Travel Expo - Melbourne

[hellosue]

Hi Everyone,

Went to the Travel Expo yesterday.... (had already booked my flights @ $1128)
So heads up to all those waiting to book....

Air New Zealand Expo Special Melb to Los Angeles $999 Rtn and Children upto 17 $868.....

But only have limited fares per day so get in quick.

Normal fare Adult $1289 and Child $1022 (up to 12 years)

Dates: 3 aug - 28 Aug 2014 & 23 Oct to 29 Nov 2014 Travel completed by 6 Dec.
Hope this helps someone.... had not heard of a Child upto 17 before....

Shop around for travel insurance, I nearly got caught out:
Went to Escape Travel @ Expo asked for quote got told $468 nothing more, nothing extra.... except 10% discount at Expo.... then saw a sign for "Global Sim Card" so enquired that if you purchase Covermore Travel Ins. they will give you prepaid Global Sim card free..... and when re-quoted from lovely lady Allie got told my Insurance would be $312 (so first quote was wrong) and she has organised for me to have 3 Sim Cards so I can communicate with my daughters travelling with me!

 

[dollarmite]

Thanks for that heads up. It's alerted me to the fact that the expo is on here in Brisbane next weekend, so I'm going to try and get along to it to see if I can get the same deal.

Did you have to book and pay a deposit on the day to get that deal, or could you call them later in the week?

I rang Air NZ but they weren't able to help as it was a promotion put out by a third party. Air NZ is one of the few airlines that occasionally charges all under 18s at childrens' fares. I think I've only ever heard of one other (Asian?) airline doing that but its name escapes me now. Considering everyone under 18 is a child in the eyes of the law, they should all only be charged kids' prices until they are 18 anyway IMO. But that's a rant for another day...

 

[hellosue]

Did you have to book and pay a deposit on the day to get that deal, or could you call them later in the week?

I rang Air NZ but they weren't able to help as it was a promotion put out by a third party. Air NZ is one of the few airlines that occasionally charges all under 18s at childrens' fares. I think I've only ever heard of one other (Asian?) airline doing that but its name escapes me now. Considering everyone under 18 is a child in the eyes of the law, they should all only be charged kids' prices until they are 18 anyway IMO. But that's a rant for another day...

I'm sure you had to pay on the day!

I have better knowledge now, but its a bit late for me. Hope it helps someone else.

Ohhh and some of them don't know about the "Disney pass" and there is a Disney stand but, don't get excited they only hand out a brochure detailing all the Parks.... not even a pen as a souvie!

 

[LisaAJ]

Does anyone know if the specials can be carried over or do they have to be taken on the day? I'm guessing yes considering you have to pay on the day?

The Perth Travel Expo is on about 3 days before the 330 days comes up for our trip so I don't really think it's worth going if they can't quote all the airlines. Mind you, if they held the special for a few days I might consider it?

Anybody been in this position?
TIA
X

 

[marvel]

you are generally better of paying for the flights with a credit card that includes international insurance instead of paying for the insurance yourself. save a bundle that way and most platinum and gold cards include insurance these days.

 

[Kangarucci]

I had to pay within 24 hours. Used bank transfer to save credit card fee of 1.98% which would have been more than $200.

No airfare saving for me as we are travelling out of the discounted dates. Quite an involved itinerary so I reluctantly went with FC after spending 2+ hours with them!

 

[dollarmite]

I really dislike Flight Centre. I used them a few times in the days of pre-internet bookings and they always managed to stuff things up, as did another chain TA.

I've never had a single problem since doing it myself, so I'm really reluctant to hand over control of any part of my trip to a TA these days. But, if I can save hundreds of dollars by booking the airfare (only) through them I guess I'll just have to suck it up, and hope they don't mess things up again. It'll have to be a pretty big saving though....

I've worked out the cheapest online airfare deals around the dates we want to travel so at least I've got a starting point, which is one thing I suppose.