Anyone ever used guys like Alpha Flight Guru or Fly Luxury For Less?

I used Alpha Flight Gurus to travel with a friend to India a year ago. In the beginning my experience with them was wonderful. I became very apprehensive, though, when I was told if any changes needed to be made with the tickets to PLEASE not call the airline - to let them handle it. The trip to India went smoothly enough, although two different carriers were utilized and there was a problem making certain my luggage was going to be diverted correctly. On the trip home, though, my traveling companion had his tickets rejected by the airline. We were not able to reach anyone to help and had to pay out of pocket for his return ticket. It was quite a scramble to secure enough money and then we were unable to travel back together as his seat on our flight had already been sold. 

TRB - there are plenty of such companies. I am surprised that you have missed my very long thread about this: http://www.ausbt.com.au/qa/anyone-ever-used-guys-like-alpha-flight-guru-or-fly-luxury-for-less . And while savings do exists they nowhere close to claim 70% - you often can buy the same ticket on sale for 10-15% more. They (as everyone else) comparing with elusive RRP - I always wonder who is buying at RRP price? I personally decided to steer away from them. YMMV.

Bloody Hell! My above post in wrong place :-( Just ignore it

I'm 72 and retired, no connection with any business, just prefer comfort for the long trip to Heathrow. Have used AFG twice now with great success. Last April Tanya Lim organised my trip at a great price and in January this year Fevos Karachlios (?) did the same as Tanya had left AFG. Fevos could not have been more helpful. While we were in the UK he emailed that Thai had overbooked and he offered two alternatives for the first leg of the trip home, with the result that the one we chose was an unbeatable flight with EVA Air. We had flown with them on the outward leg from Bangkok and found them to be the best ever tried. Both Tanya and Fevos have been great and I have no qualms in recommending AFG. Oh dear Serg, you do get excited when reading that some people have been happy with them; I wonder what is behind this.

History repeat itself – user signed in just to give positive comment in thread that been buried down for months. It is impossible “accidentally” struck this thread – some need to search and specifically search for it. Why person who overwhelmingly happy with service from AFG will search more then half year old thread to give positive comment? It is suspicious by itself.

And besides (again!) comment for AFG (not FLFL) and (again!) give me names of agents as I would care even smallest bit. It does not sounds “personal” for me but it rather sounds suspicious. AFG marketing department – you have to rethink your strategy.

Yes, I can accept that some may be lucky enough to use your service without any hick-ups. I even can accept that majority of your clients are lucky to travel without any issues.

Problems that I have - I do not know even one of your customer personally (or credible enough on-line user) and there are multiply stories that if something going wrong it is going wrong really badly. In my opinion risk does not worth it.

Hi there Serg! Had a good laugh at your speedy response; how paranoid can one person be? The reason I looked at this site in the first place, being unaware of its existence to start with, was that in conversation to a friend about my happy experiences with AFG, he asked me if I had seen the reviews on them. Curious to see, when he said that some were frightening, I looked and found all the above,instigated apparently by you. You may have set out to defame AFG but you have attracted some positive comments such as mine, which must be very irritating for you. AFG has nothing whatsoever to do with me, apart from my being one of their satisfied, and elderly, clients. I emphasise satisfied, for the information of people reading this who are unsure whether or not to trust them. In naming the agents I have provided prospective clients with assurances that they will be looked after.

Speedy response (as well as this one) because I start this thread and marked it, so I know about any post immediately – nothings about paranoia.

I start this thread because was toying myself to use them and I even contact them. But their methods really put me off – you cannot see offers, but have to fill form and someone contact you. Plus savings nowhere close to claimed 70% especially if you ask for certain airlines (I am not flying China airlines for example, call it paranoia if you wish), though they do exist.

I just conclude that I do not like dealing with them – and you also may call it paranoia if you wish. I conclude that it would be safer to use points and money to achieve my goals instead of semi-dodgy methods that may or may not work.

Your opinion may be opposite and your experience (real or imaginary) does not irritate me at all - I am happy that you have positive experience. If it works for you than use it. But please do not tell me your agent names anymore – I do not give a damn.

Interesting reading....hard to discern if comments are legit or not, but there are way too many red flags here to stay away from buying a ticket from AFG. To have piece of mind, I think I'll buy my tickets from a local travel agent. I am based in Australia and AFG have an Australian phone number, but there is no business here, it is all done out of the US, or that's what they told me. I haven't come across anyone I know who has actually used them, which is worrying. 

I'm traveling in one week on a trip arranged through AFG. Am I a little worried? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't.  But for the benefit of future afg users,  I'll be posting the outcomes of our trip on our return in June.  One week or from our departure,  all flights are still booked and confirmed. 

I hope that everything turn out fine for you, but please keep posting. And if you do not mind what is itinerary and price paid.

I have used AFG on two occasions for flights to London return and had no issue and will be booking again within the next month. Saved approximately $7000 for both trips.

Here's my 2 cents. 

I gave two of the companies a test scenario. Australia - UAE return in First class. The 'agent' first sent me an itinerary with Thai in First to BKK, then business to UAE. It was the exact same option offered through United Mileage Plus redemptions. I contested saying I asked for First not mixed classes. The agent also had no clue how much this itinerary was going to cost and kept on referring to the price as shown on their website which was in AUD.

In one of the emais the itinerary was simple copy/paste from UA/MP final page!

Anyhow, he sent me another itinerary with Thai and Swiss via BKK and ZRH in First. Once again I refused claiming this is too far out. This option was the exact one on UA MP. A few days later he came back with F on SQ, same availability as per KrisFlyer. 

The other company I tried out gave the most absurd of routing (via ICN and BKK), but again exactly what's shown on UA MP. 

I investigated further. Both companies are registered for entities that incidently own/operate websites like: 'sellmyrewards' and 'sellmilesnow'.

Coincidently offers made to these websites to sell a large stash of  miles were never returned (they may be already overloaded perhaps?).

The simplest of advice is to avoid. If you truly tried them before and got lucky, it's just that, luck. Most of these 'cheap' ways to book F/J flights are tricks that with little research can be learnt and applied. Some of these tricks are even published on Ausbt and will work out less than what any company can offer. Applying the tricks yourself will also guarantee you a seat and complete adherence to the terms and conditions of the carriers you're travelling with as well as the FF program you used to book it.

Regards

I forgot to add, a paid SQ fare in F to DXB booked direct with the airline was anyway just 400AUD dearer. You are actually being fooled twice. Once for thinking what these websites have to offer is a steal of a deal, and the second time for paying for award seats very close to the actual paid fare that will earn miles/status.

Okay....I just returned from my trip booked via AFG.

In summary, everything was perfectly fine....I even checked in online before the departure date (just to "double check" that everything was above-board).   I noticed that we were booked in "I" class (which is business class - or Executive First on Air Canada - but the "mileage redemption" class fare for the equivalent "J" business class.  We were treated no different that any business class passenger.

We flew Thai Airways from Brisbane to Bangkok to Beijing, then Air Canada from Beijing to Vancouver.   Tickets were return.    

It was more stops that ideal (ideally we would've prefered direct from SYD to YVR), but it saved us pretty much 70% off the published fares for the same seats on Air Canada and Thai Airways -- and we were very happy with our seats (which AFG recommended based on seats on the aircraft and they knew the layout).  The 70% savings we made was well and truly worth more than any frequent flyer points we would've accumulated on the journey.

All in all, we were very happy with the service and quality of the flights.   Our rep from AFG also double checked all confirmations were still in place 2 days before each flight, and emailed us to let us know that.  (I still checked myself).    We will definitely be looking into this option on a future Business class flight but will still due our due diligence to ensure that it's good value.

We have used Alpha Flight Guru twice. First time - Business Class, May 2012. Great flights at great prices, adelaide to London. In late 2013 we booked again for May 2014 - Adelaide to London. In April I checked our booking on line with US Air. They had been cancelled! I contacted AFG, and our agent Robert Carbone told me that US Air had informed him that my wife had rung US Air direct and cancelled the flights and that US Air were investgating the event. I replied that my wife had certainly not cancelled the flights, and that we were still wanting to fly. AFG organised substitute flights at about half price. But I had to pay for these flights. So I am still waiting for the refund from the original flights. I got one email only from US Air to the effect that they had refunded the taxes to AFG but this has not been passed on to me. Still waiting. NO refund from AFG so I am out of pocket for two Business class flights. Does anyone have any ideas?