<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mike turnbull:
Naughty, naughty ! So you too, don't like UK prices...even though I imagine it costs a lot to run a front cabin. Seems to me , we're all at it any way possible if there is a chance of going 'upfront'...cheaper European tickets, free tickets, upgrades...just shows that we all like a 'bargain' when it comes to long haul flying particularly.</font>
Mike
This practise is perfectly normal and perfectly legal but is unlikely to lead to cheaper fares due to SOTO (Sold Outside Ticketed Outside) and SITI (Sold Inside Ticketed Inside) regulations.
This means that
Merry's corporate TA in Holland will make a booking for an ex-UK departute but it will be priced the same as though it was ticketed by a UK based TA.
Merry's original postings refers to the practise of Travel Agents booking a AMS-LHR-BKK ticket at the ex-AMS price (probably lower than ex-UK) and throwing the first part away leaving the LHR-BKK leg. It is this practise that BA want to end.
Another annoying part of the SITI/SOTO regs is that if I tried to by a
oneworld Explorer ticket from UK based TA but asked for it to start in AMS I would be charged the UK price not the (considerably cheaper) ex-AMS price!!! I would have to deal with a Dutch TA or with the airline direct in Holland to get the ex-AMS price.
Before I booked the OWE explorer I was considering using a*A RTW ticket originating in Denmark as they are about £800 less than ex-UK. SAS in Copenhagen were perferctly happy for me to deal with them for an ex-CPH ticket and would even courier it to the UK. I can fly direct from EDI to CPH so it was not an issue. If I had done this through SAS in the ULK they would have charged me the ex-UK Price for exactly the same ticket. This shows the absurdity of the regs.
[This message has been edited by Gaza (edited 04-11-2002).]