Non-refundable vacation bookings find buyers on second-hand travel platforms
Transfer Travel offers a marketplace where non-refundable flights, hotels, tours, and vacation packages can be transferred to other users.
12punto
Non-refundable vacation bookings are becoming the subject of a new market for those looking for last-minute travel. A platform called Transfer Travel allows users to sell flight, hotel, train, bus, cruise, and package holiday bookings that they are no longer able to use to other users.
The system aims to help people whose travel plans have changed recover a portion of the amount they paid, while allowing buyers to find vacation options below standard market prices. It offers an alternative route for users, especially in cases of non-refundable bookings where travel insurance does not provide cancellation coverage.
On the platform, the seller is responsible for transferring the booking to the buyer's name. To protect the buyer, sellers are given a 72-hour window to upload updated booking information to the system. Transfer Travel holds the payment for seven days to reduce the risk of fraud and prevent the resale of the same booking.
COMMISSION AND HIGHLIGHTED OPPORTUNITIES
There is no listing fee for the majority of advertisements. However, adding vouchers to the platform costs 11.95 euros. When a sale is completed, the company deducts a 30 percent commission from the sale price.
Examples on the platform include highly discounted vacation options. A six-night stay for two at the Zulu Nyala Heritage Safari Lodge in South Africa is listed at 1,863.70 euros, while it is noted that the regular price for the same trip is 5,634.44 euros.
For those wishing to see the Northern Lights, a four-night stay in a glass cabin in Finland is also among the options. It is reported that the package, which includes activities such as a husky safari and a reindeer sleigh tour, is offered for sale at 2,921.98 euros instead of 4,619.07 euros.
The platform also features hotel options in various destinations from Barcelona to Bali. Nevertheless, it is important to carefully examine whether the booking is transferable, as well as the dates, scope information, and additional fee conditions for such purchases.