"We're not fleecing customers - it's just market forces" say budget airlines

[little mary sunshine]

6 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

So should the government control airline ticketing?

 

 

No, just price gouging by greedy companies.

[PremiumLane]

7 hours ago, LivinLOS said:

 

 

Nonsense.. its this kind of socialist claptrap that results in not enough seats being available. 

 

free market force self corrects.. competition self corrects.. Both up and down.. I dont hear the consumer complaints when theres a 200b flight on offer with a mostly empty plane.. 

 

The best way to 'provide assistance and a helping hand' is to provide a service of value priced at what the market will pay.. 

 

Rubbish, when you have monopolies and there is no such thing as the free market, a total illusion  - corporations benefit from government tax funded money and help all the time. The free market is only for the little man and the poor.

 

And they are not providing assistance and a helping hand are they, they jacked the prices up. 

 

 

 

[true blue]

7 hours ago, nongkhaidude said:

last week flew AirAsia from Phuket to Singapore we prebooked and paid for 50 kilos of luggage unfortanaly we were 10 kilos over and was charged 500 baht per kilo ! On top of that the checkin attenendent was so estattic about being able to fleece us that she forgot to give my wife and daughter the Imigration form so after standing in line for 45 minutes we had to get the forms and stand in line for another 45 minuets , Air Asia sucks  I will never fly AirAsia again  

They did the same in Phuket after the tsunami doubled the fare and charged me for a few kilos over the 15 allowance never have and never will fly air Asia since 

[chilli42]

6 hours ago, ballpoint said:

But do you really think their main customer base is going to consider this when they come to book a flight later in the year?  "Air Smiley Nok has the cheapest ticket, but they increased their fare during the floods, so I'll go with a more expensive option instead".

 

You are assuming that a purchase decision is rationale.  It is not, ever.  It's completely based on emotion.  The rationale part of the brain kicks in once the purchase decision has been made ... rationalizing the decision.  Aside from which, Nok air is not the only budget airline in town nor is there much difference (in my opinion) between Thai and the budget carriers.

[Thaidream]

Yes- I want the airlines to lower their prices; bring in extra planes and do everything in its power to help alleviate crowded conditions due to flooding. Tell me it can't be done and I will tell you it can be done and I have seen it done many times when I worked International Disasters involving evacuations.  The only thing you need to do it is the will and not worry about your bottom line. As I said, it's called corporate responsibility.

[Get Real]

2 hours ago, FitnessHealthTravel said:

Of course they're fleecing. I remember having to pay USS$800 to fly Phuket to Singapore when the Bangkok Airport was shut because of the Yellow shirts. If I didn't I was going to lose a non refundable on going fare. Thanks to Tiger Airlines. <deleted>.kers!!!

Are you totally sure that was 800 USD??? Sound more like 80. Not to be mean, but above 28000 for a one way trip. that would mean that they put up the price 1000 percent???

[scorecard]

9 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

tickets are still dead cheap

 

Maybe true for many farang but certainly not true for Thais who are the vast majority of travelers. 

[scorecard]

25 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

Yes- I want the airlines to lower their prices; bring in extra planes and do everything in its power to help alleviate crowded conditions due to flooding. Tell me it can't be done and I will tell you it can be done and I have seen it done many times when I worked International Disasters involving evacuations.  The only thing you need to do it is the will and not worry about your bottom line. As I said, it's called corporate responsibility.

 

" ....it's called corporate responsibility."

 

Agree 100%. A very large % of business enterprises use up a lot of resources that belong to all human beings, they have a responsibility to give back / share / to be compassionate. 

[chiang mai]

I can't believe how little some posters understand about the way that every day, common and garden commerce work both here and everywhere around the world, what did you learn in school for goodness sake! People looking to be the victim of the big bad corporate all the time, poor babies!

Edited January 10, 2017 by chiang mai

[55Jay]

The airlines all agree the same way the members of the Thai Bankster Association agree on ATM fee increases. 

[LivinLOS]

56 minutes ago, chiang mai said:

I can't believe how little some posters understand about the way that every day, common and garden commerce work both here and everywhere around the world, what did you learn in school for goodness sake! People looking to be the victim of the big bad corporate all the time, poor babies!

 

 

The snowflake generation seems to be infectious even to people old enough to know better. 

 

I want it free.. I want it cheap.. I want it subsidized.. I want someone else to do it.. Why isnt it done yet.. 

[chiang mai]

1 minute ago, LivinLOS said:

 

 

The snowflake generation seems to be infectious even to people old enough to know better. 

 

I want it free.. I want it cheap.. I want it subsidized.. I want someone else to do it.. Why isnt it done yet.. 

 

But not just snowflakes, also every generation since, including large numbers of impoverished boomers (seen daily on TVF) looking for somebody to blame for their lack of, well, of everything it seems - everyone appears entitled these days, or so it seems.

[chuang]

Cock and bull story

[BEVUP]

I think all big companies are full of it 

Fly every Mth even before oil hit $50 a barrel & the fares still didn't drop

Their pathetic seating computer system that tells you only P seat left & have to pay $50 US to ensure seat to only find out later at 48 hr check in there were more (computer balancing plane)

A airline website that tells you the planes are full only to see there are 3 vacant seats near you within the first 4 rows (We need real time seat booking)

& also home country big banks that still want to charge 625 bht for an actual purchase from a shop not a cash withdraw

 

[chiang mai]

3 minutes ago, BEVUP said:

I think all big companies are full of it 

Fly every Mth even before oil hit $50 a barrel & the fares still didn't drop

Their pathetic seating computer system that tells you only P seat left & have to pay $50 US to ensure seat to only find out later at 48 hr check in there were more (computer balancing plane)

A airline website that tells you the planes are full only to see there are 3 vacant seats near you within the first 4 rows (We need real time seat booking)

& also home country big banks that still want to charge 625 bht for an actual purchase from a shop not a cash withdraw

 

 

"Fly every Mth even before oil hit $50 a barrel & the fares still didn't drop" - that's because most airline hedge their  fuel purchases well in advance hence they charge what it costs at the time.

 

 

[outlaw11wa]

11 hours ago, sahibji said:

for the poor guy whose house is under water or the farmer whose crops have been washed away by floods? dead cheap?

But they are not going anywhere are they? If they are going home to survey the damage are flights  real cheap - everybody else is leaving not going so may be flying in empty?

[outlaw11wa]

11 hours ago, halloween said:

Just checked Bangkok Air Samui-BKK tomorrow. Cheapest flight B4910, cheapest seat (promo ) on more desirable flights B8160, "Web Freedom" seats B12990.

Flew there late Nov before last. Cheapest flight were 4190bht. Wondered why it was so much dearer than Phuket at twice the distance till i was told Bangkok Air own and built the Terminal Facility on Samui and only a couple of other airlines were licensed to operate the route. Savvy business while the monopoly lasts...lol.

Edited January 10, 2017 by outlaw11wa

[Michael8511]

This is practice with all airlines that holidays are high season, due to high demand ticket prices are up. A USA- BKK ticket can be as much as $1500 more this period.

[exemplary21]

11 hours ago, todlad said:

 

 

I have used both of the airlines mentioned here and i have to say i use Air Asia only as a last resort. Low cost should not mean low service. The last flight i took to KL saw no crew at the door saying goodbye: one crew member was near the door but he was browsing on his phone already so far too busy for the likes of you and me.

 

 

No-one bothered to say good-bye?

 

Poor precious...!

 

 

11 hours ago, todlad said:

 

Here is something to think about: seat occupancy rates on the routes i fly on are always 100% +/- 1 or 2%. In that case, whilst i understand the hypothesis of supply and demand, it is a bit disingenuous of these airlines to increase prices when they can already sell every seat.

 

 

So, there are times when you've seen 2% of passengers sitting in the aisles...?

 

...and sorry, you clearly do not understand the "hypothesis" of supply and demand: when you can already sell every seat is exactly when you would increase prices.

[chiang mai]

102%, pft! Large carriers like BA oversell their flights where ever they can, 105% of occupancy is typical target. Why? Because they know that a certain percentage of passengers will be no-shows hence it's cheaper to pay remuneration to a very small number of passenger who did show but couldn't get seats and still allow the flight to leave fully loaded with fare paying passengers. Ultimately the practise results from passengers not bothering to cancel their reservations.

[exemplary21]

34 minutes ago, chiang mai said:

102%, pft! Large carriers like BA oversell their flights where ever they can, 105% of occupancy is typical target. Why? Because they know that a certain percentage of passengers will be no-shows hence it's cheaper to pay remuneration to a very small number of passenger who did show but couldn't get seats and still allow the flight to leave fully loaded with fare paying passengers. Ultimately the practise results from passengers not bothering to cancel their reservations.

 

Another MBA in General Quantitative Terms shows his wares...!

 

A "seat occupancy rate" is the number of seats occupied divided by the total number of seats, expressed as a percentage.

 

Hint: it can't be more than 100%.

 

Get it...?

[SiSePuede419]

Sorry snowflakes but no one forced you to leave your cold, wet, dreary little island and fly to a warm, wet, tourist trap of an island in the middle of winter.  You did it because you WANT to.

 

Airlines are raising fares because they WANT to.

 

You should understand their selfishness, right ?

[hobz]

When the market is good for the airline the people have to pay more.

When the market is bad for the airline they get bailed out and people have to pay more.

I love market forces.

[sambum]

15 hours ago, halloween said:

Just checked Bangkok Air Samui-BKK tomorrow. Cheapest flight B4910, cheapest seat (promo ) on more desirable flights B8160, "Web Freedom" seats B12990.

 

LoongJohn got it right, I reckon! :-  "Market Forces" translation:  We do it because we can get away with it."

And Bangkok Air have  got to be the worst offenders because they have the monopoly of Samui Airport - a similar length of flight from BKK by Bangkok Air to say, Ubon Ratchathani costs less than half the price because they have to compete with other airlines. I refuse to use Bangkok Air for this reason.

[Rhys]

...business as usual... greed rules the day..

[oldcarguy]

I guess the General   is taking the week off and not declaring he will fix everything and make all those wet Thais "happy" again

 

I can see charging what was the non discount regular price , but not raising the regular price in a disaster,

 

Shame on them

[chiang mai]

8 hours ago, exemplary21 said:

 

Another MBA in General Quantitative Terms shows his wares...!

 

A "seat occupancy rate" is the number of seats occupied divided by the total number of seats, expressed as a percentage.

 

Hint: it can't be more than 100%.

 

Get it...?

 

It's a shame you spent more time being a smart arse than you did reading the post, had you done otherwise so you'd realise that airlines sell virtual seats hence the total seat occupancy can indeed exceed 100% and quite often does.

 

Get it....?

[Get Real]

1 hour ago, chiang mai said:

 

It's a shame you spent more time being a smart arse than you did reading the post, had you done otherwise so you'd realise that airlines sell virtual seats hence the total seat occupancy can indeed exceed 100% and quite often does.

 

Get it....?

Yep! I do think I get it. Are you trying to say that if you buy a virtual seat instead of a real one, then you are not sure to get on the plane with a basically fake ticket?
Sounds like you should consider talking about buses instead. There people often stand, even if it´s not within regulations.

However, the post you answered was not smart over the top either. It´s true that it can never be over 100 percent, but that is totally regarding to where the airline set their individual percentage based on how many seats they need to be able to reach their goal regarding costs and ticket price.

[Get Real]

7 hours ago, sambum said:

 

LoongJohn got it right, I reckon! :-  "Market Forces" translation:  We do it because we can get away with it."

And Bangkok Air have  got to be the worst offenders because they have the monopoly of Samui Airport - a similar length of flight from BKK by Bangkok Air to say, Ubon Ratchathani costs less than half the price because they have to compete with other airlines. I refuse to use Bangkok Air for this reason.

You might be right. I have never heard of any monopoly over an airport though. Do they own the airport themselfs?

It might be that no other airlines like to be active on that line, just because of that it´s an economical disaster or that it´s just nor enough passaengers for more flights. Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

[Get Real]

10 hours ago, chiang mai said:

102%, pft! Large carriers like BA oversell their flights where ever they can, 105% of occupancy is typical target. Why? Because they know that a certain percentage of passengers will be no-shows hence it's cheaper to pay remuneration to a very small number of passenger who did show but couldn't get seats and still allow the flight to leave fully loaded with fare paying passengers. Ultimately the practise results from passengers not bothering to cancel their reservations.

That´s just not right. If a airline have 100 percent fully booked based on the seats, they do not have to sell up to 105 percent to be sure. The airlines does not invoice you for the ticket, you pay in advance. That means that most of the airlines have a line in their terms, that says if you are a no show you ticket is null and void. Out of that they not have to compensate the 5 percent that can´t get on the plane.