Royal Brunei Airlines and LGBTI travellers

[Catweazle]

RBA = Royal Brunei Airlines in this context, not Rabat

Oops, I read that wrong. You folk had me all excited over nothing

 

[msam95]

I have never flown Royal Brunei before, I usually prefer to transit through Singapore which has a good variety of Legacy and Low Cost Options. Even though they are a bit regressive over Queer rights, at least there is some sense of consistency and decency in the way that they treat citizens.

 

[Pushka]

know some gay women had big problem in Dubai when seen kissing/holding hands. Think they got arrested.

Same would apply to hetero couple. We never even held hands in Dubai.

 

[jase05]

Same would apply to hetero couple. We never even held hands in Dubai.

Same. I don’t think it’s asking too much to respect the laws and customs of another country despite what your beliefs are.

 

[ozfflyer]

Only on the first leg. In transit through BWN your alcohol will be confiscated.

can you buy duty free booze at BWN ?

 

[ozfflyer]

$599 MEL/LHR/MEL ? What are the govt taxes ? $300 ?

So for something like 45 to 48 hours flying, the airline ends up with something like $300 (less any agents commission, but that can't be much) & they give you 4 or more meals & bags.

What a loss leader !!!!!

& on new 787s the whole way, with relatively good connections at BWN (less than 4 hours max on way over & 45-90 mins on way home), so you don't actually have to enter the country. Might even be same aircraft all the way.

BI won't supply with alcohol, but heard they you can drink your duty free booze on board. They won't touch it, but will supply, glass, mixers & ice apparently.

actually the govt taxes are more like $337, so the airline gets even less something like $260 less any agents commission, or about $5 for each flying hour. Scary. Don't think RBA has ever made any money, but the country has heaps of oil, so the airline will probably keep flying no matter how much it loses. Etihad on the other hand ?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

can you buy duty free booze at BWN ?

No. Alcohol is banned everywhere, including the any duty free shops in transit.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

actually the govt taxes are more like $337, so the airline gets even less something like $260 less any agents commission, or about $10 for each flying hour. Scary. Don't think RBA has ever made any money, but the country has heaps of oil, so the airline will probably keep flying no matter how much it loses. Etihad on the other hand ?

It was interesting though that Icelandair was offering ‘rescue flights’ for WOW air pax. $60 per segment, I’m guessing either (a) that $60 represents the cost of the sector or (b) the iceland government is subsidising it (although why would they?)

Based on $60 for a sector, maybe $260 isn’t far off what they need for their flights to break even (given their J class cabins are quite full I hear, and quite expensive at nearly $5000 return)

 

[Justinf]

The following hotels are owned by the Sultan.


The Dorchester, London 45 Park Lane, London Coworth Park, UK The Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles Le Meurice, Paris Hotel Plaza Athenee, Paris Hotel Eden, Rome Hotel Principe di Savoia, Mi

 

[Steady]

I don’t think it’s asking too much to respect the laws and customs of another country despite what your beliefs are.

Everyone I know expects visitors/immigrants to Australia to follow and be subject to our laws even if they don’t agree with, or have different beliefs. This is how I believe it should be, if I choose to visit another country I accept their laws will apply.

 

[kyle]

Everyone I know expects visitors/immigrants to Australia to follow and be subject to our laws even if they don’t agree with, or have different beliefs. This is how I believe it should be, if I choose to visit another country I accept their laws will apply.

I have no problem with respecting another country's laws. My problem is that you can fall foul of the law there so easily which comes with a rather disproportionate punishment.

 

[Steady]

I have no problem with respecting another country's laws. My problem is that you can fall foul of the law there so easily which comes with a rather disproportionate punishment.

Disproportionate in our culture yes.
No one has to go to that country, or travel on Royal Brunei Airlines - just like no one has to visit or immigrate to Australia.

 

[kyle]

Disproportionate in our culture yes.
No one has to go to that country, or travel on Royal Brunei Airlines - just like no one has to visit or immigrate to Australia.

Agree, hence not travelling to Brunei or using RBA.

 

[ozfflyer]

no

It was interesting though that Icelandair was offering ‘rescue flights’ for WOW air pax. $60 per segment, I’m guessing either (a) that $60 represents the cost of the sector or (b) the iceland government is subsidising it (although why would they?)

Based on $60 for a sector, maybe $260 isn’t far off what they need for their flights to break even (given their J class cabins are quite full I hear, and quite expensive at nearly $5000 return)

airline can even go close to break even at $5/hour. 5 years ago, did an analysis of SYD/LAX/SYD & not inlcuding taxes, using a 747-400 with average 3 class seating, many airlines would find it hard to break even at $500 each way + taxes, or something like $1200 return in economy.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

no

airline can even go close to break even at $5/hour. 5 years ago, did an analysis of SYD/LAX/SYD & not inlcuding taxes, using a 747-400 with average 3 class seating, many airlines would find it hard to break even at $500 each way + taxes, or something like $1200 return in economy.

We had the list of estimated costs to fly a plane published here on AFF not so long ago. The figures were quite amazing (really low): The Cost of Operating a Commercial Flight

An A380 SYD-DFW has an average seat cost of $368 to operate. Some people are paying $7000 (one way in F), others $4000 (one way in J). That means the Y seats can be pretty low. (If 7/14 and 30/60 J class pax were on paid fares, the entire economy cabin, even at $1 per seat, would represent profit)

 

[Wello]

The issue is not just about people travelling through Brunei, it is how they are treating LGBTI in their own country. For this reason I will never travel on this airline, stay in a hotel owned by them or travel to their country. The more people who show that these laws are wrong the greater chance of achieving change.

 

[Daver6]

Strange, but hardly surprising that it is a case of do as I say, not as I do there.

https://nypost.com/2014/05/10/inside-the-wacky-sex-obsessed-world-of-brunei/

 

[Buzzard]

Same. I don’t think it’s asking too much to respect the laws and customs of another country despite what your beliefs are.

It's been drummed into me for years about respecting the culture/customs of another country. By definition then I have to accept stoning to death. It seems to me that what "people" are really saying is accept the customs and culture only if we find it acceptable.

 

[Steady]

The issue is not just about people travelling through Brunei, it is how they are treating LGBTI in their own country. For this reason I will never travel on this airline, stay in a hotel owned by them or travel to their country. The more people who show that these laws are wrong the greater chance of achieving change.

Wello, I expect many people feel the same way as you. The issue is huge and really is not just about LGBTI imo.

I do however wonder how they will ever know anyone is boycotting, if they do notice a drop in revenue would they know why? if the airline or its staff that are exposed foreign news did know why, I’m sure they wouldn’t be able to (or necessarily esarilly want to) do anything about it anyway. On AFF I read of many high status QF FF that move their patronage, and QF never ask why, I doubt many of those boycotting have even flown RBA, let alone are high status, high value passengers.

If Brunei nationals stopped flying Qantas, and staying at an Australian owned hotel chain because they disagree with our laws, would it drive our government change them?

While I fully understand why you and others will do this, I don’t see how this would affect change.

I personally don’t think Brunei care what the west thinks about their culture and laws. Should Australia care what Brunei think of our culture and laws

 

[Buzzard]

Well said @Steady, I doubt the Sultan would give a toss. I can imagine what he probably thinks of our society.