Beware of online travel tail single trap

"The original price of nearly 6,000 yuan in Bali 4 nights 6-day self-help travel now as long as 2,999 yuan; original price of 3,000 yuan South Korea's Jeju Island 4-day tour now only 1466 yuan; while the original price 3299 yuan Hong Kong 4-Day Tour now only sell 1159 yuan. "When the summer approached, the major online travel sites are almost all filled with a variety of low-cost, at the same time, burst models, the end of a single, ex gratia, 0 yuan purchase ... ... these words are also used in tourism products. However, after investigation, the reporter found that the tail-end tourism and tailings sales are particularly cheap, but there are quite a few doorways behind them.

The status quo is playing the bad end of a single tour

This year, 30-year-old Ms. Qiu is a typical travel expert, during the various types of holidays in the country, she will book online in advance to make their own travel itinerary. In the first two months of this year's Dragon Boat Festival holiday, Ms. Qiu Ctrip online booking in advance to go to Bali on the 6th with the group tour, the price as long as 5,000 yuan. However, not long before booking, Ctrip customer service staff told Ms Qiu, she booked the tour of Bali unfortunately canceled.

Ms. Qiu said, "In the past also encountered a similar end of the order was withdrawn, but because there was not yet a single payment, so there is no economic loss. Fortunately, I promptly asked customer service, or may not be booked on other trips" .

The end of a single tour, as the name suggests, refers to the remaining tour products sold. In the McDonnell Douglas travel CEO seems, the tail is divided into two kinds of travel, one is the stock, is not actually sold the product, usually within 72 hours before the tour departure no one ordered travel products . The other is futures, refers to the wholesalers based on their own past experience, predict the product may be the remaining number of this part of the market in the form of pre-sale, and the price will be a certain discount, and booking a longer period. So, these unlimited, sales cycle one month ahead of the travel product is the real end of a single it?

Reporter found that the so-called "tail-alone" information to Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and other overseas tourist products are mostly, usually in the price of 5-7 fold. According to travel agency industry sources, there are many holiday orders on the market today, and some small travel agencies take a tailgating gimmick, in fact, very few places to attract consumers, and then recommend other products. In addition, a lot of tail products seem tempting, but with a lot of constraints. Some require additional local tour guides must pay "attractions fee", while others require that you have to spend in the local shopping malls, some tail even implicate secondary consumption and many items at their own expense, these hidden costs add up in fact the price is not cost-effective.

"Some travel agencies to see a wholesaler package a boat, he was privately received, after the close and then find the wholesalers to talk about cooperation at low prices. Talk to earn, do not talk about the money back." Love travel CEO Yuan Wei said.

Quest Bacheng final single internal sales

Such a low-cost travel tail exactly from where?

It is understood that there are currently three major sources of travel orders on the market. The first is that travel agencies usually use large-scale procurement methods, and prior to the group package to the airlines, the hotel buyout, bear the sales risk. However, before the start of the mission, there are still a few remaining aftermath, or a temporary withdrawal of customers, travel agencies to reduce the loss of the remaining places to sell at a discounted price.

The second is the endorsement by airlines or the hotel itself, which usually only sell air tickets or hotels, the so-called "Lastminute" promotion. For example, where to go before the network launched the "night sales hotel", after 6 pm unsold hotel rooms can enjoy special offers.

The third is the product that travel wholesalers package the product for distribution. Usually in the off-season, the travel wholesaler will sell part of the remaining products sold in various channels such as travel agencies at a low price in advance. Compared with the tail-end travel agency, this tail-starting product will have a longer departure time and more time advantage .

Many travel agencies official told reporters that 80% of the tail-ordered "regular army" generated by tour operators due to tourists' dissatisfaction will be internally digested. The traveling community first considers the employees and their dependents, followed by regular customers or customers who have prior notice, Most people find it hard to enjoy this benefit.

This statement has also been confirmed by online travel product suppliers. Ctrip media department official told reporters that there is no tail single product Ctrip online now, with the end of a single tour will only give internal staff, will not be sold. The starting time of this tail is usually very tight, usually only three or five days in advance.

"Cruise ship products are more common at the end of the day, as travel agencies usually charter cruise liners while cruise lines usually have a clear off-peak season, with cruise lines on one route being unavailable for sale during the off-season , Usually about 1,000 yuan to do price promotions, to maintain the cost than selling can not afford cost-effective. "Ctrip insiders said.

Stretching online tourism Sadak grab off

In fact, the major online travel sites already eyeing a single tail-travel business. Recently, the way cattle (16.92, -0.07, -0.41%) network "selling suppliers" recommended meeting, there has been a "single tail" approach. Tan Fu Wei, vice president of cattle Network, said that although the tail of each travel agency inventory is not high, but all the tail end of the travel agents to focus together, the end of the single market is still very large.

"It is a new model in the tourism industry that integrates traditional travel agents' resources through a travel internet platform to carry out end-of-sale orders and other services." According to Chen Fuwei, "Tourism products are different from physical goods. Due to time constraints, Sent before the group finished sales, but in the off-season, or some popular lines will have a lot of Wei Huo, the highest up to 20%.

However, compared to directly hit the "tail single" word, more online travel sites choose to drop the money, the organization will sell, buy spike and tickets to super-price spots "big game."

Ctrip side told reporters that this summer, Ctrip introduced air tickets, hotels, free exercise, with group tours, tickets, car rentals, visas, cruise lines and other full range of tourism products promotional activities, through Ctrip mobile phone bookings cheaper. In addition to launching the "0 yuan visa" activities in mobile phones to get out of the barriers to entry, there are 1 angle train tickets, 1 yuan tickets, 1 yuan tickets and other activities.

And just get 20 billion financing Tongcheng travel network is shot 200 million yuan "subsidies" promotional activities, the introduction of 1 yuan to play attractions, 10 yuan weekend, 20 yuan by plane, 100 cruise lines and other 11 sales activities .

"Internet companies only care about traffic, do not care about the existing rules of the travel industry.It is also a market behavior to paste the price reduction is also a market behavior, but this behavior can not last long," said a director of a traditional travel agency.

Trend tail single feast or difficult long

A number of industry experts said that the reason why this year's online travel market appears to be the end of a single "burst", mainly due to channel competition, product over two major factors. Since the beginning of this year, the major tourist countries in the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia have been affected by the political situation and air crash. Wholesale travel bookings in Southeast Asia have been severely overstocked by wholesalers. As a result, there are the most special promotions in Southeast Asia on the market.

In addition, the end of this year's cruise ship market is also extremely hot. "This year, all major cruise lines have increased their presence in China, increasing the number of cruise ships departing from Shanghai to Japan and South Korea by 4,800 per week, resulting in an excess of cruise ship products in the Chinese market," said Yang Yanfeng, an associate researcher at China Tourism Academy. Cruise ship companies require attendance to reach 95%, otherwise it will punish the channel, which also led to a lot of online travel agencies stick money sale.

However, most travel industry experts also said that while websites such as Ctrip, Tongcheng and Tuniu outbid Internet competition for their flagship sales, websites like Love Travel are selling for the concept of speculation. However, the hot tail in the market after the end of a single tour, stick model or hard to sell for a long time.

Yang Yanfeng said that with the completion of the road network cattle network, the city network financing is completed, the online travel sites are not short of money, big sale just to paste money into the market, it is only the short-term behavior. With the year-long market turmoil and the gradual cooling of the concept of "tail orders" by tourist agencies and the secondary market, the online travel market will gradually be shuffled and concentrated. The hot single tail may not continue for a long time.

■ Tips

Sales product restrictions and more

1. Or temporarily canceled

People familiar with the end of a single case told reporters that some online travel customer service staff on the order and the airline's follow-up is not very timely, to ensure safe and correct travel, but also take the initiative and customer service staff to understand the situation.

In addition, due to the possibility of cancellation of special offer products, travelers who want to travel still have to be prepared in both hands to avoid the order is canceled, the time is too tight, can not be booked for other travel products.

Unsubscribe suffered heavy losses

After booking your trip through the online travel site, the website will sign an electronic contract with the visitor and must be paid within 24 hours of signing the contract. According to report, in the electronic contract will state the unsubscribe requirements, the general unsubscribe process is 70% of the ticket will be deducted.

In the overseas travel, if the passenger to the destination is not to sign or sign the country, there is a visa issue. If the payment has been found visa has been refused, then this part of the loss must be borne by passengers.

■ Raiders

Summer how to play the most money?

1. Choose a discount combination

L China Travel Network, the country's largest travel guide, said many travel websites and airlines now offer airfares and hotel deals for self-service travelers, and some even include tickets for local must-see destinations , Gourmet coupons, visas and more. Choosing this type of travel product will help you devote more time and energy to the preparation of travel attractions and itinerary, which is a very cost-effective way to travel.

2. Choose a reasonable route

Way cattle travel network monitoring data show that Beijing residents booking the July group summer domestic trips accounted for about 53% of the total number of people traveling. Among them, Fujian, North China, Hainan, East China most sought after by Beijing citizens. Outbound travel, the island of Southeast Asia is the favorite line of Beijing citizens, accounting for 21% of the total number of outbound travel in Beijing. It is understood that most of the summer line prices have risen, or 5% to 35%.

According to the other cattle network, Ctrip statistics, domestic travel, Xinjiang, Guizhou and northwestern areas along the line is more cost-effective; and South Korea on the 4th with group tours and free exercise is the most cost-effective outbound travel destination.

3 free exercise to solve the "three major difficulties"

Poor travel network travel people "do not go home," told reporters that air tickets, accommodation, transportation is free to spend most of the "three difficult", as long as planning in these three areas, you can save a lot of money.

Airfares, in order to save money, you often have to log on the travel web site for special tickets, and Southeast Asian tourists can consider when traveling to Asia AirAsia, in addition, the choice of cheap airlines is certainly the most affordable. Accommodation is the most easy to compress the cost of outbound travel can choose to booking or agoda booking bed and breakfast, hostels are also considered the cheapest hotel. Traffic can be chartered around the Internet, but the general principle is: can take a cheap flight do not rent a car, do not take a plane by plane, do not take the bus to take the train.