Tiger Airways is the worst airline I've ever had the misfortune of flying with! My critique is based on my experiences in over 30 years of domestic & international air travel.
At about this point I knew this was going to be a good one........
No matter how cheap it appears beware the hidden costs! Check-in fee! Oversized luggage fee! Overweight luggage fee!
Are these fees hidden ? I would assume that someone with 30 years of domestic and international air travel would know to check for extra fees with airlines.
Tiger Airways explains it all clearly to me
Last minute travel to Brisbane for the Vic School Holidays, Tiger was the only airline that had affordable (not cheap,cheap) seats available at that time.
Okay so you booked the cheapest airline possible. They were the cheapest for a reason.
Called Tiger customer service to confirm the departure terminal, answer "International at Melbourne Airport".
Why you would call for a question like that, I really don't know.
We arrived at the Tiger check-in counter 50 mins prior to departure to find that they were no longer checking in baggage. The "young" fellow behind the counter was not open to any reasoning or discussion re our plight, the only option given to us was to pay an additional $210 to be moved to the 5.30 am flight next morning.
You were late I would say... Once again
Tiger Airways explains the times.
So there we were, 8.30pm & home was over an hours drive away. Taking into account the cost of fuel, toll charges & the 4am start next morning, we decided not to return home and so began our search for some affordable accommodation nearby. Having paid the $24 to get the car out of Long Term parking, we checked into a nearby motel 2 hours later, best rate $170, all for 5 hours sleep.
Ummm - An hours drive away ? That is really not too far at all, only have yourself to blame for the $170 here.
Arrived back at the Tiger terminal 4.30am next morning 90 mins prior to departure (Tiger reccommends 2 hrs). We'd already paid the extra $20 per passenger to get a 15 kg baggage allowance ($55 pp if paid at the airport). One bag weighed in at 15.3kg, they then proceeded to try and extort another $55 from us for the extra 300 grams. No way was I going to pay them another cent, so I unpacked the case on the scales & removed my diary & jacket which I was then allowed to carry on as cabin baggage at no further cost (WHAT A JOKE!!! 300 grams is 300 grams, whether it's in the hold or in the cabin. WHY THE FUSS?)
Tiger Airways explains it all again. As I keep saying with 30 years of domestic and international travel, I am sure you have had to abide by the stated rules on luggage before.
The guy beside us was about to kill the check-in chick. He had a carry-on bag that he'd taken on board many different airlines while travelling the world. Tiger was telling him that it was oversize by 3cm and were demanding he pay $55, he was not happy. Every other queue was held up with people unpacking suitcases at counters trying to reduce the weight of their luggage. How efficient is that? Especially given that most of the stuff removed is carried on board as hand luggage anyway. $5 of the $55 baggage fee is supposedly an administration charge...SURE!
Someone else with extensive domestic and international travel no doubt....
More people that cannot either weigh their luggage at home, or are too tight to pay the fees which are clearly explained
Tiger Airways
Once we'd left the check-in counter we were in yet another queue, this time weighing hand luggage to make sure it was under 7kg. Once again, people were forced to wait while passengers unpacked their bags in the queue.
It's a budget airline, it happens!
Moving on, there was yet another delay while we stood in the queue at the security point. A very narrow & innefficient choke point.
Surely with 30 years of domestic and international travel you have experienced a delay with security before ?
Access to the aircraft is via the tarmac which was quite uncomfortable given the cold winter winds at Melb Airport.
A budget airline - You get what you pay for.
Once on board, it becomes apparent that the aircraft are not cleaned regularly, there is no in-flight entertainment and the aircraft are not fitted with in-seat radios or video screens. All food & drink must be purchased and they DO NOT accept cash or eftpos on board, credit cards only. I had cash but I'd left my cards in my luggage, I couldn't even buy the family a drink of water... WHAT A JOKE!)
So with 30 years of domestic and international travel, you pack your credit cards in your luggage.....Not the smartest thing to do that's for sure. Again with 30 years of domestic and international travel, I am sure you have traveled on aircraft with no video screens. As for in-seat radio/music, yeh it's a budget airline. Again having no mention of what is provided on-board on the website should give you an idea that nothing is offered.
Our itinerary had a seat booked for me including a 15kg baggage allowance that I'd paid for. Tiger would not allow my family to use the seat nor would they allow my family to use my 15kg baggage allowance despite us all being ticketed on the same itinerary. Once again, my wife had to unpack a jacket to bring a bag below 15kg. It turns out that they subsequently resold my seat & yet offered no refund.
No idea what you are on about here.
