alphaflightguru.com

Old Feb 18th, 2011, 09:00 AM
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alphaflightguru.com

Has anyone had any experience with this CA company advertised as offering discounted Business, etc.,, Class tickets? I always get nervous about companies I can't check out well and that are on the other side of the country. I have requested a quote on a particular routing, got a promot first response, and am waiting for the quote itself. I usually end up buying from the airline direct. thanks.
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Old Feb 18th, 2011, 04:09 PM
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It doesn't look to good, does it? Just the fact that there isn't anything on the internet (except this negative comment http://www.ripoffreport.com/air-trav...shbe-d49b5.htm) would prevent me from even considering it.
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Old Feb 19th, 2011, 03:44 AM
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http://www.bbb.org/.../travel-agenci...runo-ca-357439

newer reseller consolidator no BBB complaints

no personal experience good personal experience with

www.airbrokers.com

www.airtreks.com

www.airawards.com

Happy Hunting,
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Old Feb 19th, 2011, 03:52 AM
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Always use my www.capitalone.com no foreign fee Venture CC

when booking new companies can always do a merchant reversal

get my money back and www.insuremytrip.com always wise.
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Old Feb 20th, 2011, 05:08 AM
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Thank you for your responses. Thank you quovadis for the "personal experience" names.
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Old Jul 21st, 2011, 07:50 PM
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Bought a ticket from them last winter. Took them a while to respond, but the guy did find a great flight that was $1,500 less than Orbitz! Also, I needed the return date changed, they did it for $150. That is as good as full price ticket bought from airlines directly. I definitely recommend.
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Old Jul 25th, 2011, 09:01 AM
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I wiould be cautious in accepting the above recommendation, since D_Kat just joined Fodor's to post this.
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Old Sep 28th, 2011, 12:07 PM
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These guys are legitimate. You'd be stupid not to check with them or someone like them before you buy an international business class ticket, unless you just want to throw away a lot of money, and we're talking thousands on something like a flight to Asia.
The only negative thing I've heard about some of these business class brokers is that they sometimes stretch the rules by buying up a lot of miles from Craig's list or other places, and then using the miles to upgrade your ticket. I'm not sure how it works exactly, but airlines frown on it. If detected, it could potentially get you booted from the airline's frequent flier program (if you're a member) and your miles confiscated.
So I would think twice before using a service like this on an airline whose ff program you belong to and value highly, but otherwise, it seems like a no-brainer to me. Always use a credit card that protects you in these situations as well. Never use a debit card, money order, cash or anything and you'll be ok.
All that being said, if these guys were having a problem, you'd see the complaints proliferating pretty quickly, but it seems their customers, including me, are pretty happy.
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Old Nov 14th, 2011, 01:36 AM
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I just found these guys online. I asked for a quote for a business class airfare from Sydney to JFK and the airfare they quoted with Delta was about $1000 to $2000 cheaper than i had been able to find. I thought it sounded too good to be true.. but perhaps it isn't. Only problem is they have trouble contacting me on my mobile as I am in Australia and they have hounded me with emails, sometimes twice a day.
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Old Nov 14th, 2011, 01:39 AM
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Another thing... as I had a doubt I thought I would use the quote and go to an Australian company that matches airfare prices to be safe.
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Old Dec 31st, 2011, 07:59 AM
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These guys could be legit -- or crooks . . . I have no idea. But I do know that almost every recommendation has been by a first time/only time poster. None have ever posted on any other topic and at least one has been nuked by the editors. It would appear they are all shills for alphaflightguru. Which would be a pity if they do happen to be legit -- because these posts look pretty shady to me . . .
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Old Dec 31st, 2011, 10:51 AM
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I agree janisj. All these first time posters, who came and registered just to tell us about AFG!
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Old Jan 20th, 2012, 01:25 AM
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Just Joined up to let you all know that D_Kat posted a comment on July 22nd 2011 about how he/she bought a ticket etc etc and on the ripoffreport website the same D_Kat has post a large Rebuttal as He/She states that he/she works for Alphaflightguru and has done for 14 months..
check it out http://www.ripoffreport.com/air-trav...shbe-d49b5.htm
Now if these guys are Legit then it would be awfully stupid for one of their own to post/pose as a customer... kinda discredits legitimacy.
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Old Jan 20th, 2012, 06:49 AM
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Also, Kat_D is supposedly an "agent" and has never heard of hidden city ticketing? Ludicrous! She needs to read Fodors more.
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Old Apr 6th, 2012, 09:06 AM
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NOT A FAN
I used them once. I cannot recommend them. They purchase airline miles, purchase tickets with them and sell the tickets. I was not informed of this until it came time to book the tickets. I have never purchased tickets in this manner before, as this game is out of my comfort zone.

It had taken several weeks for them to find me seats that fit my schedule. When it came time to book the tickets I went to give him my airline member numbers and was informed of the situation. I was pressed for time and had spent too much time on this, so I accepted frequent flier tickets.

I was then told that I needed to wire funds. I took that as a red flag. But, again, I was in a hurry, and failed to heed it. I did, however, refuse to wire funds. Credit card or forget the whole thing. Then he wanted to charge me extra for credit card. I blew up. End result was they took the credit card without extra charge.

Overall, I would say that their focus is on revenue enhancement rather than service. The culture, as I perceived it, was that of an unscrupulous mechanic charging as much as he could get away with.

Numerous charges came through from various airlines around the world. I requested a statement/reconciliation of the charges. I was told "Don't worry. You'll see the charges on your credit card statement". I always start to worry when someone tells me "Don't worry." I was never able to get a list of the charges.

Ultimately, I was not comfortable working with them and cancelled the tickets. They did refund most of the charges under threat of filing a claim with credit card company. I didn't push for the smaller charges. I wrote them off as a learning experience.

I could go on. But, suffice it to say, I cannot recommend them. Maybe others have had a different experience.
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Old Apr 24th, 2012, 08:08 PM
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Well call me crazy but I am just about to get on board with these guys. They told me up front about using reward points and although it's wierd I am prepared to take the gamble. I rang the airline and checked it out. They were aware of the arrangement and had no real dramas. There was an anomoly with some details so before I signed over I asked for this to be corrected. I'm in Australia so I could not discuss the corrections with them at the time I was ready to take the plunge. The savings are significant so if it works I will be stoked.
So here goes?? I'll post a comment either way so that there will be some actual experience on this blog.
Wish me luck!
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Old Apr 25th, 2012, 03:02 AM
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Good luck, professor.
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Old May 5th, 2012, 08:41 AM
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We used their services to JoBurg and Istanbul recently from Canada and everything worked well. Would use them again.
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Old May 7th, 2012, 09:19 PM
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This thread is fascinating for some reason.
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Old May 13th, 2012, 02:22 AM
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So here's my comment:
We paid a deposit of AUD$250 and within 24 hours we had a Virgin e-ticket BNE to LAX. We rang the airline and they confirned we were on board. But before paying the balance we wanted to make sure it was legit. These guys use Delta Airlines Skymiles so we contacted both Delta and Virgin and asked them to investigate if this scheme is illegal or against their T & Cs. While it is not the intended purpose their was no definative response that it broke any rules. Whether the airlines are willing or able to shut this down is yet to be seen. But I doubt it.
In the end we decided to fly premium economy on the same flights and went with Flight Center. AFG returned our deposit in full.
This scheme works and for anyone flying business class. It's a cheap way to go.
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