Losing my Tiger Virginity

[markis10]

I had a new experience today. I flew a full service carrier who did not handle a delay well, and no it was not QF but it's partner LAN. But that was not the new experience. I flew Tiger............(Spock - activate the flame shields)......... And I liked it :shock:.

Thanks to a late night grabbing some of the tiger $100 flight vouchers for free it was bound to happen. I was able to book early this week an afternoon flight ex Sydney, baggage, queue jumping and still have some left over.

Checkin
Checkin can be online, however bag drop closes with checkin at T-45. There is a dedicated bag drop line for webcheck, it was empty when I rocked up at T-55 (PHEW). The main checkin area had 60-70 people.

Boarding
QueJump is priority boarding by paying for the privilege, you board whenever boarding opens, at $3 and getting dips on overhead space - priceless.

Seat
My plane had fabric seats and floor, very comfortable and dare I say it, better than JQ or VAs leather options.

Flight
Uneventful, FO came on to do the normal speel, crew did the snack selling service and time went quick. Arrived 5 minutes early.

Baggage On Arrival
2nd Bag out


Overall Tiger got me where I wanted with no fuss, good comfort and a lot of smiles. In fact the whole trip was very similar to JQ, the only difference was the friendly staff be it gate or on the plane.

I have a feeling Tiger will see me soon, I am keen to find out if my experience is the norm.

 

[lovestotravel]

Nice!

Thanks for the reminder about the free vouchers too

As I am sure you know, Tiger, just like JQ are going to be great, until you hit a delay etc etc

 

[TomVexille]

I also flew Tiger once. Uneventful. Bulkhead seat given for free at check-in and a two seat shadow. Definitely wasn't the worst flight I've had.

 

[RooFlyer]

Fair 'nuf. Most flights are uneventful. But wait till something goes pear-shaped and then let us know what Tiger's recovery was like.

 

[zainman]

First Batam Island & now Tiger Airways? :shock:

 

[straitman]

Nice!

Thanks for the reminder about the free vouchers too

As I am sure you know, Tiger, just like JQ are going to be great, until you hit a delay etc etc

Fair 'nuf. Most flights are uneventful. But wait till something goes pear-shaped and then let us know what Tiger's recovery was like.

In perspective they all have issues to different degrees with service recovery. The first line (or two) of the OPs post covers that.

 

[Grooba]

Fair 'nuf. Most flights are uneventful. But wait till something goes pear-shaped and then let us know what Tiger's recovery was like.

That's exactly it.

I've also flown Tiger once SYD-MEL (tullamarine) on a $19 special 4 or 5 years ago. No checked bag and not for business. My experience was great and I would do it again if the circumstances were right however I most certainly would not even think about it for a business flight nor would I for anything much longer than a short east coast hop.

 

[missafternoondelight]

Thanks for sharing, markis10! I've always been too scared to try Tiger. Might have to give it a go!

 

[markis10]

Last weekend I had the pleasure of once again flying Tiger, as I had to head home unexpectedly. The flights were $60 each, SYD BNE on Saturday afternoon and coming back today on the 0710. I have to say at those prices they are good value. I did not check luggage or select a seat, and bought a meal on each which was $11=$14. Going up it was a lovely pie and sausage roll with a beer, back it was a Turkish Bacon Egg combo with a coffee.

Each flight was full, and the staff worked hard. Unlike the orange cancer there was no grumpy staff keen to get back to the galley chat. Priority boarding was not really enforced and you had to get on early to be sure luggage stayed above you, as needless to say carry on is the go. Both flights were also early on arrival.

I would never rely on Tiger with their small fleet for a time critical flight, for leisure its a different story. If your not travelling with Baggage, I honestly believe they are a very good option. And VA needs to steal their catering guru, because the paid meals leave the designer stuff in the dust.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Fair 'nuf. Most flights are uneventful. But wait till something goes pear-shaped and then let us know what Tiger's recovery was like.

AFAIK in the event of a flight disruption TT will book you on their next service even if it's the next day.

If that isn't suitable for the pax they will offer a full refund however if you've bought a $19.00 special & your TT flight goes u/s if you can't wait for your rescheduled flight you've got no option other than to fork out big bucks for a new ticket on an alternative airline.

QF, VA & JQ will in some cases issue a FIM (flight interruption manifest) for travel on another airline which doesn't cost the pax anything however there is no hard & fast rule as when they will transfer you & when they will make you wait hours for the next flight on the same carrier as originally booked.

I'm not saying don't fly TT, however if you are going to an important event, give yourself a days leeway or you could be up the creek without a paddle.

 

[JohnK]

Thanks for the reminder about the free vouchers too

Darn. Serves me right for missing that memo.

Fair 'nuf. Most flights are uneventful. But wait till something goes pear-shaped and then let us know what Tiger's recovery was like.

Can't be any worse than JQ.

I like Tiger. A shame their schedule SYD-BNE is not suitable.

 

[smit0847]

I flew TT several times until a flight was cancelled. Their service recovery is dreadful. Never again.

I did enjoy that TV show 'Airways' though. A FF friend joked that he was watching it 'to see how the other half live'. Another friend comented 'I didn't see a lounge anywhere'

 

[eastwest101]

Their ADL-MEL flights are always packed from what I can tell, does not mean they are making any money of course but its incredibly difficult to find actual data on how the Australian operation is going.

Interesting that the staff are reportedly less surly than Jetstar staff, and pretty sad that the meals for purchase on Tiger are obviously superior to VA Y flexi meals...

 

[davem]

I tried to fly Tiger once.

Rocked up 6:30 am for a 7:30 am flight.

"Oh we don't have a plane, it didn't get in before curfew"

They put us on Virgin flights. However I didn't get on one until 9am.

 

[Buzzard]

I'm flying home on Tiger MEL ADL after AFF 8. Be interesting to see how it goes.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm flying home on Tiger MEL ADL after AFF 8. Be interesting to see how it goes.

I'll light a candle for you.

 

[gaz0303]

Lost mine last week with a SIN to PNH flight for $70. I paid an extra $10 to sit in row 2 which meant a double shadow and light load in local area. The most orderly boarding process I have ever experienced because of a combination of light load, very early boarding call and calling of small sections of rows at a time. Only downside were the 3 men of single origin in front who immediately reclined seats on short flight, shoes off and bare feet on walls and loud snoring.

 

[Denali]

Lost mine last week with a SIN to PNH flight for $70. I paid an extra $10 to sit in row 2 which meant a double shadow and light load in local area. The most orderly boarding process I have ever experienced because of a combination of light load, very early boarding call and calling of small sections of rows at a time. Only downside were the 3 men of single origin in front who immediately reclined seats on short flight, shoes off and bare feet on walls and loud snoring.

Apparently punching them in the face could be an option.
Man 'punched sleeping passenger' on international flight to Sydney

 

[gaz0303]

Apparently punching them in the face could be an option.
Man 'punched sleeping passenger' on international flight to Sydney

And here I was thinking that the biggest difference btw LCC and others are the passengers. I should add the QF were able to check my luggage all the way through QFd - QFi to TA. I just had to collect a boarding pass in SIN that didn't involve any lineup 90minutes prior to departure.

 

[romney]

I have flown Tiger a few times in the past - including a $15 each way flight MEL-ADL a few years ago when the flight was delayed then cancelled because it wouldn't make the curfew in Adelaide. We were rebooked on a flight the next day, and told we would be reimbursed (iirc) $120 each for accommodation so a night at the Hilton (as it was then) cost us $15. All this went smoothly but ONLY because we had taken into consideration we were flying Tiger and had plenty of time to get home. Plenty of other people were very upset. We were told on check in that the flight was delayed but the uproar around us when an announcement was made about the delay implied not everyone was told. I will happily fly them again if it suits, is cheap, and I am not on a tight time frame.