I am really looking for the lowest priced trip, and am running across “low price guarantees” – are these legit?

Well to start with, make sure you are really comparing the same thing – appearances can be deceiving. As an educated student that has proven their ability to use intelligence be a smart shopper, we think guaranteeing a “lowest price” as a corporation can not only be fairly insulting, it can even border on illegal if not honored.

Travel is a service, not a product….this is why you probably don’t get your hair cut at “barber,” and you go to a “salon” – better service. Wal Mart has the lowest prices for clothes. Do you buy your clothes there? Well? Why not? If price is all that matters…..If you are buying a TV…hell, shop price, it’s a product. Travel is not a type of purchase where you can compare apples to apples all that easily – there are many points of service which can greatly differ – and make your friends scream at you their dissatisfaction.

Not all travel companies use the same airlines, can guarantee you specific hotels or condos (yes, you can get moved around at their discretion) or are actually onsite to hear your complaints – we are. One of Inertia’s primary competitive advantages is that we are Family owned & operated, as well as being Texas-friendly. Nope, we’re not some big fancy Corporation that will treat you like a number.

Secondly, offering the “lowest price” on an inferior package with parties that are empty, the worst condos or hotel rooms in a complex, or free meals that are crappy buffet lines or fast food really is not legit – it’s bs. You think, hey, this Company offers Hotel XYZ and Inertia offers the same XYZ hotel. They are higher than Inertia but will “beat” or “bust” Inertia’s price. Of course they will. They don’t have a package, it’s just a room with crap you won’t use. Then, you will be dealing with the wrath of your friends.

Lastly, guaranteeing the lowest price to charge you & your friends a “fuel/security surcharge” to get on the flight (up to 10% of the price of the trip, and yes, it is legal to do, it’s in the fine print!),  or hiding condo security wristband fee ($25 per person) or a “refundable” damage deposit of $50 per person (they never refund it – why would they? What are you going to do, sue them over $50? No you won’t. Inertia includes all these garbage fees in the prices charge. When you arrive you owe not a penny. These hidden fees nullifies their “lowest price” scam you enjoyed earlier.

Unethical Companies will bury the fact they can do this in their travel terms (which you’ve already signed). Plus, you’re all ready to go – it’s not like booking somewhere else is an option that late in the game. If the travel company is offering a “low price guarantee,” but won’t offer you a “no fuel surcharge” guarantee or your invoice price seems to mysteriously have jumped higher – book with Inertia, because we will offer a no fuel surcharge guarantee (unless it’s legit, or actually charged to us by the airline, in which case we will provide you with a written invoice from the airline). This “fuel surcharge” loop hole was originally set up or allowed, by the Department of Transportation for the specific reason if a Tour Company contracted a charter, or private full sized jet to transport its passengers, and they were a bit short in sales, they could “surcharge” up to 10% of the base trip cost to still fly the plane, rather than issue refunds or take a loss. (You can read more about this at: https://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/rules/20010118.htm)

Now, many unscrupulous travel providers are charging their clients this fee even when a.) They are not even using charters, or b.) When their scheduled airline has not surcharged them for the fuel or c.) The charter is completely sold out. It is borderline illegal, and at the very least, unethical. Same goes with hidden wristband fees & damage deposit money – they say “well, these aren’t our fees, it’s the property that charges!” It’s baloney.