RE: [ga] Why is ICANN's travel agency invoicing for 3.7x what other agents charge?
May I add a bit of information. I use the ICANN travel agent, but I always do a comparative check for prices on my own. It has happened sometimes (but not often) over the years that I have found cheaper fights, and even a cheaper rate for the same flight. Obviously, when this has happened, I have asked and obtained authorization to purchase my tickets and get reimboursement. In all cases when this has happened, the reason for the difference in price was that the tickets I have purchased here in Europe were unavaiable, at least at the same price, if purchased in the US, a typical example of this being the special LH fares via FRA or MUC, or the overseas OS flights, which I use a lot. Another important bit of information is the fact that ICANN is looking into the travel expenditures, and looking for viable alternatives. Of course, with such a dynamic market like airlines, the best solution today might not be the best one tomorrow, so this is sort of a continuous optimization process. Cheers, Roberto > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-ga@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:owner-ga@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of George Kirikos > Sent: Saturday, 12 January 2008 20:01 > To: ga@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [ga] Why is ICANN's travel agency invoicing for 3.7x > what other agents charge? > > > Hi folks, > > I draw your attention to the post on the GNSO Council list at: > > http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/council/msg04429.html > > "And it is exactly for the same airline and for the same > flights for which the ICANN agent would charge 3.7 times more > than my agent here." > > I suggest an independent audit, to ensure that ICANN is > seeking out the most competitive travel providers. > > Of course, one shouldn't hold one's breath, given that ICANN > is responsible for wasting billions of dollars of the > public's funds by not tendering the dot-com contract, and for > agreeing to 7% annual price increases and presumptive renewal. > > Does the travel agency also have a "presumptive renewal" > clause in their contract? If not, time to see if one can do better. > > Sincerely, > > George Kirikos > http://www.kirikos.com/ <<attachment: winmail.dat>>
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