Instructions

Answer the question based on the following information:

In the country of Gagan, air travellers can buy their tickets either directly from the airlines or from three websites that are licensed to offer ticketing services online. In Gagan, most of the commercial transactions are done electronically, and all citizens have an account with its national bank, CeeCee. As a result, the three websites have become popular, and each transaction through these websites carries a surcharge of Gs. 250 (Gs. refers to Guppes, the currency of Gagan). Given below are four post new - year (January 2, 2011, to February 28, 2011) offers from three competing websites:

Cozy _ travel Offer: Make a confirmed booking for any service (flight ticket, hotel or rail tickets) through Cozy_travel.com from December 5, 2010 to February 8, 2011 and become eligible for two free air tickets (offer is limited to the base fare). Free tickets have to be booked through online request from January 1, 2011 to February 28, 2011. The request for free tickets should be submitted at least twenty-one days in advance. Free tickets are non-amendable (except the passenger's name) and cannot be cancelled. Free ticket cannot be exchanged for cash or kind with anybody. Cozy_travel will try its best to secure the free ticket as per the request. However, ticket confirmation is subject to airline schedule and set availability in airlines selected and finalized by Cozy_travel from specific available airlines.

Cool_yatra Offer: Book any air ticket of any airline on Cool_yatra.com on or after December 21, 2010 and get your next ticket free. Under this offer, only the base fare of the free ticket will be refunded by Cool_Yatra.com. The customer will have to bear the rest of the charges (other fees and surcharges). The value of the base fare will be refunded to the passenger on/after March 1 or fifteen days after completion of travel on the free ticket (whichever is later). The free ticket can be booked only on Gaga Air flights. The free ticket must be booked within fifteen days of booking the original ticket, and the travel date of the free ticket must be fifteen days after the booking date of the free ticket. There must be a seven-day gap between the travel date of the main/original ticket and the free ticket. The travel date of the free ticket should be on or before February 28, 2011. The free ticket cannot be transferred. On cancellation of the original ticket(s), you no longer remain eligible for the free ticket(s).

Easy_travel Cash Back Offer: Easy travel offers 25% cash back on all air ticket bookings between December 5, 2010 and February 28, 2011 using CeeCee net banking service or its debit/credit card. The cashback amount will be credited back to the customer's account within twenty-one days of making the transaction. Maximum cashback during the period is Gs. 400 per person per ticket, and the total amount that can be claimed by the customer is Gs. 2,400.

Ek Ke Sath Ek Offer from Easy_travel: Book an AirSpice ticket with Easy_travel using any credit/debit card, and get another ticket absolutely free. The free tickets will be issued on AirSpice on its entire network. The offer is valid for sale from January 11, 2011 to January 31, 2011. The free ticket must be booked at least fifteen days prior to the date of travel and needs to be completed within the offer period. The promotion code for the free ticket will get activated only seven days after booking the main ticket. Easy_travel will charge a handling fee of Gs. 1000/- per person for any amendments made on the main ticket. Cancellations of tickets purchased under this offer are not permitted. The free ticket obtained under this offer can not be exchanged for cash and cannot be re-routed.

Question 1

Which offer has got the maximum chance for becoming the most popular among the air travellers of Gagan during post new - year period? Among the following options, choose the best offer - explanation combination.

Solution

Since the offer of Cozy_travel involves giving two free tickets irrespective of the service, there is something to gain from all the services.

But, since the passenger's name can be amended, the tickets can be transferred to friends or kin. This aspect of Cozy_travel has the greatest potential to give them an excellent edge over their competitors.

Thus, the correct option is B.

Question 2

Suppose the offer from Cool_yatra became the most popular, and the other two agencies have sought help from business consultants to make their offers more attractive. Identify the best recommendation among the following.

Solution

The only part where Cool_yatra had an edge over Cozy_travel was the date restictions for the booking of the free tickets. If Cool_yatra edge out Cozy_travel despite giving an extra ticket in the offer irrespective of the services, that would mean that the customers prefers flexibility over quantity.

If Cozy_travel work on the recommendation given in the option C, their offer will again become the most attractive one.

Thus, the correct option is C.

Question 3

Jagan is appearing for MAAT exam on January 2, 2011, in a city which is not his home town and he is yet to book the air ticket to reach his hometown from MAAT center. Based on his MAAT performance, he is confident about getting an interview call from the institute of his choice located in Akashpur. All institutes associated with MAAT will contact the short - listed candidates within next two weeks with venue details and date of interview. In terviews will be scheduled within fifteen days from the date of announcement of shortlist, and will be held at the respective institutes. Jagan’s hometown, MAAT centre, and Akashpur are connected by all airlines and the base fares start at Gs. 1,000. While visting Akashpur for the interview, Jagan will have to put up in a hotel. The minimum charge for booking a hotel in Akashpur through Cozy_travel is Gs. 2,400. Equally good hotels which are not listed in the Cozy_travel website charge Gs. 1,000. All the three travel websites assure a minimum of one free air ticket for every booking. If Jagan has no other reason to fly, which of the following offers should Jagan go for?

Solution

The result of the shortlist will be announced within the first two weeks after the exam, and the interview will be held within 15 days after the shortlist.

As the exam is on $$2^{nd}$$ January, the interview will happen anytime $$31^{st}$$ January.

Now, since all the options have at least 15 days restriction between the day of booking and travel, none of the offers will be applicable for the interview date, as the interview will be held within 15 days after the shortlist.

Option A: Because of the date restrictions, it is not a feasible option to go for, as it involves the day of booking only 15 days prior to $$31^{st}$$ January.

Options B and E: Because of the extra booking charges of the hotel, this option can be eliminated.

Option C: Since the booking for the free ticket should be made prior to 21 days before the travel, this option can also be eliminated as the interview date cannot be predicted.

Option D: Although one will not be able to use the free ticket because of the date restrictions, the refund of the base fare on the first ticket makes this the most viable option.

Thus, the correct option is D.

Question 4

Janaki needs to reach Khilli on January 28 to visit her uncle, and will return after fifteen days. Janaki found that the minimum fare for both the to and fro journeys is Gs. 5,000 which includes Gs. 1,200 base fare. If all airlines connect Janaki’s city to Khilli, and all three offers (except the Cash Back Offer) ensure a minimum of one free air ticket. Which of the following should Janaki opt for?

Solution

Option A: Because of the date restrictions, this will not be a feasible option for the return journey.

Option B: The cash-back offers from Cool_yatra and Cozy_travel are better than the offer of Cash Back Offer of Easy_travel.

Option C: This is the most feasible option as she will get an immediate discount with a free ticket. Thus, this is the correct option.

Option D: Since the refund will be provided after 15 days of travel in Cool_yatra, Cozy_travel will have the edge over this offer. Thus, this is not the correct option.

Option E can be eliminated as the offers gives a comparatively cheaper option of travel.

Thus, the correct option is C.