WhiteLightsLeadToRedLights

Hello! When attempting to book a flight on an American legacy carrier, I was told that the sales price was limited to passport holders of another country. I believe price discrimination based upon national origin is illegal in Europe. Is it illegal in the US? The restriction was also not mentioned in the ad.

I am in the process of drafting a complaint letter. Currently, my draft contains the following:

• explanation of the situation
• statement declaring situation to be unacceptable
• desire to solve this issue quickly by having an agent help book a ticket at the sales price
• cease price discrimination based upon national origin for current and future campaigns

Any advice or recommendations on the complaint letter (edits or additions)? Would complaints with the DOT's AirConsumer website, the BBB, or even the FTC be appropriate and/or effective?

Thanks!

Update 1: I apologize for the delay in responding. I appreciate everyone's thoughts on the matter.
Update 2: Pictures of deal: http://imgur.com/a/c60TU Please note I was browsing the English version of the US website (from the URL in the pictures).

deniah

no idea about europe or us - although i would imgine so.

it is not illegal however in places like nepal and i dont disagree

Tchiowa

International travel often has different price structures based on citizenship. Countries will give subsidies to airlines to bring in international tourists and those don't apply to their own citizens.

Plus there is a whole lot of difference between discriminating against people based on national "origin" and on national "citizenship". First is basically racism. Second isn't.

I think you're barking up a wrong tree, here.

dvs7310

There is dual tier pricing in the travel industry all over the world. Please give specifics as to actual airline and route so we can give you better information. In a case like this is see no justification for fear if the airline reads it here or not. If they are offering prices that way then I'm sure they have a good reason and sound legal advice on their ability to do so.

GUWonder

In which country was the desired trip originating? Which country was the point of sale?

EuropeanPete

I suspect that what you mean is discrimination between EU member state citizenships is illegal in Europe. Depending on which laws apply, I wouldn't be surprised if discriminating between EU and non-EU citizens were legal.

Anyways, that was an annoyingly cryptic post. If you're going to want actual input from people you're going to have to be a bit more precise.

MSPeconomist

Details of route? Specifically origin and destination please.

OP alludes to this being some special "sale" price. How is it advertised? What do the ads say about the individuals to whom it is restricted?

Some Latin American countries have cheaper fares that are restricted AFAIK to their own citizens and permanent residents. Argentina is an example.

moondog

+1

Paul56

...and by the time it is all sorted out the sale will be over
rendering the whole thing moot anyway.

Often1

Many carriers make special fares and deals available to to residents of only certain regions or countries. Examples include Eurail Pass for US residents.

This is not discrimination for reasons of national origin. It is price discrimination which is based on the market.

Tchiowa

I'm wondering if this isn't someone who wasn't from Denmark and is looking for yet another crack at a $50 First Class ticket.

deniah

and also the Japan rail pass

BigFlyer

I have a friend of a friend (pretty reliable) who was travelling to China on a tour from the US from a Chinatown travel agent. He and his girlfriend were travelling together - he had to pay more because he was not Chinese.

invisible

It would be surprising it he would pay the same...

daniellam

This was probably one of those Chinese government sponsored tours aimed at spreading their propaganda to ethnic Chinese overseas by showing them how "China has changed and is a lot better from since you left or what your parents told you about". Sometimes they offer these tours for $99 or $199 etc. These tours tend to be offered only with Mandarin speaking tour guides. As your friend was not Chinese (while his girlfriend was), he probably had to pay more as his portion was not subsidized by the Chinese government and presumably had to pay more for a tour guide that also spoke English.

If your friend joined a private tour that was not Chinese government sponsored then the price would have been the same for everyone.