Posted by
Fruitjuice
16 yrs ago
Hi,
I just wanted to get some other poeple's opinions on something. Our DH has been with us since June, and as part of her deal we said we'd pay for her to have one flight home per year. Being first-time employers, we didn't specify anything in particular in terms of cost. She decided to go home at Christmas (which we didn't want her to do as we have pets that need looking after, but we agreed as she really wanted to). Anyway, she came in yesterday with a receipt for a flight home that she's booked and paid for, which costs $5,000! Now, she said herself that she realises it's expensive and doesn't expect us to cover the whole cost, but to be honest we really don't want to pay any more than $2,000 (in fact, we thought it would have been less than that). Having looked on the Phillipines Airlines website, I know that you can easily get return flights most of the year for about $1,100, so I think this is a reasonable amount.
I still feel bad that she's going to be so out of pocket though, and realise now that we should have stipulated at the beginning what our price limit for the flight was.
Do you think we're being fair by only paying $2,000? I would have thought she should have consulted us before paying for it in the first place, then we could have discussed it before she lost out on any money. I feel really awkward about the situation and am dreading telling her as I know she'll be annoyed.
What do other people think?
Thanks.
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NO WAY!!! I paid $1890 and that was with a connecting flight as an extra! Besides the fact, the is what she did was downright wrong! I would get on line and check out the cheapest flight and pay her that.
Why should you feel bad about her being out of pocket. As Huggy said, she clearly didn't shop around, that's not your fault. I would not pay anymore than $2K, which I think is pushing it anyway. If you can get the flights for $1,100, then pay her that much because if you had booked the flights in the first place, that is how much you would have paid.
She should have come to you first. Now she needs to face the consequences of going behind your back and booking without checking first.
Perhaps say you will pay $XXX and forgo her bonus if you were giving her one, or reduce it. Say in future she is not to take it upon herself to book flights, that you will do it for her.
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cebu pacific has an ofw promo for zero to manila!!! just pay the relevant surcharges which will amount to about 1000 hkd.
5000 is business class already
well next time, tell her that you will subsidize a trip to the philippines once a year for the amount of xxx
either that or you do the booking and buying of the ticket
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there is clearly enough evidence that there are cheaper flights.
the mistake was on her part for going ahead without letting you know or discussing with your first. therefore you should put your foot down firmly without being emotional or feeling guilty about it. you have to take the ball to your court.
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We paid over $3000 once but that was a late booking for an outward and inward flight at peak time at Christmas with limited availability. So $5000? That is just crazy.
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Have you actually seen the ticket? Curious now! Do let us know what the catch was!
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yes, crazy - should be more like $2,000 - we paid around $1,800 last year and even less this year....
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Hi everyone,
Thanks for your replies. I have got the receipt for the flights - they're booked through a travel agent and are economy class, but still $5,000! She said that there were hardly any seats left and they are so expensive because of the late booking, and that she just quickly grabbed them as otherwise she wouldn't have been able to go home. I don't know why she left the booking so late as we agreed when she could go home a couple of months ago. I think going forward we'll tell her our upper price limit, but say that we'll do the buying and get the cheapest deal ourselves. I realise now that we were far too blase when we hired her and needed to be way more specific about everything - this isn't the only occasion where she's taken the p*ss with costs.
Oh well, I feel less bad about the cost to her now anyway. We live and learn!!
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why dont you look yourself on Cebu Pacific web and Phil Airlines web for the dates she is going and check? I am sure she can still cancel with the agency - they always can!
Just to put it in perspective - our flights to Perth in Aus over xmas cost around $7,000-$8,000! so $5,000 to Manila really does not make sense
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I'm sure you could get a flight with Cebu Air as I just changed my helper's flights only 2 days ago and there was no problem at all. I agree with ldsllvn, if she paid top dollar, then chances are it will be a fully flexible airfare.
I reckon it's worth checking out, there is still time and if the flights can be cancelled and rebooked online, then do that.
other friends that are helpers. They know the best deals.
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FKKC
16 yrs ago
I've never heard of such a high price for the ticket even though flights during the Christmas period is on the high season rate. You are definitely taken for a ride. For some employers, if their helpers live in remote provinces outside Manila, they also paid for the connecting inland flights. My helper prefers PAL as she doesn't have to transfer her lugguage for her connecting flight and I agreed to her request since she's a great help to my family and this gesture causes me more money but I do not mind but it's far far from what your helper has quoted.
Do check on this $5,000 quote..it's a terrible rip-off.
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I booked (3 weeks ago) for our helper to go home for Christmas and it was $1,836. 5,000 does sound like waaay too much
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i tried the following today for a manila flight
based on this info - leaving dec 22, arriving hk on jan 2 (seats were available on several time schedules and all three carriers), economy class
CX
Total fare HKD 3,402.00
PHIL. AIRLINES- same info
(HKD)
Adult 2,640.00 HKD 512.00 HKD 3,152.00 HKD x 1 3,152.00 HKD
TOTAL 3,152.00 HKD
CEBU PACIFIC
Total Price
HKD3,373.00
last but not least
HONG KONG EXPRESS
they only have one flight a day yet there are available seats online
1 adult(s) x (2,890.00 + 512.00) = 3,402.00 HKD
====
ok, i understand that booking online is more expensive than a regular travel agent but the point here is that it does not amount to 5000 hkd
and these are already 4 airlines that i've checked online.
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just got an email ad from cathay today
they have a promo for manila flights must fly by dec 22, 14 days - 990 hkd
there is still some seats available and Total fare is HKD 1,502.00
5000 hkd is waaaaaaaaay waaaaaaaaay too much
sorry to rub it in but you should point this out to your helper about the fares and the seat availability.
are you sure, that it's not a travel agency owned by her friends?
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You are being ripped off, she has had the agent issue a full fare ticket, once you give her the money she will cancel the booking and rebook a cheaper ticket.
Check the online price and agree to give her that amount.
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