Trying to book LH flights from Denmark to the US on the LH.dk web-page, I notice that the TSC is now DKK 400 (=53 EUR)!! It used to be EUR 10 until some days ago. I suspect a system error. I hardly believe that such substantial increase of the TSC is correct - if true it will only lead to bookings made on web-pages where no TSC is charged (LH.US comes to mind) or third party web-pages.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SK AAR
Trying to book LH flights from Denmark to the US on the LH.dk web-page, I notice that the TSC is now DKK 400 (=53 EUR)!! It used to be EUR 10 until some days ago. I suspect a system error. I hardly believe that such substantial increase of the TSC is correct - if true it will only lead to bookings made on web-pages where no TSC is charged (LH.US comes to mind) or third party web-pages.
I just made a booking, it is DKK 250.00 (= 33 EUR) by now but very expensive indeed.
Trying to book LH flights from Denmark to the US on the LH.dk web-page, I notice that the TSC is now DKK 400 (=53 EUR)!! It used to be EUR 10 until some days ago. I suspect a system error. I hardly believe that such substantial increase of the TSC is correct - if true it will only lead to bookings made on web-pages where no TSC is charged (LH.US comes to mind) or third party web-pages.
in LH.co.il - 50 USD as TSC (used to be none, but should have changed to something like 10-15 USD).
Seems likes an IT glitch.
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in LH.co.il - 50 USD as TSC (used to be none, but should have changed to something like 10-15 USD).
Seems likes an IT glitch.
No IT glitch (unfortunetaly). As of 1.1.09, it is 50USD for Y to Europe, 100 USD for C to Europe or Y to US, and 150 USD for C to US.
The travel agents forced LH to make these charges when they removed commission as of 1.1.09, otherwise the TA's would boycott LH.
Very annoying, as ex-Israel prices have not been reduced, and many (eg corporate) fares can only be booked in Israel. C class to Europe increased by 13% last month, and now another 7-8% due to TSC. Strange at a time of recession and reduce oil costs.
I booked my next trip at 22:00 on 31/12/08, as I was told about these changes a day or so in advance.
Received a nice email reply from LH yesterday. In short, it is a system error - the TSC for Denmark is still DKK 50 (EUR 8) and LH IT is working to solve the problem. LH monitors all bookings made and will manually adjust the TSC or refund so I can just go ahead and book flights online despite the current error.
It appears that LH is again in control of the situation...
No IT glitch (unfortunetaly). As of 1.1.09, it is 50USD for Y to Europe, 100 USD for C to Europe or Y to US, and 150 USD for C to US.
The travel agents forced LH to make these charges when they removed commission as of 1.1.09, otherwise the TA's would boycott LH.
Very annoying, as ex-Israel prices have not been reduced, and many (eg corporate) fares can only be booked in Israel. C class to Europe increased by 13% last month, and now another 7-8% due to TSC. Strange at a time of recession and reduce oil costs.
I booked my next trip at 22:00 on 31/12/08, as I was told about these changes a day or so in advance.
I don't understand: is this a special penalty for booking on-line, or will the same fee be charged also when you buy from a travel agent? In the former case this is mere stupidity; if the latter is true, then I don't see why they should disguise the fare increase as a "fee", and a separate one too.
In any case, I feel very unmotivated to purchase a service from a vendor that advertises a $500 product and then adds $50 at check out for the pleasure of sealing the deal.
So far, Swiss and OS still did not follow suit in Israel.
Shuly
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I don't understand: is this a special penalty for booking on-line, or will the same fee be charged also when you buy from a travel agent? In the former case this is mere stupidity; if the latter is true, then I don't see why they should disguise the fare increase as a "fee", and a separate one too.
In any case, I feel very unmotivated to purchase a service from a vendor that advertises a $500 product and then adds $50 at check out for the pleasure of sealing the deal.
So far, Swiss and OS still did not follow suit in Israel.
Shuly
I think that almost all travel agents are making the same charges for LH tickets (though some may be higher). Mine (a large one) is.
There is a pretty easy workaround, to buy the tickets abroad. You will pay the same fare, but without the TSC (or a reduced one).
There's another workaround, and that is to move your business elsewhere. The benefits of flying LH (for me) are diminishing. I used to do 70-80K miles a year with them in 2001-2004; then some 40-50 in 200-2006; and last year 20. This year it's likely to be less.
The ability to use European-level (25K miles) smart award in business class was one perk that set them apart from other carriers in Israel. Now this is gone too.
Their marketing strategies, which may be legal in Israel but are annoying nonetheless, let them get away with selling $250 "fares", on top of which they charge $250 in "taxes and fees" and then $50 for TSC. I'll fly them when they're cheaper or more convenient, but my loyalty to the brand is long gone.
Shuly
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I spoke with my travel agent and here's what she says. Starting Jan 1st, LH stopped paying commission to travel agents. To compensate the agents, LH allows them to charge 11% on top of the fare. When travel agents complained that this will drive customers away (from them, towards on-line bookings), LH decided to adopt a similar TSC on its own web site.
I'm not a marketing expert, but this sounds completely stupid to me. If they wanted to raise fares by 10%, why not do it directly? Anyway, I'm annoyed with the disguised fare increase and the hideous marketing strategies. And I have cheaper alternatives.
Shuly
PS -- the same fares, without the TSC, are available on the US website.
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Last edited by shuly; Jan 4, 09 at 9:52 am.
Reason: typo
It sounds stupid but it was the same in Austria some years ago. LH stopped paying commission to the travel agents and therefore started charging 35 EUR ticketing fee. Otherwise the TAs would have started to boycott LH. LH is always the first with these things. But the innovation of LH succeeded and all others airlines started to pay no commission too in Austria, so they could decrease the TSC to 10 EUR for online bookings, because otherwise the TAs would boycott themselves on the long run, because as all airlines are paying no commission and only charging around 10 EUR, they would have to boycott all airlines ....
It is just an issue of who has the longer breath...
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I would also assume that sooner or later TAs will compete with each other on TSC charges thus bringing down the now insane level.
Once this is accomplished, LH.co.il will follow.
In the meantime: Ticket elsewhere!
Or if forced to book via corporate TA: complain about insane charges !
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Quick update: as of today, swiss.co.il adds TSC to the fare. Same outrageous rates as LH (USD 50/100/150). Not that there's any connection, of course. Perhaps an educated (flying?) attorney could educate us whether there's a breach of anti-trust laws here?
Shuly
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