by Jim Byers
Last updated: 3:26 PM ET, Thu May 3, 2018
Canada's two biggest airlines have told TravelPulse Canada that they do not offer "secret fares."
"We do not do secret fares," said WestJet Vice President Sales and Distribution Lyell Farquharson. "A top retailer can market our seat sales as fits their business model," he said, but that doesn't mean WestJet offers hidden deals.
Duncan Bureau of Air Canada told TravelPulse Canada the same thing.
"We do not have secret fares with Hopper that disadvantage other distribution partners," said Bureau, Vice President Global Sales.
Bureau said Air Canada is ending its relationship with Hopper.
In a story published by Bloomberg and appearing in major websites and newspapers in Canada today, including the CBC, it was stated that, beginning today, Montreal-based Hopper was offering "secret fares" from a half-dozen airlines, including WestJet and Air Canada. The Toronto Star story said prices could be as much as 35 per cent lower than what the same carriers publish elsewhere.
"On Wednesday," said the Star's version of the Bloomberg story, "the mobile-only travel seller Hopper began offering these 'secret fares' from a half-dozen airlines, including Air Canada, at prices that could be as much as 35 per cent below what the same carriers publish elsewhere.
"The initial 60,000 routes covered will be international, and mostly long-haul," the story said. "The minimum discount is five per cent below fares offered with full details elsewhere, according to Hopper. Air China, Panama's Copa Holdings, Chile's LATAM Airlines, Turkish Airlines and WestJet Airlines are the other carriers participating in Hopper's secret offerings."
In an email to TravelPulse Canada, Farquharson denied such hush-hush deals exist.
"When we run seat sales that are on WestJet.com we make them available to all our partners," he said.
In an email to TravelPulse Canada, spokesperson Lauren Stewart echoed Farquharson's comments.
"WestJet recognizes that the mobile area, along wiith the WestJet.com website and our travel agent partners, is an important way to connect potential WestJet guests with our low fares. Hopper, as with other online travel agents that WestJet works with, sells both published and private fares.
"What WestJet is providing Hopper is the same fares and discounts our other partners have access to. This is a standard and long-standing practice in the commercial aviation industry. WestJet has always offered our guests low fares and we will continue to do do so through all of our selling channels."
Air Canada's Bureau said much the same thing.
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