How does the booking system work ?

BookAhead allows you to create and change your required holiday bookings, before submitting the booking direct to the travel operator.

Who am I booking with ?

The system consolidates the offers direct from registered tourism operators - all your bookings are transacted direct with the supplier of the offer.

Are you a travel agency or real estate agency ?

Neither - BookAhead is an online reservations system which enables travel operators to promote their offers direct to the travelling public.

What does it cost ?

Each completed booking incurs a single small transaction fee which helps fund our infrastructure and support.  This cost is usually more than offset by the substantial savings you'll make dealing direct with the travel operator rather than via 'middlemen'.

Unlike most 'in between' parties in holiday transactions, BookAhead charges no commissions to operators, which means operators are able to offer very competitive deals as they do not have to allow for deduction of commission payments for each booking.

Are my payment or credit card details kept safe and secure ?

We do not store credit card details, and we in fact cannot view or retrieve any of your private or secure payment details. Instead we use interfaces with industry-leading secure payment providers, such as PayPal, eWAY, WorldPay and the world's largest banking institutions.  These suppliers simply let  operators know your payment has been successfully processed, rather than provide your individual private details. We therefore store none of your specific payment information online.

What does "Available" mean ?

"Available" offers are ready for immediate online booking and payment, and you will receive instant confirmation upon successful payment.

What does "On Request" mean ?

"On Request" offers allow you to cost and prepare your required booking, and when submitted, are automatically sent to the travel operator to seek final confirmation. This process is usually very quick, and during normal office hours may be almost instant, dependent on the workload at the operator's reservations desk.  Using BookAhead provides the opportunity to seek the best available offer and select further special add-ons if required.

What does "Sold Out" mean ?

"Sold Out" or "Unavailable" offers are not available for booking during dates indicated by the 'red' / Sold status in the system.

Can I book more than one offer ?

Yes, you are able to book more than one offer using the "Add another offer to this booking" option.  Within one shopping cart, all offers must be provided from the same single travel operator (as the checkout process requires payment to be made to one party).  The system automatically checks offers are valid for combining in one cart, so add all offers you wish to book - the system will guide you through the process of checking out as necessary.

What happens if I cancel ?

Cancellation policies vary between different offers and the providers.  All Booking Terms and Conditions and Cancellation Policies are required to be clearly stated in conjunction with every offer, so you should be able to see / print the clear terms and policies from this site.  In the event of a cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances, we strongly recommend Travel Insurance (see http://www.travinsure.com.au) which will provide cover for a range of holiday-related events and expenses.

What terms and conditions apply to bookings ?

As above, booking terms and conditions vary widely between offers and operators, but should be listed clearly so you are pre-advised of all booking terms.  If you are at all unsure about any terms or policies, contact details are provided for you to query direct with the provider.

BookAhead's Terms of Use are clearly explained at :
http://www.bookahead.com.au/show_content.php?get_id=2

What is a Last Minute Booking ?

Last Minute or "Standby" bookings are an industry term for discounted rates offered for travel bookings made at short notice (usually within 10-28 days of your proposed check-in/travel date).  BookAhead allows travel operators to offer standby rates simply and efficiently within the BookAhead portal or via their own website.  If you are intending to travel soon, be sure to look for the links to "Last Minute" offers.