In Oct we got a call regarding a free vacation and dinner at a favorite restaurant if we would attend the 90 minute Sun Country Travel presentation. We decided to try it.
We listened to the presentation and then all these folks came in for the one on one presentations at each table. We had one and sometimes two persons at our table and they kept adding and adding the "perks" as incentive to purchase a membership. The "perks" were "free" mini vacations, cruises, and condominium certificates. We were amazed at all the "free stuff, " so we purchased a membership.
When we tried to use the service to make air travel plans. The price they quoted seemed high and when we questioned them on it, they said they just quote from one web site. If we find a cheaper fair, we were to print it out, purchase the more expensive fare through them and mail them a copy of the cheaper fare and they would reimburse us the difference.
We were told we were buying membership to a discount travel club. We were told that Sun Country Travel membership meant we would receive discounted prices on travel fares.
Every time we called for air fare, the price was significantly higher than what we could easily find ourselves on line. We decided not to use the service for airfare (why wait for a refund?) Obviously, there were no discounts for belonging to Sun Country Travel. They said they would reimburse us the difference in their fare and the fare we found on line. Where is the discount?
When we looked at the mini-vacation "perks" we had received, we discovered that several of them had expiration dates within two months of our having received them (we were not told about the expiration dates). There was no way to use them all that quickly. So, that turned out to be a waste. We did try to initiate one of them and while they had disclosed that we would have to pay $50.00 per person processing fee to use the "mini-vacation, " they failed to mention all the other expenses we would accrue using our "free" mini-vacation. Expenses such as all arrangements are made by certified mail at our expense, and that we would have to pay the hotel expenses at the time of service, have a "confirmation letter" validated at the hotel, file a claim with the validation letter and wait for reimbursement. They also failed to disclose that we would not be able to choose the dates we could go, and that departure to qualify for a three day "free" trip would have to be on a Tuesday or Wednesday only. The "free" mini-vacations were grossly misrepresented. When those salesmen put those certificates for free "mini-vacations" on the table and just keep on talking and talking... You don't have an opportunity to check out just exactly what you've just received. They turn the pages, point at stuff on the pages and talk so you think you've reviewed them only to discover once your home and reading it cover to cover that you don't have what you thought you had. You certainly don't have what they said they were giving you.
We went to the web site and found that the information posted there was outdated and did not include all that was promised.
We sent an e-mail inquiry regarding the site and the response we received several days later was only questions about when did we see old information on the web site. They simply responded to my questions with questions.
We have 5 Condominium certificates - which they did not tell us had to be used within one year of issue. Again, we easily found less expensive opportunities online.
So, now we're sitting here wondering what exactly did we buy. We were told that membership to Sun Country Travel got us exclusive opportunities for discount travel fares and service. Discount usually means less expensive. We do not have a "discount" travel service in Sun Country Travel. The discount does not exist. There is no "exclusive service." Sun Country Travel is bogus deal and we've been ripped off.
Karen
Carrollton, Texas
U.S.A.
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