Customers confirmed the loss of the value of tickets upon cancellation. And tourism companies consider them individual cases
Travel sites set conditions that raise ticket prices by up to 30%
Ticket prices have risen significantly after the increase in demand for travel following the cancellation of Corona restrictions. Archival
Alaa Al-Ali: "Some travelers do not read the terms and conditions, and some do not understand them correctly, which exposes them to major problems."
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Traders reported that ticketing websites set conditions they described as "unfair" that raise ticket prices by up to 30%.
They told Emirates Today that some sites offer tickets at cheap prices, and then they are surprised by the increase in price when completing the reservation due to these conditions, most notably with regard to modifying the date of booking, noting that the value of tickets will be lost in full in the event that they have to cancel travel.
For their part, officials in tourism companies and websites said that some sites offer tickets at the basic price that does not include many basic things, pointing out that some complaints are individual cases and are due to ignoring reading the conditions or not understanding them correctly.
They called for dealing with travel companies or trusted websites and reading the terms and conditions well.
modulation
In detail, the customer, Ayman Jameel, said that he booked tickets for him and his family to an Arab country through a travel website, after the site "deluded" him - as he put it - that he could book tickets at cheap prices.
He explained that he initially found the price of tickets really cheap, but after he went a long way in booking he found conditions that he described as «unfair» that raise the price by up to 30%, most notably paying a large amount so that he can modify the reservation, noting that he did not pay so as not to increase the price of tickets, especially since there is no reason to amend.
Jameel added that he was later exposed to emergency circumstances at work that forced him to request a change in the booking date to find the tickets cancelled, and lose the ticket price of 8400,<> dirhams.
taxes
The customer, Samir Fouad, said that he also booked tickets through one of the websites, after promoting cheap prices, pointing out that he initially found that the price of tickets is less than booking directly through airlines, but after he almost completed the reservation, he found a condition that he also described as «unfair», raising the value of tickets by up to about 25%, which is to add an amount of up to 500 dirhams per ticket to be able to cancel or modify the reservation, as well as adding taxes because he was surprised that they were not included in the ticket price when they were put forward.
Reserve a seat
According to Akram Ismail, he booked tickets for his family through a website after finding the tickets cheaper than the price offered directly by some airlines.
He explained that after he was close to completing the reservation process, he found that the price increased by more than 20% after he added some basic things, which he was surprised to be not included in the reservation, such as booking a seat, ordering a meal and carrying a handbag, noting that he had a big problem at the airport because he did not understand that he had to pay an additional amount in exchange for allowing small handbags to be carried for the family, which forced him to pay an additional amount.
Individual cases
For his part, an official in one of the travel websites, who identified himself as «S.M», said that some sites offer tickets at the basic price and allow the traveler the freedom to choose what suits him without forcing him to include in the ticket things that he may not consider necessary, which reduces ticket prices, pointing out that this flexibility is one of the reasons for the demand for these sites.
He added that travelers have different needs and requirements, and it is better to let each person determine the value of his ticket according to his needs, pointing out that some complaints are individual cases due to travelers neglecting to read the conditions or not understanding them correctly.
marketing
In turn, the CEO of Nirvana Travel and Tourism, Alaa Al-Ali, said that some travel websites are skilled in marketing and suggesting that they offer cheap tickets to lure travelers to book through them.
Al-Ali added that some of these sites put a long list of conditions under terms and conditions, describing these conditions as "unfair" and "expensive", pointing out that some travelers do not read all the terms and conditions, and some do not understand them correctly, which exposes them to major problems after booking and during their stay at airports.
Al-Ali called on travelers to deal with local tourism companies they trust, especially as they are licensed companies and subject to the control and supervision of local tourism departments, and therefore guaranteed in the event of any problem, unlike some sites that may close suddenly and for some reason.
Problems
In the same context, Wael Salem, sales manager at MK Travel and Tourism, said that many travelers have been exposed to many problems in the current period due to their reservations through some websites, while trying to find cheap tickets in light of the high prices significantly after the increase in demand for travel following the cancellation of restrictions related to the Corona pandemic.
Salem explained that some sites resort to the basic price offer for the ticket, which does not include many basic things, which are indispensable, and therefore when the traveler finishes the reservation and adds these things, he finds himself paying a high price that is almost similar to the price through airlines sometimes.
He called for dealing with tourism and travel companies or reliable sites, reading the terms and conditions well, and not risking booking unchangeable tickets, stressing the importance of early booking so that prices are at relatively reasonable levels.
• Some sites offer tickets at the base price, not including many basic things.