Amazing deal

[awesum4 2,318]

My daughter  was coming over for my 70th just before Christmas but Jetstar wanted 1,200 and AirNZ wanted 1,500 for return flights each less than 4 hours.

So instead she's shouting me a trip to Melbourne. So I said I'll go over early June for a few days then go to Thailand, then call in on the return trip.

Out of curiosity I looked at airfares Melbourne to Bangkok return..  

I found 4,200,  then 3,500,  then 2,700, then 2,100,  then 1,900 the same as I paid in 2023.  Then 1,371 but 30 hours travel time via China.

Then I struck Gold on Jetstar.  Direct flight of 9 hours. Return with a 4 hour stop in Singapore using AirAsia.  For a grand total of $650. 

Absolutely no frills,  7kg carry-on, no seat allocation, no meal, no drinks, no infight entertainment.  Who cares, I'll eat at the airport and buy a coupe if sandwiches and a bottle of water. Have a couple of books to read, and games on my laptop. No cancelation insurance I'm going.

How it can be a third of the price of 2 years earlier has me beat. But that's their problem not mine.

 

[teelack 9,385]

Well if I was having a longish airport layover Singapore would be my pick. Lots things to do and places to go for free.

Another thought is that I did get a few Malaysian Riggit and bought a some beers on the Air Asia flight. Didn't really need them but helped pass the time.



Sent from my CPH2477 using Tapatalk

[yorta2 686]

14 hours ago, awesum4 said:

My daughter  was coming over for my 70th just before Christmas but Jetstar wanted 1,200 and AirNZ wanted 1,500 for return flights each less than 4 hours.

So instead she's shouting me a trip to Melbourne. So I said I'll go over early June for a few days then go to Thailand, then call in on the return trip.

Out of curiosity I looked at airfares Melbourne to Bangkok return..  

I found 4,200,  then 3,500,  then 2,700, then 2,100,  then 1,900 the same as I paid in 2023.  Then 1,371 but 30 hours travel time via China.

Then I struck Gold on Jetstar.  Direct flight of 9 hours. Return with a 4 hour stop in Singapore using AirAsia.  For a grand total of $650. 

Absolutely no frills,  7kg carry-on, no seat allocation, no meal, no drinks, no infight entertainment.  Who cares, I'll eat at the airport and buy a coupe if sandwiches and a bottle of water. Have a couple of books to read, and games on my laptop. No cancelation insurance I'm going.

How it can be a third of the price of 2 years earlier has me beat. But that's their problem not mine.

 

There is no way I'll ever fly Jetstar again! I flew direct from Sydney to Phuket and then return from Bangkok to Sydney. It was a nightmare. The return went via Melbourne (J.Star's home) and everybody had to have luggage X-rayed and inspected in Customs, due to some Chinese passengers having illegal foodstuffs. Many of us missed connecting flights (mine to Sydney) and had to wait over 12 hours for the staff to sort out alternate flights. No compensation, no food, and we were all very tired after an all night flight in cramped conditions, with out even water, unless we paid for it. Good luck on your trip. I hate them with a vengeance.

Oh, by the way, I booked my next flight to LOS yesterday and, due to high flight fares, I booked to travel with Singapore Air, who had a reasonably good fare, with seat selection on all legs, normal food and drink service included, and only an hour and a half changeover in Changi each way. $1140 AUD.

[awesum4 2,318]

choosing an airline always carries some risk.

There is no way I'll ever fly Qantas again after being stuck in Sydney airport for 14 hours because they had a dispute with their engineers and our plane got black-banned. The entire time no one told us what was going on, just said the plane will be here in an hour,  then the same thing 2 hours later 6 times. no apology, no compensation and McDonald's vouchers for food.

I've flown Jetstar without problems, this is a direct flight, I only have carry-on.

I'll take the risk on delays to save $600. That's 12,000 bhat I can spend on better things than a comfortable seat and an airline meal.

I would point out the luggage xray has nothing to do with Jetstar  they didn't pack the bags. 

But you have got a good price for a full service airline like Singapore.

Edited November 2 by awesum4

[jacko 8,786]

22 hours ago, yorta2 said:

There is no way I'll ever fly Jetstar again! I flew direct from Sydney to Phuket and then return from Bangkok to Sydney. It was a nightmare. The return went via Melbourne (J.Star's home) and everybody had to have luggage X-rayed and inspected in Customs, due to some Chinese passengers having illegal foodstuffs. Many of us missed connecting flights (mine to Sydney) and had to wait over 12 hours for the staff to sort out alternate flights. No compensation, no food, and we were all very tired after an all night flight in cramped conditions, with out even water, unless we paid for it. Good luck on your trip. I hate them with a vengeance.

Dear me that sounds like a bum deal.......

No claim to compensation is very strange, perhaps because the fault was not really with the airline, more the efforts at Melbourne. It all makes good TV though, which Australian customs is very famous for......

[teelack 9,385]

Dear me that sounds like a bum deal.......
No claim to compensation is very strange, perhaps because the fault was not really with the airline, more the efforts at Melbourne. It all makes good TV though, which Australian customs is very famous for......

I am sorry to say that due to travel woes in the past I avoid flying through Australia. Transit passengers are given a hard time compared with Singapore, KL and Hong Kong. Even travelling via Shanghai earlier this year was better.

Sent from my CPH2477 using Tapatalk