“Must be having a laugh!”: STA Travel’s social media screw-up

By Alexandra Coulton

In what is definitely one of the more unfortunate social media blunders of the year, STA Travel travel has published a sponsored Facebook post advertising places to go in 2021.

Yes, the same STA Travel that was placed in liquidation last month after being placed in voluntary administration, leaving many travellers in the lurch.

“Introducing your 2021 travel calendar – where to go and when! ✈️ 📅. ” the post, which was accompanied by a graphic showing which destinations to travel to during each month, said.

“Read more on why these are our top picks for each month 👉 https://sta.travel/32MyeyV .”

https://www.facebook.com/STAtravel.AU/photos/a.89994679576/10158961393564577/?type=1&theater

The accompanying link in the post redirects to a page on STA Travel’s website notifying the appointment of its voluntary administration.

And, as you can imagine, the punters are not impressed.

“The bloody cheek of this post. You owe me over $4000 and want me to plan a 2021 holiday. Must be having a laugh!” commented Facebook user Mark Wanklyn.

“This would be good if I was allowed to travel further than 25km from home,” said Debbie Cain.

“How are you advertising? Your company doesn’t even exist? 🤷🏼‍♀️” Anita Draskovic said.

Not all commenters were as jovial, with many using the post as a platform to demand their money back from the collapsed company.

“This is disgraceful, paid Facebook advert, the company is insolvent, several thousand Aussies won’t see even 1c in the $ refunded, truly appalling,” said John Muncaster.

“How about paying peoples refunds before advertising holidays for 2021!!! 🤬” said Shelley Montoya.

“If STA can afford to advertise they can give me a refund for my 3 UK flight tickets with the useless credit value from a company that’s not trading anymore. What crap 💩 this is,” said Patricia Shields.

However, a few people chimed in to state the obvious- the post was most likely scheduled long before the company went belly-up.

“Socials for STA were run from the UK… This is obviously something that has been scheduled and someone (someone being a little person from a creative team, not the people ‘stealing your money’) forgot to delete it,” said Elle Tilka.

“Have a little humility about the fact a pandemic has destroyed an Aus started&owned, global company and it’s entire industry.

“Keep liaising with the right people to get your money back, but If you honestly think this was intentional you need to pull your head out.”

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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