Oh my ### - first trip on Tiger Australia

[moa999]

As a QF Plat and DJ Plat I have occasionally looked at Tiger fares, but normally called a different airline to book!
I have flow Tiger Singapore a number of years ago, but had always been put off by the Australian subsidiary

However sick relative and last minute flights needed to be book.
Found a flight on Tiger and called the trustee other airline... Unfortunately the Price Beat Guarantee needs to be booked more than 72hrs in advance (probably because it takes that long for the long haired lama to lick the stamp and send the email - no Im not joking with JQs reservation system).

A morning flight (so meals or lounge access didnt really matter - a coffee is $4), the fare difference was over $100 to any other airline so Tiger it was.

Filled out the webform and was somewhat surprised that the only baggage options were four levels of paid (for $) and carry-on only but check-in in person.... no web check-in option.... YES NONE... unbelievable for an LCC (although maybe it lets them catch more overweight pax). Anyhow searching around the website found this.

 

[moa999]

So the emailed itinerary arrived within 5 minutes (JQ here is looking at you)

Interesting it clearly shows check-in opens at T-2hrs but doesn't state that it closes at T-45min.... 8.00am in my case.
I arrived at SYD airport T2 at 7.30am expecting a queue... Instead no queue... three check-in staff in the centre area, all third party contractors wearing Aerocare (I think uniforms)

Presented my itinerary and ID.... any carry-on... Yes... please put it on the scale (OK... first time for everything)... Thankfully the canvas bag weighs nothing and I pass the 10kg limit with flying colours (despite the laptop and cables).
Boarding pass printed and I head for Gate 41B, down the end of the Virgin Pier.

Pretty sure check-in closed dead on 8.00am as by 8.05am one of the staff had come down to the gate and the staff were printing a full list of passengers. Boarding commenced at 8.15am, despite a relatively low load (60%) it seemed to take a while, people came across the tarmac in dribs and drabs....

On board - standard A320 apart from the ADS on the overhead bins.



Interestingly the first 3 rows of bins were kept closed and the FA patrolled rows 1-4 ensuring there were no extra bags in this area (Row 1 not able to use floor storage and also crew gear at the front) --- something to learn QF, DJ and JQ
The FA also assisted a number of other pax putting luggage overhead.
Finally one FA went down the airstairs to help an aged passenger with their luggage.
- So for customer service... awesome.

Fairly standard LCC with safety announcements script read by the CSM and all matter of fact.
Food and drink menu is fairly limited, and on a breakfast flight didn't see many partaking.



However fairly reasonably priced.
Interestingly Tiger prefers CASH.... Credit cards have a minimum of $5, and a 50c surcharge,
whereas Jetstar is now all cards, no surcharge.

Plane pushed back on time, but delayed by MEL ATC and at gate about 10min late.

Now not only does Tiger use T4 (well it really shouldn't be called a Terminal) but there is a good 250m walk from the far stand just to the baggage collection area. Then non-undercover to get back to Melbourne airport proper for SkyBus

--

Overall for the price paid, Tiger certainly delivered, and in many respects the customer service was far better than I have seen on other Australian carriers.

That said with the price I paid (last minute) and flight loads, I can't see they are making any money.
Would I do it again - YES...

That said the lunchtime return is booked on alternate carrier for lounge access before the flight.
I have more needs at lunch.

---

Whilst I don't normally do domestic reports (apart from J Food), this forum seems to have a dearth of Tiger experiences so I thought I would add one.

 

[mella2007]

If you get a cheap fare and nothing goes wrong, Tiger are ok.
But if a flight gets cancelled or there are lines at check in (and even if waiting in line for an hour and you miss it) or baggage problems, then all hell can break loose and they are a nightmare to deal with.

 

[Jamesl]

Good to hear you had a good experience! Online check-in will be back soon as they had to rework the system. Aero-Care are the GHA for TT and have been work together to improve overall experience.

With respect to the walk, MELAIR is planning on changing how you collect you baggage so should cut down on time.

Pax loads depends on the day and time, in key time periods most flights are now oversold which is good to see.

Once again, good to hear you had a good time, and hope to read more reports.

 

[Deleted member]

As a QF Plat and DJ Plat I have occasionally looked at Tiger fares, but normally called a different airline to book!
I have flow Tiger Singapore a number of years ago, but had always been put off by the Australian subsidiary

However sick relative and last minute flights needed to be book.
Found a flight on Tiger and called the trustee other airline... Unfortunately the Price Beat Guarantee needs to be booked more than 72hrs in advance (probably because it takes that long for the long haired lama to lick the stamp and send the email - no Im not joking with JQs reservation system).

A morning flight (so meals or lounge access didnt really matter - a coffee is $4), the fare difference was over $100 to any other airline so Tiger it was.

Filled out the webform and was somewhat surprised that the only baggage options were four levels of paid (for $) and carry-on only but check-in in person.... no web check-in option.... YES NONE... unbelievable for an LCC (although maybe it lets them catch more overweight pax). Anyhow searching around the website found this.

View attachment 8951

The fare was $100 less than any other. Really great if other airline fare was $105.00. Not so good if was $705.00 So what was the fare?
Did the long walk and Tarmac crossing ( not in the rain for your flight?) and paying for all the extras like food luggage etc justify the saving?
I am still yet to be convinced about LCC options.

 

[RB]

Good to read a report on Tiger. They certainly can't be accused of ripping off for food at those prices & I am sure many can survive the flight time without eating

 

[moa999]

I ended up paying about $75 including $5 seat selection fee and $7.50 booking fee (which bank issues a Debit Mastercard? Debit Visa I have)
Jetstsar wanted $179 plus, and Qantas and Virgin both started with a $2 handle

 

[smit0847]

Good to read a report on Tiger. They certainly can't be accused of ripping off for food at those prices & I am sure many can survive the flight time without eating

Not like the $10 pie on VA!

 

[Must...Fly!]

I ended up paying about $75 including $5 seat selection fee and $7.50 booking fee (which bank issues a Debit Mastercard? Debit Visa I have)
Jetstsar wanted $179 plus, and Qantas and Virgin both started with a $2 handle

Westpac issue a debit MC with transaction accounts.

 

[kamchatsky]

Westpac issue a debit MC with transaction accounts.

So is CBA via Commsec MC Debit.

 

[kpc]

Westpac issue a debit MC with transaction accounts.

They do indeed, and it is very useful as well to pay for the cash component of QFs JASAs to avoid the credit card surcharge!

 

[dk4]

The all new Tiger Town, at SYD domestic T2.

It was very interesting recently, to watch Tiger's aircraft push back: Their ground service contractors literally sprinting around the tarmac to get things done quickly. (I presume there are some heavy penalties in the handler’s contract with regard to "on time" performance failures?)

 

[Saab34]

For some reason my 28 Degrees Mastercard works under the "Debit Mastercard" option on Tiger's website which is quite handy until they fix the bug.

Tiger has just put their 11th new Airbus into operation, with leather seating. Although the cloth seating isn't that bad.

 

[Jamesl]

The all new Tiger Town, at SYD domestic T2.

It was very interesting recently, to watch Tiger's aircraft push back: Their ground service contractors literally sprinting around the tarmac to get things done quickly. (I presume there are some heavy penalties in the handler’s contract with regard to "on time" performance failures?)

Out of SYD yes, for every 5 minute delay there is(however depends on why the delay was caused). However not to the airline but the airport... Obviously there are fines to the GHA but not to the extent as the airport charges.

 

[drron]

Not like the $10 pie on VA!

But its a Luke Mangan Super Gourmet Party Pie always known round these parts as the LMSGPP.

 

[JohnK]

Nice trip report.

I must give Tiger a try one day. I was just about to book BNE-SYD before their operations halted and I do not think this route is up and running now.

 

[QF1]

I thought they had apromotion for the bne-syd route recently.

 

[Simo]

Never done Tiger, But if it was cheaper would try and do a price match with deathstar

 

[adam15]

I had a tiger flight booked during the Chilean ash cloud and got stuck in Sydney (my home port was AVV). I was given a voucher to claim back $120 for a hotel. I found the aerocare workers to good under the circumstances. This took over six months to get reimbursed. I was wrapped that it came, I was not expecting it! The next day when flights resumed the only available seats were to tullamarine (normally a slightly dearer flight)- and I took one of those without any dramas or extra charge. This flight left at 11.00pm ish at which time the captain informed us that fog was closing in at Tullamarine and that should visibility decrease much more we would be forced to divert to Brisbane but he said that we will "give it our best shot".
The sky was clear and I had an amazing view of Canberra at night at what seemed like a lower than usual altitude. It is an amazing sight. When we were about to start our descent, the captain apologised for the inconvenience that most of the passengers had experienced due to the ash cloud, and he apologised for a noisier than usual flight due to a faster cruising speed so as to beat the fog!
My mother and sister were flying jetstar - who were not giving out vouchers as the ash cloud was not jetstar's fault. They were however rebooked for the following day without much fuss.

I haven't flown with Tiger since but that is more because I have become points hungry more than anything else. In the past 2 years I have flown Tiger twice and jetstar twice. Both Tiger flights were on time, both jetstar flights have been delayed.
In my experience Tiger are a better bet than jetstar but then again thats probably not saying much.

 

[yo yo ma]

Never done Tiger, But if it was cheaper would try and do a price match with deathstar

The OP tried to do this but could as the price-match guarantee has to be >72 hours.

Unfortunately the Price Beat Guarantee needs to be booked more than 72hrs in advance