AirAsia - I think I'm going mad...

[LittleFokker]

I've been bouncing around with this all day and quite frankly I think I'm going mad (than usual that is)

The problem: I wanted to change the dates of a couple of AirAsia biz (flexible SYD-KUL) tickets. I used manage my booking and the new prices for the new dates are quoted $1500 pax. Since my original ticket was "only" $1025 pax I thought I'd check the prices on other dates directly on the website. They quote $939 pax. Wait! What?

Half a dozen chat sessions (they kept timing out) and one call to the call centre got me somewhere....

If you buy a sale flex or biz ticket on AirAsia when you change the dates you will be charged the FULL RRP ticket price - not the price being displayed on the website. So when it says change fee is "only fare difference it means between what you paid and the RRP (which in most cases is now more than MH J)

So, say you buy a flexible biz ticket on 2nd October 15 for the website price of $939 and you want to change it to the 1st October 15 (also displaying $939) you will actually be charged $600 to change it. Hope that makes sense.

Well that sucks I thought - now where are the terms and conditions for this? Sure enough if you click through on advertised sale fares it says "only for new sales". Fair enough, except that the oct '15 fares SYD-KUL aren't identified on the website as a sale fare. All the sales I can find only run until June 30 15.

Anyone else been burnt by this or am I such a newbie!!!

(Disclosure: I did make like a bandit on the AirAsia pricing error earlier this year so this is just Karma biting my cough!

 

[JohnK]

The pitfalls of dealing with a LCC?

Although I was pleasantly surprised 2 weeks ago. Booked a cheap PG ~AUD50 flight BKK-CNX departing 9:05pm including 30kg luggage. QF23 arrived BKK close to on time so enquired about 7:00pm flight. Possible if I paid THB800 which was half the original airfare. No brainer really.

Australian LCCs have a long way to go.

 

[dajop]

But PG, Bangkok Airways have never marketed themselves as an LCC. Only as a "boutique carrier". Certainly SIN-USM flights are more in the extortion range than LCC range. Although it sounds like outside of USM they are more fairly priced.

 

[MH_fan]

I've been bouncing around with this all day and quite frankly I think I'm going mad (than usual that is)

The problem: I wanted to change the dates of a couple of AirAsia biz (flexible SYD-KUL) tickets. I used manage my booking and the new prices for the new dates are quoted $1500 pax. Since my original ticket was "only" $1025 pax I thought I'd check the prices on other dates directly on the website. They quote $939 pax. Wait! What?

Half a dozen chat sessions (they kept timing out) and one call to the call centre got me somewhere....

If you buy a sale flex or biz ticket on AirAsia when you change the dates you will be charged the FULL RRP ticket price - not the price being displayed on the website. So when it says change fee is "only fare difference it means between what you paid and the RRP (which in most cases is now more than MH J)

So, say you buy a flexible biz ticket on 2nd October 15 for the website price of $939 and you want to change it to the 1st October 15 (also displaying $939) you will actually be charged $600 to change it. Hope that makes sense.

Well that sucks I thought - now where are the terms and conditions for this? Sure enough if you click through on advertised sale fares it says "only for new sales". Fair enough, except that the oct '15 fares SYD-KUL aren't identified on the website as a sale fare. All the sales I can find only run until June 30 15.

Anyone else been burnt by this or am I such a newbie!!!

(Disclosure: I did make like a bandit on the AirAsia pricing error earlier this year so this is just Karma biting my cough!

I have also been burnt by this, which is why I don't book any flights with AirAsia anymore.

 

[mannej]

What are the conditions for a refund? Can you cancel the ticket and rebook?

 

[LittleFokker]

What are the conditions for a refund? Can you cancel the ticket and rebook?

If only! No, as with all LCC's no refund on cancel (except for taxes). As mentioned the ticket is flexible - just pay the fare difference. It's just that I'm struggling with the AirAsia concept of fare difference!

I guess this is the first time I've ever come across advertised fares only being available to new bookings. I don't think it happens in Aus....

 

[JohnK]

But PG, Bangkok Airways have never marketed themselves as an LCC. Only as a "boutique carrier". Certainly SIN-USM flights are more in the extortion range than LCC range. Although it sounds like outside of USM they are more fairly priced.

"Boutique" vs LCC. Is there a difference? Perhaps I am being unfair. I do like PG. I find their pricing more than competitive even last minute.

Agree about USM. Everything about the place is expensive.

 

[dajop]

"Boutique" vs LCC. Is there a difference?

Only that they offer checked luggage free of charge, allow the sort of changes you mentioned above, have frequent flyer partnerships, carry codeshares from a range of other carriers, allow interlining, offer free of charge food/beverage or refreshment service in flight, have club lounges for club members and at some airports pseudo-lounges accessible by all travellers with some light snacks available. Apart from those factors I guess there is no difference.

Really they are a full service carrier with a limited network. Many "full service" carriers are much more "LCC"-esque than PG ... thinking AA, DL, UA, BA, NZ...

 

[JohnK]

Good points.

Really they are a full service carrier with a limited network. Many "full service" carriers are much more "LCC"-esque than PG ... thinking AA, DL, UA, BA, NZ...

And VA....

 

[clifford]

I have also been burnt by this, which is why I don't book any flights with AirAsia anymore.

Me too. If you book D7 and want to make a change, in some circumstances you just throw the ticket away. Least cost option.