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Speak Up

While I recognize that this piece has virtually nothing to do with taxes, I will find a way to work it in.

But the main theme of buyer beware couldn't become much clearer, based on a couple of incidents that happened to me lately.

While Air Canada might not break guitars (as the song about United Airlines goes), there is a break in its pricing logic. The same could be said about the folks at McDonald's.

Let me explain the Air Canada incident. I was trying to arrange my airline tickets for the holidays and I ran into something weird.

I was travelling with three other people and we all intended to come home on the same flight together. But I had to leave New Brunswick on a separate date. As a result, I went online to book my flights. The rest of the group did an online search for three seats together.

Later, when we compared notes, I learned that I paid less for my trip than they did. On their return leg, they were charged $335 each plus tax (see I told you I'd get it in) while I paid $305 for a seat on the same return flight. Although I think I understand pricing, I couldn't figure out why there was a price decrease, since payload determines pricing and airfares have only one way to go as seat availability depletes.

So I then jumped on the website once more and priced a single purchase of three seats. Pricing these seats together again produced a ticket price of $335 each. How could this be? So I took a printed copy of the screens in case I needed to show Air Canada the problem. Then once again, I priced a single fare and, lo and behold, $305. I printed that screen, too.

At this point, I contacted the good folks at the airline and someone named Denise was kind enough to share that there was only one seat available at the $305 price, which was why our group's initial purchase of three seats was $335 each.

I pointed out that this was highly unlikely, as a full day later there was still availability at $305. After all, that was when I had bought mine and I could still continue to query and find availability at $305 - the day after the original purchase. However, the minute I re-priced the group, it was back to $335 a head.

Anyway, I tried to see if Air Canada would entertain my request for a refund of $90 plus tax (there it is again) and perhaps provide a customer loyalty discount for all of us on the next purchase. Instead, Denise told me that what I witnessed was impossible.

Still, she offered up a 10 per cent discount for two of us. I respectfully suggested that I was going to write about this and at that point, contacted the media relations department for Air Canada.

I'm still waiting to hear from Air Canada. Until someone proves me wrong and with the holiday travel season almost upon us, it might be wise to price your travel arrangements for single fares before buying multiple seats in one shot if you're planning a getaway for some family or friends.

Speaking of pricing and common sense, I had another eye-opener with a carload of kids the other day at McDonald's. Anyone who knows me would be well aware that I live by the "more-is-better" philosophy.

However, I was asked to transport some primary schoolers to an event and this gang was all of the single patty hamburger variety - so there it was - an order for four single burgers. Well, believe it or not, a single hamburger costs more than a double hamburger or a bacon hamburger.

I asked the manager working the window how this could happen and he pointed out that singles weren't on the "value menu.''

Of course, my suggestion to sell me a McSingle at the lower McDouble price and leave the other patty in the fridge was met with a blank stare.

As a consumer, you expect that prices will be arranged in some kind of logical, transparent fashion, so that you can make quick and informed decisions about how to get the most bang for your buck - whether you include the taxes or not. Apparently, that doesn't always happen.

Roger Haineault is with Help 4 Taxes. He can be reached by email at roger@help4taxes.ca or by calling 443-HELP (4357). His column appears Mondays.