Short and to the point

Few readers mentioned that the detailed post about Brussels Airlines' alleged "guarantee" is too long for the average reader.

Here's the abridged version:

• In order to qualify for their LFG (Lowest Fare Guaranteed) Brussels Airlines instructs you to create file(s) that are either too large and/or too many for it's own system to handle.

• They have limited their system to accept only a single 1MB file. But, if you follow their instructions you end up with more than one and/or larger files.

• Thus, it seems that Brussels Airlines has it all worked out: It would be practically impossible to submit a valid claim for their "guarantee" if you follow the instructions that they give you on their website.

That's it.



Read more, and see Brussels Airlines' response, in the more detailed post.

Just how "Guaranteed" is the Guarantee?

Many websites claim to offer the lowest price on a given item or service. Some of them even pride themselves with a guarantee of some sorts promising their customers compensation when their guarantee is not met. Most of these websites will have you jump through many loops before you qualify, but once completed – you are good to go.

Brussels Airlines also boasts such a guarantee. They even promise a %10 discount of the lower fare if you submit a claim for their LFG ("Lowest Fare Guaranteed"). However, before you go ahead and put your money down on their promise, read through this blog. For as almost all things in life: What sounds too good to be true; is too good to be true.

Interested to know how it works? Well here's the rundown.

Introduction:

Brussels Airlines supposedly guarantees that the prices on their website will always reflect the cheapest price for any of their own flights. Makes sense, no? But what if you happen to find the same flight for cheaper on one of the hundreds of booking sites out there? Brussels Airlines seems so certain that this will hardly ever happen, that not only do they promise to match the competitors price (which in essence should technically be their own price, but for some reason did not get updated to their website), they even promise to refund you an additional %10 of the lower fare if you book through them.

Take note that their "guarantee" only covers their own flights. Not codeshares. So you have to make sure that the competitor's site is offering not only the same flight, but that Brussels Airlines is both the "ticketing carrier" and the "operating carrier" for this flight.

They give you just one hour to submit the claim. Rational, being as airfare is subject to fluctuation (although most other websites/airlines guarantee their rates against fluctuation for 24 hours).

Sound too good to be true? It appears they have it all figured out. Based on what I've seen, I don't believe that anyone can qualify for this "guarantee". Here's how this well planned (what seems to me as a) gimmick works. Read, learn, educate others, and most importantly, don't let yourself be fooled!