LCC's Weird behaviour and tactics

[ethernet]

As a low end shopper time to reflect on what has changed in 5 years in Australia.

MAS. Loosing money, rejected QF advances, and did a deal with AirAsia. It's not poor management, just that a cultural component is in the mix. They just keep missing my business, and China Southern seems to
undercut them. Well see if a QF friendship happens later. Favorite with Indians wanting a fairish priced Christmas ticket back home. If only they could drive that advantage home all year round.

EK. Dropped off my radar, Specials too fleeting, but in my good books.

Tiger. Became irrelevant to me, as Air Asia got most of it, except when JQ ambushes them (often). I can never find a competitive combo with them As Tiger will not guarantee their own connections and double up on luggage and card fees, I wont fly out of .au with em , and was burnt by their groundings. Maybe Scoot will take the international card to SIN.
I've looked intra-asia, but by the time I add up extras, I get cold feet and bail out. I do not see them making any effort to win me or cynical ex's back. Given their 'baggage' I would say the new manager is doing better than good.

Jetstar. Won 80% of my business. I see them trying to be a price setter, toughing out for higher prices,then over? correcting, knowing that most Australians change dates, and they can sting em and make it back. Just stole a few tickets over Air Asia who's fees on fee's probably result in a lot of 'dropout' and uncompleted sales. JQ are not dummies, and spoil players trying to grow market share. Their 'sales' seem to be getting scabbier and more restrictive and low in number.

Air Asia. My favorite, but the deals and timing they give are infuriating. They lack logic, and do not appear to track JQ, or respond to JQ 'frenzy' sales too well. As Air Asia do, in my experience look after their own lateness, I will mess about with indirect flights. Seems crazy to fly to KUL first, then back to SQ, but this
is often cheaper. PROMO means nothing - that trick is doing them harm. Also JQ's 'Month View' is loosing them a few sales.

Canberra.
May as well be an Airline. For some reason petrol, air tickets and anything else is 22% dearer, and a stupid car hostile airport and no public transport options. Mythical Taxis, Everything overpriced - trying to out-do Darwin as the peoples choice most unpopular and unwanted stopping over point. As AvGas is more than Sydney, will never become an international goer. I reckon to NZ and to India routes would be winners, if the airport adjusted their mindset. Oh well, at least Virgin made a killing when QF threw that tantrum.

 

[moa999]

Certainly Malaysia is interesting.

I am midway through a TPE BKI TWU BKI KUL LGK KUL trip. On all but one segment MH was cheaper than AK before baggage fees, and has food included and more flights. Was not what I was expecting.
To finish it off have a D7 flight to PER (trying optiontown but looks like premium seats already gone)

Out of Singapore have used 3K versus TR on a few occasions and 3K in my mind is superior and worth a small premium.

 

[Awesom Andy]

It won't be too much longer when LCC's realise that it is not a good idea to apply their business model to long-haul flights. As a much greater proportion of their costs would be fuel, the savings (or profits) they can generate from fees are limited as their prices would be getting closer to legacy airlines.

 

[Justchecking]

I avoid LCCs wherever possible. Hate their chintzy interiors and coughpy crew uniforms. Makes me feel like I am flying Hungry Jacks rather than an airline. If I must subject myself to 8hrs+ in a confined space, I need interior design that does not aggravate my irritation at being crammed next to a lot of other people. Civility is something I'm willing to pay for.

But then, price shopping isn't my habit anyway.

 

[yohy?!]

After settling into life in Hong Kong, I've been pleased to see that LCCs are largely irrelevant in these parts. In Asia they seem to largely capture markets where wages and personal wealth are typically very low (Malaysia, Phillipines, Thailand, Indonesia etc).

I've been very pleased with the level of competition amongst the legacy carriers to capture my travel dollars - typically the SQs, CXs, KAs and TGs are in close range to or under LCC pricing (particularly for holiday package deals which are excellent value).

For all the Red Q garbage that was bandied about, I do agree with the idea in principle - the upcoming wealth in Asia (particularly China) is not stimulating the bottom end of the market and LCCs it's the top end that is growing.

 

[Awesom Andy]

I've been very pleased with the level of competition amongst the legacy carriers to capture my travel dollars - typically the SQs, CXs, KAs and TGs are in close range to or under LCC pricing (particularly for holiday package deals which are excellent value).

I guess you never had to go to Taiwan from HKG?

Anyway, if a LLC is to be based in HKG (not that I can see it happening), we would probably be going to places such as ICN, and KIX for $1600 HKD return including tax (if SIN-based prices are used as a guide). I can definitely see new markets opened up at this price level.

 

[yohy?!]

I guess you never had to go to Taiwan from HKG?

Anyway, if a LLC is to be based in HKG (not that I can see it happening), we would probably be going to places such as ICN, and KIX for $1600 HKD return including tax (if SIN-based prices are used as a guide). I can definitely see new markets opened up at this price level.

Taiwan enjoys the excellent fare levels if one purchases a holiday package. Also I tend to keep an ex-TPE I-Fare up my sleeve at all times to start off my next journey.

HK already has an LCC in HK Express and at the fares levels you mentioned to many Asian destinations - they still struggle to fill their planes due to the major carriers undercutting them whilst delivering a superior product.

3K also seem to be struggling in this market, the flights I've taken operate from bus gates and have been half full. They also have been steadily reducing flights to SIN from 4 daily down to 2 at poor timing.

 

[jetlagger]

Always remember:

Nothing cheap is good, & nothing good is cheap!

 

[Isochronous]

I guess you never had to go to Taiwan from HKG?

Anyway, if a LLC is to be based in HKG (not that I can see it happening), we would probably be going to places such as ICN, and KIX for $1600 HKD return including tax (if SIN-based prices are used as a guide). I can definitely see new markets opened up at this price level.

Why is HKG-TPE so expensive?