Korean Job Discussion Forums

beast · Joined: 28 Jan 2003

Why is it that they never know the prices for anything more distant than three months in advance? In any other country in the world you can walk into a travel agent and slap down a Visa and walk out with a ticket in your hand for a flight one year in advance. Also, they run those ads for cheap flights in the newspapers all year round. The prices never seem to change in the newspaper, yet when I ask what the price is from here to there in September, they all tell me they won't know the price until July. Then I tell them I can buy that same ticket online right now, so if the airline has set the price, why don't they have a price? It's got nothing to do with currency fluctuations or oil prices either. All airlines in the world have to deal with this same issue. Is it because there is so much competition in Korea and the agencies all mutually agreed to do this so as not to undercut eachother? Anyone know the answer?

fatpat · Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Location: The bright lights of Namchang

it is very annoying. I have a flight booked to Hong Kong on the 9th April and they still don't know the bloody price. Everytime I ring up, they say the price comes out next week. I don't understand either. Confused

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Those are discount travel agents, right?

Travel agents NEVER know the price until the airline itself releases it to them (at their discount price).. but I believe the airline itself would know and have the full-fare price.

Or am I wrong about this?

But yeah.. the cheaper tickets its a bit frustrating to wait until the last minute.

On the plus side.. make several reservations at several different places on different days.. and you can always cancel the more expensive ones.

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

J.B. Clamence · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

TB and JB are right. If you want discount prices, you have to wait for them. You can go ahead and buy a ticket now if you are willing to pay full fare, but I wouldn't recommend it. It should be possible to make a reservation without being quoted a price, and then paying when the discount price is published. I've done it many times.

Homer · Guest

beast,

Be patient...as it was mentionned in this thread agents depend on airlines to set their own discount fares.

If you want your ticket that far in advance...buy it now and pay full-fare.

Up to you really.

bucheon bum · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

it is incredibly stupid though. I have never seen any place like Korea in regards to buying airline tickets.

Natalia · Joined: 10 Mar 2006

hogwonguy1979 · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: the racoon den

I got a price from Xanadu travel for July to the US and have already paid for and got my e tickets, even checked with United and got my seat assignments (they put me in economy plus Very Happy

). So I pay maybe 100K more, I got the seats on the flights I wanted on the day I wanted. Since I'm flying in from BKK (there were no cheaper flights from BKK to the US and I was redeeming ff miles to BKK) and getting in on a certian day I wanted to be assured I got the flight out the next day.

Has anybody tried online agents here that are all in Korean?

Homer · Guest

Used whypaymore.kr this time (first time) and it worked perfectly. The price was very reasonable too for the time of year (June) and destination (TO).

jddacosta · Joined: 24 May 2006 Location: korea

NOT EVEN THE AIRLINES KNOW THE PRICE!!!!!!! The reason why one of you got your price and ticket is because you are flying UNITED. I have dealt with Korean air directly and it is the same BS as the travel agencies, and there was also no difference in any prices from the airlines to the travel agencies. They all have the same prices... And it is not because there is a lot of agencies it is because KOREAN AIR IS BASICALLY A MONOPOLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a pain in the ass!!!!!!!! There are no good deals to leave this "island"!! And I am starting to think that Korean air also gives some money to Asiana so they HAVE THE SAME PRICE AND EVEN FLY AT THE SAME TIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Itaewonguy's brother posts now? Cool

jddacosta · Joined: 24 May 2006 Location: korea

Itaewonguy's brother posts now?

WHAT???

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

hahahhaaa!! Good trick, TB. I think it, you post it.

Homer - the site's address is http://www.whypaymore.co.kr/ . .. but thanks for that. I'd never heard of it before. Good competition for tourexpress.

beekeeper3000 · Joined: 13 Jun 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

i think a good question to answer is: is it worth it to wait?

i'm flying to thailand in september, haven't been told the price, but have been quoted 300,000. what are the odds of this changing? if so, by how much?