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Discuss this article (6 Comments)Emirates 'best price' fares offer - clarification
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Wednesday, 13 May 2009
FLIGHTS OFFER: Emirates has stressed that its latest offer applies to Emirates flights only. (Getty Images)
Emirates Airline on Wednesday stressed promises to offer refunds if passengers find cheaper fares elsewhere only refers to its own services and not other airlines’ flights.
The Dubai-based carrier said its "best price" offer, which promises to refund the difference should travellers spot lower fares elsewhere, had been misinterpreted by some readers following a report on Arabian Business earlier this week that did not specify all the conditions of the offer.
“Flights have to be $20 cheaper for us to refund the difference, but I think people are interpreting this [best price offer] to say it’s any flight,” an Emirates spokesperson said.
The airline recently launched the best price promotion on its website (www.emirates.com/ae), guaranteeing passengers they would not find better fares for the same Emirates flights anywhere else on the internet.
As part of the guarantee, Emirates said it would refund the difference if the price for a particular flight listed on its website was at least $20 cheaper on another site.
An Emirates spokesperson said: “We don’t want people to get the wrong end of the stick and think that the offer is something that it is not – that we will refund their flight if they could have booked with another airline cheaper. That’s not what it’s about; the offer just relates to the Emirates website."
The spokesperson also said the ‘best price’ promotion, now launched on Emirates’ UAE website and already rolled out in other countries, is proving popular with some passengers.
“It has worked well and we have launched the offer in other markets,” she said. “It launched in Qatar about a month ago and has been really well received. It [airline industry] is a competitive market, but I think the ‘best price’ offer will do quite well.”
Destinations on offer through the ‘best price’ promotion include return flights to New York, Paris, Sydney and Cairo for AED4,295, AED2,735, AED5,325 and AED1,645 respectively. The prices quoted include taxes and surcharges, according to the airline’s website.
The promotion also covers return trips to Los Angeles (AED4,295), Munich (AED2,365) and Karachi (AED1,125).
READERS' COMMENTS
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RE: how much common sense does it really take
Posted by af on Thursday 14 May 2009 at 10:23 UAE time
In Australia, Jetstar (the low cost offshoot of Qantas), offers a 'double the difference' price guarantee - if you find a price on another carrier for the same trip (within 24 hours of the one you want) for less, they will give you that lower fare plus a voucher to the value of double the difference between them to be used on future Jetstar flights.
Clearly as a full service airline EK wouldn't engage in this kind of promotion, but to all those who have suggested that no such things exist, perhaps you should be a little less dogmatic in your posts next time...
Posted by af on Thursday 14 May 2009 at 10:23 UAE time
In Australia, Jetstar (the low cost offshoot of Qantas), offers a 'double the difference' price guarantee - if you find a price on another carrier for the same trip (within 24 hours of the one you want) for less, they will give you that lower fare plus a voucher to the value of double the difference between them to be used on future Jetstar flights.
Clearly as a full service airline EK wouldn't engage in this kind of promotion, but to all those who have suggested that no such things exist, perhaps you should be a little less dogmatic in your posts next time...
False
Posted by Dude, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Thursday 14 May 2009 at 03:21 UAE time
This is false marketing, I can't understand how an airline launch a campaign that is focused around a product which they control, offer, and more importantly control its price through direct and indirect channels and then challenge the customer with a promise to refund if they find it cheaper than what they offer through their own web channel.
Sure you will get such load of negative comments.
Posted by Dude, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Thursday 14 May 2009 at 03:21 UAE time
This is false marketing, I can't understand how an airline launch a campaign that is focused around a product which they control, offer, and more importantly control its price through direct and indirect channels and then challenge the customer with a promise to refund if they find it cheaper than what they offer through their own web channel.
Sure you will get such load of negative comments.
Similar to Hotel websites
Posted by Joe Karcia, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Wednesday 13 May 2009 at 14:11 UAE time
These type of promotions have been long running on several hotel websites. How different is it? Why do people cry for everything?
Posted by Joe Karcia, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Wednesday 13 May 2009 at 14:11 UAE time
These type of promotions have been long running on several hotel websites. How different is it? Why do people cry for everything?
how much common sense does it really take?
Posted by MM, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Wednesday 13 May 2009 at 14:10 UAE time
I have to be sorry to all people who comment on this negatively. I mean are you either proving yourselves to be really bored or you must be illiterate. How much common sense and intelligence does it take for residents in Dubai to realise its best EK price guarantee. I can't believe people actually called customer service to price match with other airlines. You have to be really stupid enough not to understand.
And of all the places I have lived, I have never seen any flight deals that price match others. People here also find passion in stating anything with "that's how it is done in other parts of the world." – I am sorry, which part of the world do you come from?
Posted by MM, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Wednesday 13 May 2009 at 14:10 UAE time
I have to be sorry to all people who comment on this negatively. I mean are you either proving yourselves to be really bored or you must be illiterate. How much common sense and intelligence does it take for residents in Dubai to realise its best EK price guarantee. I can't believe people actually called customer service to price match with other airlines. You have to be really stupid enough not to understand.
And of all the places I have lived, I have never seen any flight deals that price match others. People here also find passion in stating anything with "that's how it is done in other parts of the world." – I am sorry, which part of the world do you come from?
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