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Post office ticket sales back on the agenda
Reports today suggest that budget airline Jetstar is again eyeing Australia Post offices as an avenue for ticket sales, despite widespread condemnation from the agent community.
Under the proposal, consumers would be able to pay for a Jetstar fare at any of Australia Post’s more than 3000 offices as though they were booking through the airline’s website. An arrangement with a financial institution would mean the payment would be sent straight to Jetstar and the traveller would be issued with a booking reference number.
Jetstar argues Australia Post would not be performing the traditional function of a travel agent and does not need to belong to the Travel Compensation Fund because it would not hold money on behalf of travellers.
Airline spokesman Simon Westaway said there had been a strident and emotive campaign against the idea from travel agents and the airline was stepping up its lobbying.
“While it might seem groundbreaking in Australia, it can be quite the norm overseas,” he said, adding there was a similar link-up in China. “The point-to-point nature of travel these days is that some people just want to buy a ticket and go.
“A flight between Avalon (outside Melbourne) and Sydney doesn’t require … advice, it just requires consumers to be able to purchase.”
“Domestic tourism … is flat-lining in many communities,” he said. “We’ve got demonstrated evidence that many communities and consumer bases in Australia aren’t harnessing ways to accessing low fares over the internet as they could be.”
Jetstar argues that this option should be made available for those people who do not have internet access, particularly those in rural areas.
Graham Muldoon
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