Can someone clarify the 2 free ticket deal?

I am flying out of JFK on the 22nd of March and returning on the 31st. The BMW website states:

Now, if you pick up a BMW through European Delivery and fly from select cities (1) between January 1, 2005 and March 27, 2005, BMW will pay for one ticket (2) so this means that qualifying purchasers and their companions can fly to Munich at no charge at all!

But the special travel agent has quoted me $900 for my "free" ticket. If I leave one week earlier, the ticket price drops to $560; but I have already made plans and set a pickup date. Am I missing something? Does someone have a contact at BMWNA that I can speak with concerning this?

BMW will pay for qualifying base airfare up to $560 towards the free Q class ticket for one person between select U.S. cities (1) and Munich on Lufthansa German Airlines, or United Airlines. Costs over and above this amount will be the responsibility of the purchaser. In order to qualify for this offer, you must purchase your BMW through the BMW European Delivery program (only one 2 for 1 per vehicle). Transatlantic travel and vehicle pick up must commence between 1/1/05 and 03/27/05. Offer is valid Monday through Thursday in economy roundtrip published Q fares. Departures must be on Monday through Thursday in both directions. Offer is not valid with any other promotion or discount. Taxes, fees, surcharges and passenger facility charges are the responsibility of the travelers.

Reply » Can someone clarify the 2 free ticket deal?

Quote:

Seems pretty clear to me that your ticket will be $900- $560 credit= $340 (plus tax and airport fees, if any) If you travel one week earlier you ticket price would be $560- $560credit= $0

No need to call BMW as the people answering the phones there don't know anymore than what you've read.

So what is your questions??

beewang

Reply » Can someone clarify the 2 free ticket deal?

My question is why does the BMW website lead me to believe that a ticket for travel during this time through one of their designated airports will be $560? It does not appear that BMW and Lufthansa are on the same page with this promotion. Has anyone had a similar experience trying to book flights under this deal?

Reply » Can someone clarify the 2 free ticket deal?

It says it clearly that BMW will pay UP TO $560 for qualifying airfare. So if your ticket costs $560 or less, you CAN fly for free.
Pretty straightforward to me and English is not even my native language. What is the problem?

Reply » Can someone clarify the 2 free ticket deal?

BMW is positioning this as a "free ticket deal" when in fact it is far from free. The opening paragraph clearly leads one to believe that the flight costs will be covered.

http://www.bmwusa.com/Bmwexperience/...ry/flyfree.htm

I understand that the fine print covers them against people flying out of non-qualifying airports; but this promotion is designed to make one think that their airfare will be free if they depart from a qualifying airport during the promo period and I am here to say that this is not necessarily the case.

Put yourself in my position, I read all of the fine print and checked with my CA prior to arranging my delivery date and taking time off from work. All documentation, as well as this forum, state that BMW is going to offer a free ticket if you pick up in the "off season." Now I will be paying $340+ for a plane ticket that I was lead to believe would be free. You tell me if this is in the spirit of the promo..

My question still stands: Has anyone else attempted to book a flight under this promotion and found the quoted ticket prices to be considerably higher then the $560?

Reply » Can someone clarify the 2 free ticket deal?

I have booked a flight under this promotion, and I think it's a good deal.

I am flying out of west coast (SFO), and I have to pay around $260 or so. Around $160 of that is taxes. That means the base fare is $660 ($560 credit + $100 I have to pay out of pocket). It is not the best fare- I can get a base fare of around $500 via my travel agent, but then I am not getting a $560 credit if I book through my travel agent either.

Read the fine print. BMW is essentially offering a $560 credit against base fare. There are two portions to a fare - base fare and taxes. You can't do anything about the taxes. It's taxes you pay for buying the ticket, and taxes you pay for flying in and out of the airports. you might lower it by routing through some airports with lower taxes (like avoiding LHR), but you will be taxed nevertheless. You need to pay taxes on any fly free promotion, not just the BMW ones. United had a few programs this year, where you get free tickets when you fly enough. You have to pay taxes when you redeem those.

You can fly free out of the airports listed on the page because the base fare is lower than $560. The webpage clearly states you get a $560 credit if you fly out of any airport other than the ones listed in the webpage. I think you might have a CA that's misinformed. And I don't think you have read all the fine print, because the fine print clearly states what I have said above. "However, with any offer as good as this one, there are some terms and conditions. So read on: BMW will pay for qualifying base airfare up to $560 towards the free Q class ticket for one person between select U.S. cities (1) and Munich on Lufthansa German Airlines, or United Airlines. Costs over and above this amount will be the responsibility of the purchaser. "

Quote:

Page 1 of 2