Saver VS Flex Fare Changes...
Mar 19, 2011 | 4:51 am
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,047
I have only ever done this once so my knowledge is limited, but I don't recall being charged a booking fee. I was charged the premium for the Flex fare (the price of which I couldn't see on-line) but no mention was ever made of a booking fee. This was throught the Manchester UK call centre.
There was certainly no Travel Agent commission to pay.
There was certainly no Travel Agent commission to pay.
Mar 19, 2011 | 9:17 am
#18
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic 3, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), UA Silver
Posts: 6,172
The fares are higher if you call EK directly and the agents often can't tell which fares are saver and which are flex--especially if one way books as saver and the other flex. I have gone through this several times where the ticket was issued and the fare basis was actually a saver as the agents were clueless. If I were to book with EK, I look up the fare basis code and rules myself and have a travel agent book it for me to know for sure that I get what I am expecting.
Mar 19, 2011 | 11:05 am
#19
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: OSL
Programs: QR Plat | SK Diamond | A3 Gold
Posts: 4,612
I have only ever done this once so my knowledge is limited, but I don't recall being charged a booking fee. I was charged the premium for the Flex fare (the price of which I couldn't see on-line) but no mention was ever made of a booking fee. This was throught the Manchester UK call centre.
There was certainly no Travel Agent commission to pay.
There was certainly no Travel Agent commission to pay.
Mar 19, 2011 | 4:10 pm
#20
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SYD
Programs: EK Silver, LH SEN, CX Gold, UA 2P, DJ Silver, Sixt Gold, PC Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 148
There are travel agencies that give you the standard price, no surcharges whatsoever and that's what I recommend to do. Other than that there are booking tools that give access to all fares, Cytric for instance
Mar 19, 2011 | 8:08 pm
#21
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: OSL
Programs: QR Plat | SK Diamond | A3 Gold
Posts: 4,612
Mar 19, 2011 | 8:27 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA GS-2MM, QF LTG, EK Gold, Marriott Amb, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 4,006
Typically there are airlines still paying out commissions on international itineraries and EK may be still following this practice.
For example, in Australia, no airline pays commission on domestic flights but they do on international routes (albeit at a minimum).
For example, in Australia, no airline pays commission on domestic flights but they do on international routes (albeit at a minimum).
Mar 19, 2011 | 9:16 pm
#23
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: OSL
Programs: QR Plat | SK Diamond | A3 Gold
Posts: 4,612
But I always thought this was on the offline prices, which are higher than the online ones. Some airlines, like Oman Air, give you a 5% discount for booking online, so presumably the undiscounted price is what an agent would get you.
Mar 20, 2011 | 9:32 am
#24
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Cairo
Programs: EK Skywards Gold, TK Elite Plus, QR Platinum, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 291
I noticed this change too on CAI-DXB (round trips originating in CAI). Fares that used to be flex (Q, U, B, and M fare buckets) are now all saver. Flex fares start on W fare only. That is an increase of 1300 EGP (Q used to be around 2700 EGP and now W is around 4000), or ~200 USD.
It seems that DXB-CAI fares (round trips originating in DXB) are not changed.
It seems that DXB-CAI fares (round trips originating in DXB) are not changed.
Mar 20, 2011 | 6:26 pm
#25
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Emirates Gold, Flying Blue Gold, Lufthansa Senator
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Mar 20, 2011 | 6:53 pm
#26
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: OSL
Programs: QR Plat | SK Diamond | A3 Gold
Posts: 4,612
Earlier, all regular (well most) published fares were flex, and only special deals like companion fares or limited time sales were saver. Now they've put a 4 month max stay restriction on those same fares and made them savers.
Mar 20, 2011 | 6:57 pm
#27
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Emirates Gold, Flying Blue Gold, Lufthansa Senator
Posts: 70
But that would only be when the cheaper fares are sold out. Did you search for dates in the very near future, or a very busy period?
Earlier, all regular (well most) published fares were flex, and only special deals like companion fares or limited time sales were saver. Now they've put a 4 month max stay restriction on those same fares and made them savers.
Earlier, all regular (well most) published fares were flex, and only special deals like companion fares or limited time sales were saver. Now they've put a 4 month max stay restriction on those same fares and made them savers.
Mar 20, 2011 | 7:12 pm
#29
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, Emirates Gold, Flying Blue Gold, Lufthansa Senator
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