Malaysia Airlines Discount Price War

[AlphaVictor]

Heard through the grapevine this was coming. Only agent with it online (until tomorrow) is that bastion of ethics, Best Flights.

As usual, all their airfares are advertised without the taxes included, so keep an eye out.

And, it's for low season travel, so nothing major to get excited about. (unless u work for Best Flights)

UK Europe (e.g London from $529 + taxes)
Australian Travel Agent : Best Flights - discount travel - Travel Agent Australia

Asia/India ($219 return to India ain't that bad, the taxes are triple that)
Australian Travel Agent : Best Flights - discount travel - Travel Agent Australia

Middle East (e.g Istanbul from $219 + taxes)
Australian Travel Agent : Best Flights - discount travel - Travel Agent Australia

 

[Warks]

Malaysian deals $219 rtn to ME, Europe $529

Well I haven't gone into the finer details but it sounds pretty good.

To Istanbul, Jeddah, Dubai and Beirut shock
Australian Travel Agent : Best Flights - discount travel - Travel Agent Australia

And Europe:
Australian Travel Agent : Best Flights - discount travel - Travel Agent Australia

Also Asia:
Australian Travel Agent : Best Flights - discount travel - Travel Agent Australia
From $159

Unfortunately the details of taxes are conveniently left out. However, these look like pretty hot deals. Anyone going to fly? Probably snapped up fast.

I just joined Best Flights after a recommendation from a friend. This was in the first newsletter I got.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: Malaysian deals $219 rtn to ME, Europe $529

See also: http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...laysia-airlines-discount-price-war-16017.html

From what I can see Feb-Mar '09 are the dates.

 

[Warks]

I just posted this in Cheap International Airfares. oz_mark pointed out your thread.

Can't believe the taxes are THAT high! Still?

I note you say "that bastion of ethics, Best Flights" AlphaVictor. Care to elaborate? I've only just started looking at their site on a recommendation. Shockers are they? I'd probably just get their best deal and take it to Flight Centre being a scumbag anyway.

 

[Alanslegal]

Can't find/get any cheap online fares to DXB or IST

 

[Alanslegal]

Re: Malaysian deals $219 rtn to ME, Europe $529

I posted on the other thread that I couldn't find any cheap fares to DXB to IST. Well I now retract that comment.

I went directly to www.malaysiaairlines.com.au and those cheap deals are loaded on their system. Its $109++ each way such as SYD-KUL-DXB or IST. However the total cost is $1119.00 so taxes are a whopping $901 :shock:

If only the total cost was like $700 ai I would have booked in a flash, guess I'll save DXB or IST on my future xONEx's.

 

[AlphaVictor]

I just posted this in Cheap International Airfares. oz_mark pointed out your thread.

Can't believe the taxes are THAT high! Still?

I note you say "that bastion of ethics, Best Flights" AlphaVictor. Care to elaborate? I've only just started looking at their site on a recommendation. Shockers are they? I'd probably just get their best deal and take it to Flight Centre being a scumbag anyway.

Hi!
Hmmm, Best Flights.... there have been a few posts in the last months about their refund policies and their marketing tactics (pricing / taxes etc) are line ball. All credit to them for getting these fares out to market days ahead of Flighties and other online travel agents.

Not to offend my Perth friends but a lot of their marketing use ex-Perth prices in their subject line to hook you in, only to discover East Coast prices are not competitive. In this technological age you should be able to personalise enewsletters based on location.

Only small things, but having once written travel enewsletters to an membership of 300,000 - I have a bit of experience in these matters.

As a rule of thumb, I usually take a few $ extra off their fares and do the same thing as you and walk into one of any number of bucket shops including Flighties and get them to beat it. Every dollar counts.

 

[serfty]

Merged threads for your convenience ...

 

[Warks]

Hi!
Hmmm, Best Flights.... there have been a few posts in the last months about their refund policies and their marketing tactics (pricing / taxes etc) are line ball. All credit to them for getting these fares out to market days ahead of Flighties and other online travel agents.

Not to offend my Perth friends but a lot of their marketing use ex-Perth prices in their subject line to hook you in, only to discover East Coast prices are not competitive. In this technological age you should be able to personalise enewsletters based on location.

Only small things, but having once written travel enewsletters to an membership of 300,000 - I have a bit of experience in these matters.

As a rule of thumb, I usually take a few $ extra off their fares and do the same thing as you and walk into one of any number of bucket shops including Flighties and get them to beat it. Every dollar counts.

Thanks for the feedback. Yes not surprising they'd use their location as leverage. Wouldn't work out for them with USA flights though!

Thanks serfty for the merge.

 

[oz_mark]

Here I was thinking that the fully inclusive price was supposed to be as prominent as the base price - think they are palying loose with the rules here. The same deals have appeared on travel.com.au, and certainly looks as though games are being played with prices:

Aust -> Thailand $159 + $730 = $889
Aust -> Malaysia $309 + $561 = $870

(starts off more, ends up less)

Still, they are good prices, just they could be more up front and honest about the pricing.

 

[JohnK]

Clever marketing. Get you all excited about an airfare and then slap on 450% for taxes and fuel surcharges. What a joke!

 

[Warks]

Is it possible to find a breakdown of the 'taxes'? I assume it's departure and airport taxes but are there still major fuel surcharges included? Sounds a bit rich.

I did try to find the deal just by looking at random dates on Best Flights but they all came back with $2200+ fares so I don't know how to see what it could be online. Best Flights seems a bit of a dog to use as there doesn't seem to be a "flexible with date" option.

 

[Alanslegal]

The prices can be good if you travel beyond KUL for eg. to DXB for $1120 all up including a stopover in KUL should you desire. However for simple AUST-KUL for $860 doesnt really cut the mustard as you can fly SQ viaSIN and on their A380 for about $120 more

Yes the marketing at $109 each way looked good until taxes/surcharges were 4x the ticket price!

 

[oz_mark]

Is it possible to find a breakdown of the 'taxes'? I assume it's departure and airport taxes but are there still major fuel surcharges included? Sounds a bit rich.

Fuel surcharges remain a large component. MH have done away with them on domestic flights (sound familiar?), but they are still a sizeable component on international sectors.

 

[burmans]

Guess they are trying to compete with Air Asia, think Air Asia still wins on the "really cheap" flights and as they note so prominently on their website "no surcharges"!

 

[Gold Member]

Here I was thinking that the fully inclusive price was supposed to be as prominent as the base price - think they are palying loose with the rules here. The same deals have appeared on travel.com.au, and certainly looks as though games are being played with prices:

Aust -> Thailand $159 + $730 = $889
Aust -> Malaysia $309 + $561 = $870

(starts off more, ends up less)

Still, they are good prices, just they could be more up front and honest about the pricing.

Jetstar has Starclass sale for $799 AI to BKK and HKT. So not only cheaper, but also in a premium economy seat. Puts this sale into perspective a little...

 

[oz_mark]

Jetstar has Starclass sale for $799 AI to BKK and HKT. So not only cheaper, but also in a premium economy seat. Puts this sale into perspective a little...

Except Jetstar don't bring you back home for that price........

 

[futaris]

Jetstar has Starclass sale for $799 AI to BKK and HKT. So not only cheaper, but also in a premium economy seat. Puts this sale into perspective a little...

You do realize that it is $799 AI one-way to BKK and HKT on Jetstar StarClass. This sale is for a return ticket.

 

[Gold Member]

This is very true

 

[dajop]

Well, for many destinations it isn't that special. At the moment return EK flights to SIN ex MEL/BNE can be had for as low as $600. Couple with an LCC flight ex-SIN you can get to a lots of places in SE Asia for under $800. (In fact to KL using EK/MH for $675AUD).