Black Friday travel deals: how to judge a real saving

Black Friday travel deals are only a real saving if the final price, after every fee, beats what you would normally pay. A big "percent off" banner proves nothing on its own. Check the total, the fare rules and the cancellation terms before you click buy.

Black Friday began as a US event on the day after Thanksgiving. It has grown in Australia as online shopping has grown and more local retailers have joined in. Amazon held its first Australian Black Friday sale in 2018. This year the day falls on Friday 29 November, and many sellers start their sales early. This guide gives you simple checks that work for flights, hotels, tours and car hire.

Sources for this section: Inside Retail, Retailers kick off Black Friday sales early, 21 November 2018.

Check the final price, not the headline

The ACCC describes drip pricing as a headline price shown at the start of an online purchase, with extra fees and charges revealed step by step. You can end up paying more than the advertised price. The ACCC says to be aware of drip pricing when you shop online for airlines, ticketing, accommodation and vehicle rental.

The rule for businesses is clear. Any extra fees and charges must be disclosed at the beginning of the online purchase process. Here are the ACCC's tips for shoppers, in plain words:

• Add all the charges together. The cheapest advertised price may not be the cheapest final price.
• Be ready to back out if new charges appear late in the booking.
• Look for boxes that are already ticked and untick anything you do not want.
• Check the whole booking before you make the final payment.

For flights, compare the full fare with taxes, booking fees and card fees included. For hotels, look for resort, cleaning or parking fees. For car hire, check extras such as insurance cover and extra driver costs.

Sources for this section: ACCC, Drip pricing.

Read the fare rules before you pay

A cheap fare often comes with strict rules. When you buy a flight, you enter a contract with the airline. The ACCC explains that the airline's Conditions of Carriage set out the contract. Fare rules then apply to the type of fare you buy. These rules say whether you can cancel or change your flight.

That matters on Black Friday, because sale fares are often the most restricted. Before you pay, look for these points:

• Can you change the date, and what does it cost?
• Can you cancel for a refund, a credit or nothing at all?
• Is checked baggage included, or is it an extra charge?
• Does a credit expire, and by when must you travel?
• Are there blackout dates around school holidays and Christmas?

The same habit works for hotels and tours. Look for "non-refundable" or "pay now" labels, and for the date after which you lose your money. Save a copy of the terms with your booking.

Sources for this section: ACCC, Flight delays and cancellations.

Is the "was" price real?

Many sales show a crossed-out "was" price next to a "now" price. The law says a business must not leave a false impression about price or value. The ACCC gives a plain example. A shop that advertises a watch as "was $200, now $100" when it never sold it for $200 is likely to be misleading shoppers. It makes no difference whether the business meant to mislead.

The ACCC also says fine print must not contradict the main message of an ad. If an ad says "free" but the fine print says you must pay something, it is likely to be misleading.

You cannot see a seller's price history, but you can build your own. A simple method is:

1. Pick the trip you want, such as a flight, a hotel or a package.
2. Note the price on a few booking sites in the weeks before Black Friday.
3. On the day, compare the sale price with your notes, using the full price with all fees.
4. If the saving is small or you cannot tell, wait. Sellers run many sales through the year.

This method is our suggestion, not an ACCC rule. It works because it is based on what you saw, not on what the seller says.

Sources for this section: ACCC, False or misleading claims.

What your rights cover, and what they do not

Under the Australian Consumer Law, services come with automatic guarantees. One is that a service must be supplied within a reasonable time. The ACCC says these rights apply to domestic flights and to international flights leaving Australia. They also apply to international flights to Australia when you book through the airline's Australian website.

If your flight is delayed or cancelled, you may be entitled to a refund or a replacement, depending on the length of the delay, the reason and whether the airline can put you on another flight within a reasonable time. Airline compensation policies work on top of these rights and cannot remove them.

The limits are important too. The ACCC says the consumer guarantees do not apply if you change your mind or miss your flight. They also do not apply if you simply find the same thing cheaper somewhere else. A sale fare does not give you a free cancellation right.

The ACCC also warns that airlines do not guarantee flight times. If you must arrive by a set time, allow extra time and think about travel insurance. If you buy from a seller based overseas, the ACCC notes you may find it harder to get a repair, replacement or refund.

Sources for this section: ACCC, Flight delays and cancellations; ACCC, Consumer guarantees; ACCC, Shopping online.

A quick checklist before you buy

1. Total the price with taxes, fees and extras.
2. Read the fare rules or booking terms for changes and refunds.
3. Compare the "was" price with what you saw in the weeks before.
4. Check the travel dates against your leave and any blackout dates.
5. Look for pre-ticked extras and remove them.
6. Pay by a method that lets you ask your bank for help if the service is never supplied. The ACCC says to contact your bank if you paid by credit card and did not receive what you paid for.
7. Keep your receipt, booking email and a copy of the terms.

If you think a seller misled you, you can make a complaint to the ACCC. A good Black Friday travel deal passes every check above. If it fails even one, skip it.

Sources for this section: ACCC, Drip pricing; ACCC, Shopping online.

Sources

1. ACCC, Drip pricing: accc.gov.au
2. ACCC, Flight delays and cancellations: accc.gov.au
3. ACCC, False or misleading claims: accc.gov.au
4. ACCC, Consumer guarantees: accc.gov.au
5. ACCC, Shopping online: accc.gov.au
6. Inside Retail, Retailers kick off Black Friday sales early, 21 November 2018: insideretail.com.au