9K: STL⇄MWA 6,58/6,69 ($9) 1.8 cpm (500 mile minimum)
Jul 29, 2014, 5:10 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Amsterdam
Programs: SkyTeam Gold, Hilton Gold, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,421
Where are you based, brumbrum?
Almost all Dutch "Pinpas" cards are Maestro cards. (They may even all be Maestro cards, as I don't know of any Dutch bank that issues cards that are NOT Maestro). The system is almost as ubiquitous in Germany. In Europe, Belgium, Poland, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and the UK all issue Maestro cards. The old Laser card system in Ireland that was discontinued earlier this year was also a Maestro system.
Almost all Dutch "Pinpas" cards are Maestro cards. (They may even all be Maestro cards, as I don't know of any Dutch bank that issues cards that are NOT Maestro). The system is almost as ubiquitous in Germany. In Europe, Belgium, Poland, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and the UK all issue Maestro cards. The old Laser card system in Ireland that was discontinued earlier this year was also a Maestro system.
Exactly. There is no point reasoning with this guy; he thinks he is right although facts and the law say different...
Jul 29, 2014, 5:15 am
#17
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: NL
Programs: KLM, UA, Emirates, Marriotts
Posts: 166
You are funny - I have 4 of them in my wallet from my 4 bank accounts (BE+NL)
It is good to be a bit sceptic when prices are this low, but as a system of payment, there is absolutely nothing wrong or scammy about Maestro. You might not get the same customer protection as with a credit card, but hell in this case we are talking about $10.
And I have never heard of anyone getting their Maestro blocked by paying on these websites, though I guess there is a first for everything.
It is good to be a bit sceptic when prices are this low, but as a system of payment, there is absolutely nothing wrong or scammy about Maestro. You might not get the same customer protection as with a credit card, but hell in this case we are talking about $10.
And I have never heard of anyone getting their Maestro blocked by paying on these websites, though I guess there is a first for everything.
Jul 29, 2014, 8:11 am
#18
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: c2
Posts: 691
BK: everything legal is fine? Sorry, my opinion is different, and I use my own brain, like on this example. I enjoyed these sites enough, as will you after buying few tickets and realizing the block. Just wanted to tell the folks here that it's not so easy and fair as it looks.
Jul 29, 2014, 8:38 am
#20
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,952
I think you can credit these to AS for RDM only. Beyond that, is there a use for the miles? I don't think Cape Air has a loyalty program of its own 
I'll tell you this - I wish they'd start flying PWM-BOS. I think they do BGR-BOS now and I'd love to check my bags and park for $13 at PWM, rather than driving 2 hrs to BOS.
I'll tell you this - I wish they'd start flying PWM-BOS. I think they do BGR-BOS now and I'd love to check my bags and park for $13 at PWM, rather than driving 2 hrs to BOS.
Jul 29, 2014, 10:02 am
#21
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: c2
Posts: 691
All these sites have (surprisingly) 1-2 owners together. They only try to look like separate sites to look even more cheaper between their own pages. Easier than to have one trustful site. They're starting by blocking cards, after more cards being blocked they simply block the name. People are also reporting e-mails about "suspicion that they buy the tickets (issued with their names) for commercial purposes" and therefore they're blocked.
Jul 29, 2014, 10:22 am
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Amsterdam
Programs: SkyTeam Gold, Hilton Gold, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,421
All these sites have (surprisingly) 1-2 owners together. They only try to look like separate sites to look even more cheaper between their own pages. Easier than to have one trustful site. They're starting by blocking cards, after more cards being blocked they simply block the name. People are also reporting e-mails about "suspicion that they buy the tickets (issued with their names) for commercial purposes" and therefore they're blocked.
Jul 29, 2014, 4:02 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,697
All these sites have (surprisingly) 1-2 owners together. They only try to look like separate sites to look even more cheaper between their own pages. Easier than to have one trustful site. They're starting by blocking cards, after more cards being blocked they simply block the name. People are also reporting e-mails about "suspicion that they buy the tickets (issued with their names) for commercial purposes" and therefore they're blocked.
http://www.edreamsodigeo.com/our-brands/
Tripsta is a brand owned and operated by Greek-based travel agency TravelPlanet24.
http://www.travelplanet24.com
Bravofly Rumbo is a Swiss-based travel agency
http://www.bravoflyrumbogroup.com
If these 3 companies are all connected/owned by the "same 1-2 owners" I can find no such evidence. And what does it matter?
Personally, I have used opodo (various country versions for over 10 years) and tripsta (various country versions) many times, without any difficulty, trouble, or problems, and your characterisation of all these brands and agencies as "scammers" is completely inaccurate.
Jul 29, 2014, 10:08 pm
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: A3, AA. Plasticy things! That give me, y'know, Stuff!
Posts: 6,293
Maestro is one of the most widely used back end processing standards/companies in the world. Over 12 million merchants globally use terminals that will accept Maestro.
uh-huh.
These scam sites (opodo, edreams, govolo, tripsta, bravofly, rumbo and many more) and their own aggregators (exbir/skycheck, jetcost) are simply advertising prices, which cannot be achieved. Sometimes you can achieve them with any very obscure card (the types are constantly changing), but even in this case these scammers let you buy some two tickets and then your card/name is blocked with no more possible purchases on all these sites.
Jul 29, 2014, 10:10 pm
#25
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: A3, AA. Plasticy things! That give me, y'know, Stuff!
Posts: 6,293
All these sites have (surprisingly) 1-2 owners together. They only try to look like separate sites to look even more cheaper between their own pages. Easier than to have one trustful site. They're starting by blocking cards, after more cards being blocked they simply block the name. People are also reporting e-mails about "suspicion that they buy the tickets (issued with their names) for commercial purposes" and therefore they're blocked.
Jul 29, 2014, 10:12 pm
#26
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: A3, AA. Plasticy things! That give me, y'know, Stuff!
Posts: 6,293
Jul 30, 2014, 10:35 am
#27
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,416
§ 399.88 Prohibition on post-purchase
price increase.
(a) It is an unfair and deceptive
practice within the meaning of 49 U.S.C.
41712 for any seller of scheduled air
transportation within, to or from the
United States, or of a tour (i.e., a
combination of air transportation and
ground or cruise accommodations), or
tour component (e.g., a hotel stay) that
includes scheduled air transportation
within, to or from the United States, to
increase the price of that air
transportation, tour or tour component
to a consumer, including but not limited
to an increase in the price of the seat,
an increase in the price for the carriage
of passenger baggage, or an increase in
an applicable fuel surcharge, after the
air transportation has been purchased
by the consumer, except in the case of
an increase in a government-imposed
tax or fee. A purchase is deemed to have
occurred when the full amount agreed
upon has been paid by the consumer.
price increase.
(a) It is an unfair and deceptive
practice within the meaning of 49 U.S.C.
41712 for any seller of scheduled air
transportation within, to or from the
United States, or of a tour (i.e., a
combination of air transportation and
ground or cruise accommodations), or
tour component (e.g., a hotel stay) that
includes scheduled air transportation
within, to or from the United States, to
increase the price of that air
transportation, tour or tour component
to a consumer, including but not limited
to an increase in the price of the seat,
an increase in the price for the carriage
of passenger baggage, or an increase in
an applicable fuel surcharge, after the
air transportation has been purchased
by the consumer, except in the case of
an increase in a government-imposed
tax or fee. A purchase is deemed to have
occurred when the full amount agreed
upon has been paid by the consumer.
Last edited by skunker; Jul 30, 2014 at 10:47 am
Jul 31, 2014, 1:21 am
#28
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,132
Trust me the OTAs issue the tickets correctly and eat the difference internally as marketing costs. So besides the above example, there can be a few bargains made booking short trips. For example I booked a domestic Indian segment for 23 instead for 53 on fluege.de
The same flight is still available for 31 less than list price for a random date in October: https://www.kayak.de/flights/BOM-CCU...26-2h-flexible
The same flight is still available for 31 less than list price for a random date in October: https://www.kayak.de/flights/BOM-CCU...26-2h-flexible