Residing near Gold Coast airport, I tend to fly to SE Asia as a hub for further travel. I've found that (especially to Europe) I save much on onward longhaul fares than if using (say) BNE.
For years, I have well frequented Airasia X. It used to be a reasonable LCC. While the onboard experience remains consistent (average!), their scheduling performance has taken a nosedive. Sadly, the airline is increasingly cancelling or reconfiguring flights (often at short notice) in a bid to minimise their expenditure costs.
While changes to flights is to be expected on occasion, I have experienced 4 cancellations and 3 (major) flight time adjustments over the past 3 months.
The airline offers alternate flights (where it has availability), but on longhaul the option applies to a different date. On one occasion it just cancelled the route (offering no alternative). In years past, AAX would find an alternate airline for me, but now those days are in the past.
The hardest part to chew is that though AAX claims it will refund, on two of the recent experiences the offer is in name only; the airline went through the procedure but failed to place the money in my account. And, despite repeated emails, the 'avenue' just went cold. Similarly, when transferring to another flight from a different airport, the process is - in effect - akin to a new booking. And, any flight increase costs and/or currency conversions are at the patron's expense.
It seems the airline is preferring 'operational adjustments' over customer satisfaction.
For years, I have well frequented Airasia X. It used to be a reasonable LCC. While the onboard experience remains consistent (average!), their scheduling performance has taken a nosedive. Sadly, the airline is increasingly cancelling or reconfiguring flights (often at short notice) in a bid to minimise their expenditure costs.
While changes to flights is to be expected on occasion, I have experienced 4 cancellations and 3 (major) flight time adjustments over the past 3 months.
The airline offers alternate flights (where it has availability), but on longhaul the option applies to a different date. On one occasion it just cancelled the route (offering no alternative). In years past, AAX would find an alternate airline for me, but now those days are in the past.
The hardest part to chew is that though AAX claims it will refund, on two of the recent experiences the offer is in name only; the airline went through the procedure but failed to place the money in my account. And, despite repeated emails, the 'avenue' just went cold. Similarly, when transferring to another flight from a different airport, the process is - in effect - akin to a new booking. And, any flight increase costs and/or currency conversions are at the patron's expense.
It seems the airline is preferring 'operational adjustments' over customer satisfaction.