Possible to book on Egyptian EgyptAir website as a USA citizen?
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23,999
Possible to book on Egyptian EgyptAir website as a USA citizen?
Hey Folks,
Hoping someone can help me out here. I'm trying to book flights intra-Egypt, and the price on the Egyptian EgyptAir website is half the price of what I can find on the US EgyptAir website. When I try to complete the payment on the Egyptian site, however, the transaction doesn't go through.
Does anyone know if there's any way to book on the Egyptian site as a US resident, or is it simply not possible? I really hate paying double....
Thanks in advance for any help!
Hoping someone can help me out here. I'm trying to book flights intra-Egypt, and the price on the Egyptian EgyptAir website is half the price of what I can find on the US EgyptAir website. When I try to complete the payment on the Egyptian site, however, the transaction doesn't go through.
Does anyone know if there's any way to book on the Egyptian site as a US resident, or is it simply not possible? I really hate paying double....
Thanks in advance for any help!
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
About two years' back, MS hiked local fares and (ostensibly) did away with "foreigners' fares".
As far as I know, the local fares should be available to you in Egypt (notwithstanding your country of residence) - though it looks as though the website is set up to discriminate for markets of sale. CAI LUX is coming out at USD100 - cheap by most standards, but, as you say, annoying to see it available in the local market for EGP330, half the USD fare.
Depending on your patience, phone bill etc, you might like first to try the US sales team to find out what's happening, then move on to the Cairo central reservations office.
Depending on the time you spend in Cairo before your first internal flight, you may have time to pick up a ticket there.
As far as I know, the local fares should be available to you in Egypt (notwithstanding your country of residence) - though it looks as though the website is set up to discriminate for markets of sale. CAI LUX is coming out at USD100 - cheap by most standards, but, as you say, annoying to see it available in the local market for EGP330, half the USD fare.
Depending on your patience, phone bill etc, you might like first to try the US sales team to find out what's happening, then move on to the Cairo central reservations office.
Depending on the time you spend in Cairo before your first internal flight, you may have time to pick up a ticket there.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,474
There was a thread about how someone had difficulty booking flights on the web site. this was because they allow only mastercards that were enrolled in the "verifed by mastercard" program.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23,999
Thanks for theinfo, IAN-UK and UA Fan ! Waiting till Egypt probably wouldn't work, since there are only three days in CAI before CAI-LXR. It's still not that expensive when booked on the US website, but it adds up. We're looking at CAI-LXR-CAI and CAI-SSH-CAI, and it's coming out to $750 all-in for two people on US website, while it's under $350 total on the Egyptian website.
If anyone has any other ideas, I'd love to hear them!
If anyone has any other ideas, I'd love to hear them!
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23,999
Any further thoughts?