Australian Gov Suing Air Asia For Scamming Customers To Phuket

[nokbird]

Australian regulator files lawsuit against AirAsia

(AFP) – Jan 23, 2012

SYDNEY — AirAsia was slapped with a lawsuit by Australian regulators accusing the Asian budget carrier of failing to disclose the full price of fares on its website.

The Malaysia-based airline, which flies international services out of Australia from the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Perth, with Sydney to be added from April, was named in documents lodged at the Federal Court in Melbourne on Tuesday.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the country's consumer watchdog, claims some fares sold on AirAsia's website do not display prices inclusive of all taxes, duties, fees and other charges.

"Businesses that choose to advertise a part of the price of a particular product or service must also prominently specify a single total price," it said in a media release.

The regulator alleged the fares relate to flights from Melbourne to cities including London, New Delhi, and Hangzhou in China, from the Gold Coast to Ho Chi Minh City and from Perth to places such as Taipei and Phuket in Thailand.

The matter is listed to be heard on March 2 with the watchdog seeking an injunction "to restrain AirAsia from engaging in misleading conduct in the future".

It also wants a court order "that AirAsia publish corrective notices on its websites regarding the conduct".

AirAsia could not immediately be reached for comment. source

[Rancid]

Should go after them for their special cheap rates on email alerts that rarely ever are available. All their penny pinching is fine as that is what they do, but they are full of BS on their so called specials. Pity as long ago they were for real and good deals could be had.

[UbonOz]

Why is an article dated 23 January 2012 appearing now?

[harrry]

THere is another thread giving the fact they had been fined about $7million. I think it was yesterday.

[smotherb]

quit the cheap, pay a few extra bucks and fly Thai Airways--better service and worth it

[Briggsy]

Air Asia offer a great, safe, cut-price service. Thai Airways offer an overpriced service. Take your choice.

It appears they have pushed the envelope too far in their marketing. There will now be a correction. There has been this kind of regulatory intervention on all the world's discount carriers. Ryanair seems to be constantly doing battle with the regulators.

[harrry]

quit the cheap, pay a few extra bucks and fly Thai Airways--better service and worth it

They got fined heaps too for ilegal price fixing.

[Yme]

quit the cheap, pay a few extra bucks and fly Thai Airways--better service and worth it

Really?

Flight Test: Thai Airways: -

Entertainment Good selection of recent and older films, with a reasonable offering of TV shows and a large seatback screen. Unfortunately, my system and those of my neighbours don't work properly - the picture distorts and the sound pops and drops out every 10 seconds, making it almost unwatchable.

Service The crew have a good reputation but don't quite live up to it on this flight. No one shows up when I press the call button, and my second meal is unceremoniously dumped on my tray table without a word from the attendant (there is only one option for the second meal, so I guess there was no need to ask about choices). Our row has finished our meals well before we're offered something to drink with them.

Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/travel/flight-test-thai-airways-20121213-2bbwc.html#ixzz2FeKLHSeD

[bangkokburning]

I just need them to be honest. The site is dishonest, the company dishonest.

Oh, and to fix that assinine [cancel] if you dont want their stpid insurance - it is OK!!!

[smotherb]

quit the cheap, pay a few extra bucks and fly Thai Airways--better service and worth it

Really?

Flight Test: Thai Airways: -

Entertainment Good selection of recent and older films, with a reasonable offering of TV shows and a large seatback screen. Unfortunately, my system and those of my neighbours don't work properly - the picture distorts and the sound pops and drops out every 10 seconds, making it almost unwatchable.

Service The crew have a good reputation but don't quite live up to it on this flight. No one shows up when I press the call button, and my second meal is unceremoniously dumped on my tray table without a word from the attendant (there is only one option for the second meal, so I guess there was no need to ask about choices). Our row has finished our meals well before we're offered something to drink with them.

Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/travel/flight-test-thai-airways-20121213-2bbwc.html#ixzz2FeKLHSeD

I prefer to believe what I have experienced rather than what somebody whose agenda is unknown writes.

[LongTimeLurker]

Why is an article dated 23 January 2012 appearing now?

So Air Asia has been flying for around 10 years now and suddenly the Aussie government figures out their advertising of prices is not 'kosher'?

Seems like they are upsetting someone's business and the Aussie government should also check out the advertising of all AAs competitors who use exactly the same marketing . But then maybe they would be investigating the lobbyists whose interests are hurt by AAs sucess.