A voice of sanity?
The airline exec calling for a crackdown is Virgin’s Richard Branson, and he was actually complaining about excess fees on Australian airlines, but his sentiments apply all over:
“The extra fees are not a good idea. The problem is that once one airline has done it, it makes their basic ticket price look less and therefore the other airlines have to match it otherwise people think that the other airline is cheaper than they are.” -Sir Richard Branson, 10-1-09
Keep reading for more of the legendary entrepreneur’s thinking – and my response to some of his ideas… Airline Fees: Airline Exec Calls for Crackdown on Excess Fees
Great article in the latest Budget Travel blog (and no, not just because I’m quoted!) – all about cheap flights to Australia.
How cheap? Well until just recently, airfares to Australia were basically in free-fall:
“The prices in the spring and fall were the cheapest I have seen in 5 years of closely tracking airfare trends; they have firmed up lately but are still pretty good compared to the past half decade.” -Rick Seaney, Budget Travel
How to find cheap flights to Australia from your airport? Easy. Just go to FareCompare’s deal finder – when asked, “Where do you want to go?” just click on Australasia. Every city you’ve ever dreamed of visiting will pop up with the best prices – and you can also see the cities and prices on a map!
The only thing I can add is, have a wonderful time.
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Here’s a puzzler:
U.S. lawmakers know that foreign tourism has been tanking since 9/11. Now they’ve come up with an idea – legislation, actually – to lure them back. One thing it would do is create a “Corporation for Travel Promotion” that would boost America as an ideal travel destination, as well as better explain the nation’s entry regulations.
But, in a stupefying display of absurdity, the corporation would be funded in part by a $10 fee collected from – yes – foreign tourists!
Believe me, I’m all for promoting America to tourists around the world, but – isn’t it possible this fee will make that just a little harder to do?
What would you do to lure more tourists here? Let’s get creative.
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Right now, a roundtrip coach ticket from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia ranges from about $1000 to $4,500 (and at other times, it can cost much more).
But now the new airline, V Australia (yes of Virgin fame) has a promotional roundtrip fare for just $619 – this includes all taxes and fees. See the screen shot below:
I accidently ran across this airfare this morning when perusing some data — you have to depart on 27-Feb (no other days), stay at least 5 days and no longer than 30 days. Certainly a promotional airfare as this is a new route, but I don’t ever recall a price like this that wasn’t a mistake.
If this interests you, you can grab this deal on FareCompare. But hurry, the last day to book is today!
