Tiger Airways’ ’warts and all’ new series, ‘Air Ways’ premieres on Sydney’s Channel 7 on Tuesday, 14th July at 7:30pm. Using the same format as the UK’s ‘Airline’, a reality-tv series depicting the trials-and-tribulations of the discount carrier, EasyJet, ‘Air Ways’ depicts both the grit and glamour of its day-to-day operations. For example, the first episode is said to feature:
…a couple incensed at being hit with unexpected excess baggage fees for a pram. Then there’s a group of angry travellers whose leaders lose their cool after a 10-hour delay and lead a mini-revolution at the airport...
What I have been personally enjoying is the level of honesty discount carriers have taken upon themselves as of late – it’s quite refreshing to have any company admit that beneath their squeaky-clean corporate image, day-to-day bads do happen. AirAsia has hysterical passengers, Jetstar has problems flying into Queenstown and now Tiger Airways’ has folks that can’t check-in on time. The negative consequence is that consumers will once more be given ammunition to pummel discount carriers with, reinforcing the notion that cheap fares equate to poor-quality service. Honesty may be the best policy, as long as it doesn’t discount all the positive work that the low-cost carriers (and their marketing teams) have done.
Cheers!
-Ros (Flighthacker.com)
