Stephann
Jan 4, 06, 6:35 pm
I think this is the most appropriate forum to discuss this.
In the UK, we have a couple of travel agents that provide 'free' transatlantic flights, usually from London to places such as New York, Boston, Washington and Atlanta.
These agents, Rise Travel and Landround Travel (www.landround.com) are also promotions companies that sell free flight vouchers to companies (such as the Daily Mail newspaper). For example, for the last few years, cutting out a few newspaper tokens with Landround or buying a small crate of Earnest & Julio Gallo wine for £20 could earn a free flight to the USA.
I have taken up several of these offers and been given flights from London on Icelandair to Boston and Washington and United and American to New York and Atlanta. Fares are usually heavily restricted economy fares (such as XY booking class). On one occasion, I tried to change my return Icelandair flight and the next available flight on that particular fare code was over 2 months later!
Now, obviously, these companies make money from selling the 'free flight' vouchers and from add-ons like travel insurance, additional flight tickets for a companion and hotel stays. But these are optional. I have only ever paid £60 - £110 in taxes for these flights.
So my question is, how do these companies secure deals such as this with the airlines? Are these fares likely to be available to the public? And do you think these fares are subsidised by the airline in any way?
I have earned quite a few miles for taking these trips too by the way.
In the UK, we have a couple of travel agents that provide 'free' transatlantic flights, usually from London to places such as New York, Boston, Washington and Atlanta.
These agents, Rise Travel and Landround Travel (www.landround.com) are also promotions companies that sell free flight vouchers to companies (such as the Daily Mail newspaper). For example, for the last few years, cutting out a few newspaper tokens with Landround or buying a small crate of Earnest & Julio Gallo wine for £20 could earn a free flight to the USA.
I have taken up several of these offers and been given flights from London on Icelandair to Boston and Washington and United and American to New York and Atlanta. Fares are usually heavily restricted economy fares (such as XY booking class). On one occasion, I tried to change my return Icelandair flight and the next available flight on that particular fare code was over 2 months later!
Now, obviously, these companies make money from selling the 'free flight' vouchers and from add-ons like travel insurance, additional flight tickets for a companion and hotel stays. But these are optional. I have only ever paid £60 - £110 in taxes for these flights.
So my question is, how do these companies secure deals such as this with the airlines? Are these fares likely to be available to the public? And do you think these fares are subsidised by the airline in any way?
I have earned quite a few miles for taking these trips too by the way.