Malaysia Airlines Discount Price War

[AlphaVictor]

Well, for many destinations it isn't that special. At the moment return EK flights to SIN ex MEL/BNE can be had for as low as $600. Couple with an LCC flight ex-SIN you can get to a lots of places in SE Asia for under $800. (In fact to KL using EK/MH for $675AUD).

Agreed! I may have been over-zealous in the use of the word "war" in the thread title. When Malaysia Airlines fire a sales salvo, none of the other airlines usually take notice and decide to join in.

Just a thought though....are MH doing this sale to grab a few extra $, then when it's over, reduce their outlandish fuel surcharges? The last grab for cash?

 

[benhadi]

Mind me asking how you get that fare? What travel dates? THeir website doesn't appear to show any promotion fare to SIN ex-BNE

 

[dajop]

I tried March. Not listed on the website, but appears when booking.

 

[ethernet]

Discount Illusion would be a better description. Bestflights do or did have a page saying EK taxes cheapest, and I believe the MAS taxes are not their doing, but a true reflection on MAS marketing tactics. The extreme visibility of the difference - really puts the boot into MAS - if you have 1/2 a brain.

On one of my Air Asia Flights the Malaysian next to me told me MAS has non stop 'we must be crazy' sales - in .my non-stop - trying to hook people in, but then said he's stopped flying MAS since Air Asia, so I'm not sure the bait is tasty.

When I see taxes so high, against EK taxes (at cost) - I mentally scrub MAS out of contention. Air Brunei is tempting, but the lack of sales >3-6 months ahead mean they loose the sale.

I'm really tempted by the JQ sale on now, but as the Christmas flights were only 2/3 full. Eh, the Christmas gourge backfired - I figure they will be re-offered a few more times, and anyway, EK trumps all.

I think there is an ill wind blowing, and even Thailand things are down.
As speculation, I see Air China or whatever, having keen prices - MAS has better watch out.

 

[Mal]

The advert from travel.com.au that landed in my inbox was nearly as tacky:

xx_xx_XX, Never before seen fares - Malaysia Airlines Global Sale fr. $159 + tax fr. $730!

Huh? Never before seen fares? Are they on drugs?

Malaysia Airlines Global Getaway Fares
Hot off the press! Malaysia Airlines have released their new Global Getaway Sale Fares and they are hot hot hot!

Never before seen fares, so get those typing fingers ready and book online or call us because seats will sell out before you can say travel.com.au!

Return fares to Asia fr. $159 + tax fr. $730, Middle East fr. $219 + tax fr. $914, Europe fr. $219 + tax fr. $914, Africa fr. $219 + tax fr. $977.

Valid for departures 01 Feb - 30 Apr'09. Hurry!

 

[dajop]

One can only think that MH are offering Bestflights and travel.com.au (& others??) either commissions on the surcharges or decent volume rebates. Why else would they promote them so vigorously over the competition?

 

[Warks]

Highlights the need for real transparency with taxes, levies and surcharges doesn't it? Makes a mockery of the whole thing if commissions can be hidden in them (if that is the case).

 

[Mal]

At least Zuji shows them all-in:

Cheap Malaysia Airlines Flights - Malaysia Airlines - ZUJI Destinations - Australia

 

[ethernet]

ACCC can fix this with one word 'taxes, commissions and surcharges'

because taxes imply it some sort of tax, which it is not.
Surcharges - no, I dont believe they are this high.
Legally having to insert 'commissions' , even if they pay it to themselves would reflect the true situation.

I see they have not still bitten the bullet.

 

[Warks]

Malaysian has an ad in today's Sydney Morning Herald for these fares but they are not as exciting looking. The prices all have an asterisk which says down the bottom "Includes, taxes, fees, and fuel surcharge."

London from $1578 is not that much of an attention grabber compared with those ex-everything fares.

When I think that I paid about $2200 return to Europe in 1992 when taxes were a lot lower and surcharges didn't exist I realise that "there's never been a better time to fly."

 

[ethernet]

I think the Editor/Legal who made MAS reword their ad in SMH saved them plenty in retraction or correction orders.

Wiki says on fees: A fee is the price one pays as remuneration for services, especially the honorarium paid to a doctor, lawyer, consultant, or other member of a learned profession. Fees usually allow for overhead, wages, costs, and markup.

And .. "It is now very common in the United States for fees to be used to hide the real price of a service or product, in a widely-used form of deceptive advertising."

It remains to see how this case goes when you want a refund of fuel surcharges.

In 2002 ACCC said blah. Six years later, negligible headway. I think they need toi order MAS to show the breakdown - as United has agreed to.

 

[oz_mark]

There has been some headway with the Trade Practices Amendment (Clarity in Pricing) Act 2008. See ComLaw Acts - Trade Practices Amendment (Clarity in Pricing) Act 2008 (126)

(not sure when it comes into effect though!)

 

[AlphaVictor]

There has been some headway with the Trade Practices Amendment (Clarity in Pricing) Act 2008. See ComLaw Acts - Trade Practices Amendment (Clarity in Pricing) Act 2008 (126)

(not sure when it comes into effect though!)

I believe it comes into effect on the 25th of May 2009. The reason I know this is that I sent a letter of complaint to Emirates for the deceiving advertising of the recent $99 special to NZ.

The subject line in the email was

"Emirates to New Zealand from only $99"

No asterix, no "plus taxes" anywhere in the subject line. It was hidden in tiny font at the very base of the email (away from the fare), which I believe was misleading and I advised that the ACCC requires them to be a little more obvious in showing full transparency. (By tiny font I mean [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]*Terms and conditions apply. Price includes fuel surcharge. Airport taxes not included and range from $83 for one way and $133 for return Economy Class travel. Travel dates vary. )[/FONT]

The response was....

"To ensure this is not the case, we have shared this communication with our legal counsel and have been advised that the advertising used in the e-mail sent to you, which includes a clear reference to the taxes payable in addition to the airfare, does not breach any existing legislation.

The new bill that you refer to in your comments will come into effect from 25th May 2009, at which point Emirates will naturally follow the legislation in force.

FYI