Finding budget airlines to be appealing

[GreyGrump]

Have just returned from our twelve days overseas. We travelled with Qantas from Perth to Singapore. Air Asia from JB to KL and KL to coughet, and with Tiger from coughet back to Singapore, and then homeward leg with Qantas.

We found the Air Asia flights to be excellent, they were only for short legs. The flight from JB to KL was not in a new airbus, but it was very clean and seemed well maintained. We booked in early and therefore were sitting at the front of the queue. We expected a lot of shoving and pushing on entering the plane, this did not occur and we ended up with seats at the front. Food sold was at a reasonable price. The KL to coughet flight was on a brand new plane, once again we found no problem boarding plane as we booked in early and were one of the first on the plane.

The Tiger from coughet to Singapore flight we were allocated seats next to each other. The plane was definately an older one but was in very good condition and clean. I was surprised that it was no more than 2/3 full for this time of the year.

The Qantas flight was delayed 1.40 hours on leaving Perth due to a fuel leakage problem. They were very good in providing food vouchers, and the the crew wandered amongst the passengers chatting with them, a nice gesture. Our annoyance was more to do with flying as Frequent Flyers and being allocated seating row 59 which meant we had to put put up with a mixture of kitchen and toilet smells mixed together. My screen was just viewable and my wife's was unviewable, too dark, and we couldn't adjust the contrast to improve things. We were annoyed at being placed so far back in to plane as we had booked in early. On the return leg from Singapore we asked no to be placed in the back again, and we were given row 51! Once again my wife's screen was almost unviewable. We had no problems with the food or service on the Qantas flights. We found the leg room to be the same on Qantas, Air Asia and Tiger.

I have a flight booked with Tiger in July from Perth to Singapore. If I find the budget flight to be OK on longer hauls I think I'll be quite happy to pay for the food and entertainment myself from now on. I think Qantas has to have a service that delivers in every aspect to continue to appeal to the tourist market when there is such a price difference between products which are very similar in many ways, expect for the price.

 

[Petch]

the the crew wandered amongst the passengers chatting with them, a nice gesture.

Last year I witnessed (First Class) passengers on delayed flights being introduced (by their First lounge hosts) to the operating flight's Pilots. Who then re-extended an apology, discussed how any mis-connect would be handled, re-iterated they would do their personal best to make up time in-flight and generally schmoozed the (two separate) passengers I overheard conversations with. Exceptional! Good to hear variations are applied right down the line.

 

[Yada Yada]

Our annoyance was more to do with flying as Frequent Flyers and being allocated seating row 59 which meant we had to put put up with a mixture of kitchen and toilet smells mixed together. My screen was just viewable and my wife's was unviewable, too dark, and we couldn't adjust the contrast to improve things. We were annoyed at being placed so far back in to plane as we had booked in early. On the return leg from Singapore we asked no to be placed in the back again, and we were given row 51! Once again my wife's screen was almost unviewable. We had no problems with the food or service on the Qantas flights. We found the leg room to be the same on Qantas, Air Asia and Tiger.

This is one of my main gripes with QF. I am currently Gold level FF but it seems to count for squat in terms of seating preference. I've changed the preference in my file from forward aisle to forward window but I always end up sitting down the back. The one time I scored front row of Y was when I checked in at the QP really late. Go figure! :-|

Good to hear that your experience with the various LCC's has been good. I've avoided Jetstar and Tiger for domestic flying because of the long check-in time requirements. With Virgin and QF I can check-in online and walk into the airport less than 30 mins before flying if I wish.

 

[Petch]

With Virgin and QF I can check-in online and walk into the airport less than 30 mins before flying if I wish.

Same on Jetstar (domestic), so long as you don't need to Bag Drop (i.e. have carry-ons only).

I assume the Singaporeans will also adjust their domestic strategy/systems as they mature, and get to know the market better.

 

[Yada Yada]

Same on Jetstar (domestic), so long as you don't need to Bag Drop (i.e. have carry-ons only).

I wasn't aware (or forgot) that JQ offers OLCI. Their check-in queues at SYD T2 on weekday mornings are nightmare proportions. I pity those who sign up for this. :shock:

 

[stryker]

This is one of my main gripes with QF. I am currently Gold level FF but it seems to count for squat in terms of seating preference. I've changed the preference in my file from forward aisle to forward window but I always end up sitting down the back. The one time I scored front row of Y was when I checked in at the QP really late. Go figure! :-|

I'm only a lowly general member (QF 006xx_X), but I have been a member for over 20 years and have done some serious travelling in J with them in the past.

For some reason, best known to QF, I always seem to get a seat towards the front of the Y cabin (and I don't pay for J on Qantas any more).

 

[Commuter]

My experience was somewhat interesting because I went from QP bronze to silver, gold and then platinum in about 10 months doing mostly the same flights and could clearly see the forward movement of my seat assignment, as my seating preference for domestic flights remained the same throughout (forward aisle).

 

[davi]

I just don't know if I could bring myself to purchase a long haul flight to Asia from Aust. I just came back from Vietnam and chatted to some tourists from Perth who went to Ho Chi MInh CIty with Tiger. Whilst they admitted that paid a small price for the fare, they indicated that they wouldn't do it again. They complained about the cramped legroom on such a long flight, the lack of entertainment and the lack of services when you arrive into the Tiger branch of Changi airport. Apparantley you don't arrive in the section with all of the other airlines, meaning you don't have access to shopping and food facilities like normal passengers do.
Sure, you're paying a small price, but i'd like to think that I would be equal as the other passengers at the airport I land at.
Am i being too exclusive here? I would like to think that after such an unbearable flight, that you at least have the facilities for massage and manicure at close reach once arrived and waiting for another flight...

 

[GreyGrump]

As I indicated in my original post I have only completed short haul flights with Asia Air and Tiger. My opinion will be more rounded after my July flight with Tiger in July, from Perth To Singapore, about a 4.5hour flight. One advantage is that it leaves Perth around 10.00pm, so I plan to sleep. If you are familiar with Changi airport landing at the Tiger budget terminal was not too big a deal as they have a free transit bus that takes you across to terminal 2 basement level. You can then access the facilatities in the departure area. It could be a nuisance if you have 6 or more hours of time between flights, and you can't access the transist area facilities until boarding passes are issued which may only be 2-3 hours before departure. The transist area has many more facilities. I believe the budget terminal is planning to build a transist hotel, similar to that which terminal 1 and 2 already have. The other issue with arriving at 3.00am is that the Singapore Metro Railway is not running at that time from terminal 2 into Singapore and you would have to use a taxi service.

 

[QuikSmart]

On seating. I have only been QF Gold since Oct. Mrs Smart is Silver. Since then we have only done a few flights. In Dec with the 3 kids. Packed flight but we were seated before the engines (I consider anything ahead of the OWE's to be a good seat). The wife and I did a trip from ADL to MLB and were giver the seats right behind J with the centre seat blocked. When we flew back we go the OWE seats. I just got 2A on MLB-SYD (J), 2A on SYD-DWN (J) and 1A on DWN-GOV (Y).

At DWN aiport I saw some friends who had just flown in from BALI on a budget airline - they have 3 kids and were trying to sleep on the floor in the departure terminal during their 4 hours transit - they looked completely rooted.

With 3 kids of our own, we see the value of Gold (or Q-Club) is the following. 1. Express check in (it's no fun waiting in the Y line with kids especially at then end of a big trip).
2. Priority Tags. Business tags with Gold. Makes baggage collection a breeze. We're often driving away from the airport while others are still getting off the plane.
3. Lounge access. Once again with the kids we can relax in the lounge. The kids can sit quietly on the computer or watch some TV and have a bite to eat. And as considerate folks we try to find an area of the lounge where the children will not disturb those trying to work etc.

 

[Yada Yada]

With 3 kids of our own, we see the value of Gold (or Q-Club) is the following. 1. Express check in (it's no fun waiting in the Y line with kids especially at then end of a big trip).
2. Priority Tags. Business tags with Gold. Makes baggage collection a breeze. We're often driving away from the airport while others are still getting off the plane.
3. Lounge access. Once again with the kids we can relax in the lounge. The kids can sit quietly on the computer or watch some TV and have a bite to eat. And as considerate folks we try to find an area of the lounge where the children will not disturb those trying to work etc.

I wish I knew how to get value like this! I've been QF Gold for over three years and never get allocated forward seating and my bags come out with everyone else's who has no status at all. Go figure! :-|

 

[vt01]

I wish I knew how to get value like this! I've been QF Gold for over three years and never get allocated forward seating and my bags come out with everyone else's who has no status at all. Go figure! :-|

Perhaps it's time for an email or letter to QF. you could mention that you know of many QF Golds receiving much better seat allocation then yourself.

I was first SG about 8 years ago and have always had my preference for window forward satisified.. On international Y I was always in the 30's.. What may help is I have seen my companies name printed on next to mine on the passenger manifest. So I assume this may also play a part in seat preference. They have a large contract with QF.. Perhaps this helps?

 

[brucek]

Hi

You may care to take a look here:

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/tiger-airwars-12222.html#post158634

Cheers

 

[straitman]

brucek,

I suggest that you only need to post this link once. You will cheese people off in a hurry with this and possibly wear the wroth of the moderators :!:

I suggest you go back and delete those that can still be deleted.