APx

Hi FT'er,

Was wondering if any of you have any experience dealing with www.budgetborne.com? They seem to be offering very good packages on biz and first?

Many thanks in advance for your comments.

Anitalkyu

Hi, did you make the purchase with budgetborne?

Millenium Travel

I've been in the business for a while and have not heard of budgetborne. They seem to specialize in high end travel at discounted rates just like us.
I'll keep you posted if I find out more.

Cheers
Ian

APx

No, I just found them to be very very unhelpful... They simply gave me the deal (was ok), and then just asked me for payment to an account. When I asked for alternative flight routes to what they had proposed, I got nothing.

I went with flyl4l... Brilliant from start to finish, if you'rew not bothered about collecting airmiles... I've actually written a review about them on another thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onlin...-before-2.html

Millenium Travel

I've heard dealing with mileage broker companies l4l.com can be like playing Russian roulette. 50% of the time you'll get a great deal and have a wonderful trip and the other 50% of the time I've heard that passengers have been denied boarding because the airline found out that the mileage holder sold his miles to a 3rd party (through brokers like L4L). In cases like this both parties pay a dear price (the mileage account holder gets his/her account canceled and all points forfeited / the customer who bought the ticket gets to suffer the embarrassment at the airport counter and has the choice to not make the trip or simply pay the full price for the same ticket.

APx

I'm sure you have a point, but searching the web pages and FT, I have yet to come across a post or article that shows such stories you refer to?

alexoster

Your screen-name somehow links you to the travel business thus is probably the reason behind your L4L bashing mission!

I am using L4L myself now for several years and have recommended friends and colleagues there too. Not only are they the biggest mileage brokers out there (42 in-house agents and operate 24 hours) but also have an impeccable track record!

You 'heard' that 50% of times both parties pay a dear price?! If no online forum shows this HOW exactly have you heard this?! Can you link any of these sources or do you randomly 'hear' about 50% of a travel agency agencies reviews?!

Shame on you...!

shaggybird1

Hi Ian,

Did you manage to find out anything on budget borne?

I just responded to another post where someone was asking if anyone had heard of them.

I just obtained (a great) quote from them- 40% less than any other airline from melbourne to tel aviv on business but I too, have never heard of them / know anyone who's used them.
'
Many thanks!

lin821

You guys mean stories like this one?

It's not about any particular website/agency in thread, but I did read some sorry stories from the buyers and/or sellers on FT over the years. I recall reading "confessions" in Delta Forum, NW Forum & UA Forum a while back. Some involved eBay/Craigslist listings. I don't have links to those posts since I didn't keep tabs on them. Those fora MODs may have better memories than I. The above linked post came up in my search using key words "selling miles" in MilesBuzz! and I just read it for the first time today.

FWIW, not everyone gets caught. For those who got caught, they don't necessarily choose to go on internet bulletin boards to publicize it. So, yes, the severe consequences had been reported on FT before. More than once.

You can also read Randy's words on how airlines chase down brokers back in 2003.

My personal philosophy is better safe than sorry. YMMV.

ETA:

Just saw this thread over Delta Forum. It's still a case-in-progress but another who-got-caught-buying-or-selling:

Caught Buying e-certs

DavidPS

Used this USA service from the UK to book return Business flights to New Zealand. Really good price, way cheaper than anywhere else. They were very patient as I didn't want to make a direct telegraphic transfer (10k) without protection so the waited until I sorted out a credit card and made two payments (so that the transactions were insured). Flights were great and will be using this company again and again