HAL Aussie Booking Rip-off

[iancal]

I would also point out that an Aussie can easily go on the web and book a hotel stay in Chicago. The rate chart will be the same that an American sees, say $150. It may be that the rate for similar hotel such as the Sydney Regent is $300., but the rate that the Aussi willpay is $150. And it could be less if the person pays immediately by credit card with no reservation change permitted. So what is the difference? Well, in the hotel business there is LOTS of competition so trying to sell at the Aussie rate of $300. would not work. Aussie would simply go to another hotel where he/she was not being ripped off and sold a product at an inflated rate. Second, the internet is communciation, so that Aussie can find out what the US rate is very quickly on his/her own without having to rely on a TA and what the rates are at other hotels. And finally, the US hotel will not ask for a passport. All they want is a credit card for the room charge and incidentals.

 

No difference from the cruise scenerio with one exception...ONLY THREE HOLDING COMPANIES control virtually 100 percent of the mainstream cruise business and they can easily monitor because passports are required when you board the ship.

[Hlitner]

We have heard the Aussie complaint on other cruise boards as well as HA and have some suspicions. For our Aussie friends we ask a question, Do you think that cruises booked in your country are subject to VAT or other taxes not assessed in the USA? We are also curious as to how the tipping issue is handled with your bookings since we do know that Aussies have some strong opinions about gratuitites. In the USA it has become the norm to add the so-called gratuities to the daily on-board account which is not done until one is on the cruise.

 

Hank

[anniegb]

As a Brit also subjected to inflated cruise prices; VAT cannot be applied to services supplied outwith UK. Tips are not included and I pay mine via the onboard account.