A shocked rugby fan says he has paid for a Rugby World Cup ticket package that has socked him nearly $6000 for bus rides between Auckland city and Eden Park.
He bought the package for nearly $7000 more than a year ago, but tickets to the games had a face value of only $844, and the only other thing covered was the cost of bus tickets between SkyCity and Eden Park, the Auckland venue for several pool games and finals.
The man, who did not want to be named, said it was an "absolute rip", but House of Travel, which sold the package, defended its premiums as the price of guaranteed seats, The New Zealand Herald newspaper reported today.
For $6735, the fan has tickets to the two semifinals, the bronze final and the grand final. They were category C tickets, the second-cheapest seating category, with a combined value of $844.
The man said he did not want to miss the finals or semifinals, so bought the package to get tickets as soon as he could.
"With the actual cost of the tickets, what they've given us is a $6000 bus ride."
He acknowledged that legally, House of Travel was in the right.
"I don't mind them making some money -- but this is an absolute rip. It's not like we went to some backyard scalper," he said.
House of Travel retail director Brent Thomas said the premium was not for the bus transport but for the certainty of getting a seat at the final and semifinals.
He said the three options for those wanting finals tickets early were travel packages, hospitality packages or entering a ballot.
Official travel agencies were allowed to sell guaranteed tickets only by including a travel component, which could be hotel rooms, flights or, in this case, the bus service.
