATER THAN 1 MONTH. MEASURED FROM DPTR FROM ORIGIN TO DPTR FROM LAST STOPOVER POINT.



DAY/TIME

APPLIES AT ANY TIME MON-THU ON INTL SECTOR. DAY/TIME IS BASED ON TRIP DATE OF INTL SECTOR.



SEASONS

13OCT-15DEC05 OR 3JAN-2APR06. SEASON IS BASED ON DATE OF ORIGIN AND IS DETERMINED BY DATE OF DEPARTURE OF OUTBOUND TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR.



BLACKOUTS

NO BLACKOUT RESTRICTIONS APPLY.



EFF/EXP

THE FIRST DATE THAT TRAVEL MAY COMMENCE IS 27OCT05 AND THE LAST DATE IS 2APR06.



FLT APPL

NO FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS APPLY.



STOPOVERS

NO ENROUTE STOPOVERS ARE PERMITTED. A STOPOVER OCCURS WHEN THE PASSENGER DOES NOT DEPART AN INTERMEDIATE POINT WITHIN 24 HOURS.



TICKET RESTRICTIONS

NOTE: EXTENSION OF TICKET VALIDITY FOR MEDICAL REASONS IS NOT PERMITTED.



DISCOUNTS

75 PCT OF THE ADT FARE IS CHARGED FOR A CNN PSGR 2 THRU 11 YRS OF AGE. CNN PSGR MUST BE ACCOMPANIED ON ALL SGMTS BY AN ADT PSGR TRAVELING IN THE SAME COMPARTMENT. - - - - 75 PCT OF THE ADT FARE IS CHARGED FOR A UNN PSGR 8 THRU 11 YRS OF AGE. PSGR MAY BE UNACCOMPANIED. - - - - 75 PCT OF THE ADT FARE IS CHARGED FOR AN INS PSGR UNDER 2 YRS OF AGE. INS PSGR MUST BE ACCOMPANIED ON ALL SGMTS BY AN ADT PSGR TRAVELING IN THE SAME COMPARTMENT. - - - - 10 PCT OF THE ADT FARE IS CHARGED FOR AN INF PSGR UNDER 2 YRS OF AGE NOT OCCUPYING A SEAT. INF PSGR MUST BE ACCOMPANIED ON ALL SGMTS BY AN ADT PSGR TRAVELING IN THE SAME COMPARTMENT. *** UNACCOMPANIED CHILD 8 THRU 11 YEARS PERMITTED TO TRAVEL AT THE CHILDS DISCOUNT. INFANTS OCCUPYING A SEAT WILL BE PERMITTED AT THE CHILDS DISCOUNT. TOUR CONDUCTOR/ SALES AGENT DISCOUNT DOES NOT APPLY.



REROUTE

SEE PENALTY.



TRANSFERS

4 ONLINE TRANSFERS PERMITTED, 2 IN EACH DIRECTION IN CANADA. ADDITIONALLY 2 TRANSFERS PERMITTED, 1 IN EACH DIRECTION, WHICH MAY NOT INCLUDE MORE THAN: -1 ONLINE IN EACH DIRECTION IN EUROPE. -1 IN EUROPE. ARRIVAL AT THE TRANSFER POINT MUST BE ON AC. DEPARTURE FROM THE TRANSFER POINT MUST BE ON LH. -1 IN EUROPE. ARRIVAL AT THE TRANSFER POINT MUST BE ON LH. DEPARTURE FROM THE TRANSFER POINT MUST BE ON AC.



COMBINATIONS

CARRIER / RULE / FARE CIRCLE OPEN ROUND BASIS TRIP JAW TRIP SAME / SAME / SAME C C C SAME / SAME / DIFF C C C SAME / DIFF / SAME C C C SAME / DIFF / DIFF C C C DIFF / SAME / SAME C C C DIFF / SAME / DIFF C C C DIFF / DIFF / SAME C C C DIFF / DIFF / DIFF C C C Y / PERMITTED N / NOT PERMITTED - / DOES NOT APPLY C / SEE TEXT FOR CONDITIONS CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO ROUND TRIP/CIRCLE TRIP/SINGLE OR DOUBLE OPEN JAW - -MAY BE COMBINED WITH ANY ONE WAY/ROUND TRIP SUPER SPECIAL APEX TYPE/NONREFUNDABLE APEX TYPE/NONREFUNDABLE INSTANT PURCHASE TYPE FARES GOVERNED BY ANY RULE IN ANY TARIFF VIA ANY CARRIER. -MOST RESTRICTIVE CONDITIONS APPLY. ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS APPLY ROUND TRIP - -PERMITTED. CIRCLE TRIP - -PERMITTED. -NO MORE THAN 2 INTERNATIONAL FARE COMPONENTS PERMITTED. OPEN JAW - -SINGLE OPEN JAW PERMITTED AT EITHER ORIGIN OR DESTINATION. DOUBLE OPEN JAW PERMITTED. END-ON-END - -PERMITTED. TRAVEL MUST BE VIA THE FARE COMBINATION POINT.



OPEN RTN

NOT ALLOWED.



REFUNDS

SEE PENALTY.



CO-TERMINALS

NOT APPLICABLE.



INTL CONST

MAY BE COMBINED WITH APPLICABLE ARBITRARIES.



MISC

NOTE - THESE FARES APPLY ONLY WHEN PURCHASED PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF TRAVEL.

Review the price and restrictions for your trip






Trip Summary

Outbound Flight


Thu, Nov 17
9:00am Depart - Seattle/Tacoma, WA (SEA) Air Canada 542 Adult Fare Rules

4:24pm Arrive - Toronto, Canada (YYZ) Nonstop
Flight time: 4 hrs 24 min

Connection Time: 4 hrs 6 min



Thu, Nov 17
8:30pm Depart - Toronto, Canada (YYZ) Air Canada 890 Adult Fare Rules

Fri, Nov 18
11:00am Arrive - Rome Fiumicino, Italy (FCO) Nonstop
Flight time: 8 hrs 30 min

Total Travel Time: 17 hrs 0 min




Return Flight


Sun, Nov 27
12:30pm Depart - Rome Fiumicino, Italy (FCO) Air Canada 891 Adult Fare Rules

4:25pm Arrive - Toronto, Canada (YYZ) Nonstop
Flight time: 9 hrs 55 min

Connection Time: 1 hr 45 min



Sun, Nov 27
6:10pm Depart - Toronto, Canada (YYZ) Air Canada 541 Adult Fare Rules

8:25pm Arrive - Seattle/Tacoma, WA (SEA) Nonstop
Flight time: 5 hrs 15 min

Total Travel Time: 16 hrs 55 min




Save this whole itinerary


Price Summary


Travelers Price


1 adult = $ 503.00
Taxes and Fees = $ 147.00
Service Fee = $ 15.00

Total Price = $ 665.00
Please remember that prices are not guaranteed until flights are ticketed. The following prices are for electronic tickets. If your itinerary requires a paper ticket, additional fees may apply.

Policies, Rules and Restrictions

I understand that this fare is non-refundable and carries restrictions as follows:

Once ticket is issued, it may not be reassigned to a different passenger or airline.
Ticket is non-refundable.
Ticket changes may incur penalties and/or increased fares.
This price includes a nonrefundable $15.00 service fee, which may be charged separately to my credit card.


I agree to the rules and restrictions of this fare.

Travelocity and Expedia get fares that are not on airline web sites - similar to consolidator fares. I used a UA codeshare on Expedia for an AC flight. The TA said they could not access the Expedia fare. On ual.com they claim to beat any price for their flights and then there is a long footnote about how this does not include special fares. I've booked on Expedia.ca for that reason when I would have rather done it on AC. The worst thing is that you lose the fare entirely. They tend to exist for a day or two if they are really good. Only NW seems to have an absolute lowest fare on their web site but we're now in the wrong forum.

Here is what Aircanada.com gives:
Passenger Type Adult
Base Fare 503.00
U.S.A Transportation Tax 28.20
Sub Total 531.20
Taxes, Charges and Fees
Canada Airport Improvement Fee 13.74
U.S Passenger Facility Charge 4.50
Italy Int/Dom Embarkation Tax 9.84
U.S Agriculture Fee 5.00
Security bag tax 2.44
September 11 Security Fee 2.50
U.S.A Immigration User Fee 7.00
Canada Goods and Services Tax (GST/HST #10009-2287) 0.96
Council city tax 2.38
Fuel Surcharge 104.74
Italy Security Charge 2.16
Number of Passengers 1
Total 686.46
Grand Total - Dollar (U.S.)
$ 686.46

So, no difference in the fare. Difference is all in the taxes and surcharges. $184.46 vs. 147.00, or $37.46. Difficult to trace since Travelocity does not detail the taxes etc.


But it sounds like some taxes are missing on the Travelocity thing. Now would you get away with it, probably yes. May still be that if you complete your reservation on Travelocity, the price will come out slightly different.

I dunno about that. AFAIK they don't get anything other than published airline fares. There are so many shades of grey to fare pricing that sometimes it gets lost in the mix; what's a base fare to one site which includes any surcharges isn't to another which adds it on at a later screen.
Because they are selling published fares that's why, for example, these sites are often where FTers book misprice flights as Travelocity et al are just passing along mistakenly loaded published fares put there by an airline.

BTW, like the hotels chains, the airlines getting very agressive in protecting their turf and are aiming to drive pax to their own websites to avoid having to pay online sites like Expedia.

Just a tip - instead of posting the entire fare rules vertically, use the {code} {/code} function (use square brackets instead of curly ones) - puts it into its own little scroll box like this:

Ollie, my fave is when subsequent posters hit the reply with quote features and so you get all the same lengthy fare rules repeated again.