Budget airlines..

[MAYURI]

what do you think of them?

Just used the new budget airline airasiax for the first time, and it was a bad experience. small seats, no leg rest or arm rest, dodgy seat covers...etc.
The only good point is their air hostess they have... god damn they are hott.

Anyway, are their any good budget airlines around? What's tiger, jetstar, and the others like?

 

[Rob]

They get you from point to point but don't expect much help or sympathy if the flight is delayed. I've heard Air Asia's seat pitch is the smallest in the world, but I haven't noticed Jetstar to have any less legroom than Qantas.

And if you're flying around Asia, the price most airlines charge for a one way flight mean your only real choice is budget airlines. I'd be happy to pay up to a 50% premium to fly a reasonable airline, but not 3 or 4 times as much.

 

[year of the roo]

EasyJet are quite good here in Europe. RyanAir are a bunch of crooks.

 

[rdhopkins2]

Never flown EasyJet but have on Ryan Air a few times. No problems experienced but from reports you wouldn't want to have a problem with them. Still as they say, you pay for what you get. Just be at the airport on time, remain within the baggage allowance and there won't be any problems. Just pray that the weather is ok and the flight on time.

 

[Eagle87]

what do you think of them?

Just used the new budget airline airasiax for the first time, and it was a bad experience. small seats, no leg rest or arm rest, dodgy seat covers...etc.
The only good point is their air hostess they have... god damn they are hott.

Anyway, are their any good budget airlines around? What's tiger, jetstar, and the others like?

Ok, this is a post I can assist with.

I have flown on Air Asia, Air Asia X, Jetstar Asia, Tiger and Virgin Blue....

When you are based in KL (as I was for a while) Air Asia is the cheap carrier (based in KL) and for short flights (and most within SE Asia are under 3 hours, many less than 2) they are fine. Its basic service, no allocated seats (unless you pay extra for Xpress Boarding) but hey, its a short flight and its cheap - I used to regularly fly KL - Bangkok or KL - Phuket or KL - Ho Chi Minh for under A$100 RETURN!

Air Asia X are obviously a longer flight carrier. I have flown them from Perth to KL about 5 times so far and honestly the seats are frigging small! The only way I fly them is to book either an XL seat (which are about $250-$300 more one way) which is bigger and has a bit more leg room OR to book one of the exit row or extra leg room seats in economy )they cost $40 more and you do it via seat selection..... they are a basic carrier, buy your food on board and all that... generally a high percentage of hot hostesses
Air Asia can be prone to delays. The regular and longish delay airports seem to be Jakarta (regular delays and often 2+ hours), Phnom Penh (2 flights out, 2 delays of 4 hours and 3 hours respectively!!) and Ho Chi Minh ....

Jetstar Asia, is the best low cost carrier in Asia and its hub is in Singapore. Again can pay a bit more for an exit row, extra leg room seat. The standard of crew isnt as high but in my view its the best Asian carrier. They seem, in my experience to have less delayed flights than Air Asia.

Tiger isnt that great in my opinion. They do always seem to run on time and I have never had a problem but if I was flying Singapore to Perth and had a choice between Air Asia, Tiger and Jetstar Asia it would be Jetstar, then Air Asia, then Tiger....

I have always felt safe on these carriers and apart from delays have had no problem but not sure I would want a really long flight with any low cost airline (i.e. 7 hours plus) ....

Hope that helps.

 

[rdhopkins2]

Anyone game to fly Air Asia X if they start the Melbourne-KL-London route? IMO that would be painful. But for $1000 potentially cheaper, well I'd probably lube up and cop it.

 

[Eagle87]

Anyone game to fly Air Asia X if they start the Melbourne-KL-London route? IMO that would be painful. But for $1000 potentially cheaper, well I'd probably lube up and cop it.

Pay the extra $40 per sector for the exit row seats!!

Or be a short person who weighs under 60kg .... no problem...

 

[Strike Swiftly]

i work at the airport here at melbourne. i would never fly tiger, especially if i had booked accomodation at the other end. the amount of cancellations is beyond ridiculous. flights are cancelled because an air hostess calls in sick, air hostesses are over their allowed air time etc. the flights are cheap, but most accomodation is not and a lot of travellers get left high and dry.

 

[fitzmantle]

Caught Air Asia from HK to Bangkok last year. As the flight had just taken off and was still ascending, some stupid old woman decided it would be a good time to unbuckle her seat belt and fossick around in the overhead cabin. The steward came up and told her to sit down but she ignored him, he then simply pushed her into her seat and buckled her up than told her not to move. Best bit of air stewardship i have ever seen.

I dont mind tiger airlines, the chicks wear tight black corduroy pants & they also seem have a few Australian pilots.

 

[Fender]

Mate, fly Air Asia X and go the XL seats. Still way cheaper than flying Economy on any other airline and seats are awesome. Can't beat it. But seriously even in economy you are flying dead set dirt cheap, you get what you paid for. For the price they are charging I will sit on the floor if I have to.

Air Asia or Jestar Asia when doing intra-Asia flights are the only way. Was flying from Singapore(Shittest city in Asia) to Phuket and some friends flew Silk Air and I flew Air Asia. There flight cost 3x as more and the plane was chockers. I had 3 seats to myself just about on every flight I was on.

Jetstar Saigon - Singapore 3 seats
Air Aisa Singa - Phuket 3 seats
AA - phuket - KL 3 seats

Never been on a full budget plane in Aisa always able to lie down. Plus the AAX hosty's are stunners.

 

[Brad Goodman]

Flown Tiger once, that was from Melbourne to Newcastle return. Flights left on time and were half-full, a very pleasant experience all round but obviously it seems not everyone is as lucky.

I flew Jetstar from Sydney to Phuket and to be honest I found it no worse than Qantas.

Still yet to have a bad experience with a budget airline but I've used them twice so I'm probably due for some issues on the third go!

 

[maccas_no1]

i work at the airport here at melbourne. i would never fly tiger, especially if i had booked accomodation at the other end. the amount of cancellations is beyond ridiculous. flights are cancelled because an air hostess calls in sick, air hostesses are over their allowed air time etc. the flights are cheap, but most accomodation is not and a lot of travellers get left high and dry.

PM me and let me know where you work at the airport, Im with VB

 

[HigginsHawk]

Does anybody here know much about Delta (US). Apparently they are joining the Pacific route mid year to compete with Qantas, AIR NZ, United and Virgin.

Looks like a great time to be thinking about going to the US if the exchange rate can improve by 10 or 15 cents and get back up top about 80c.

 

[year of the roo]

Does anybody here know much about Delta (US). Apparently they are joining the Pacific route mid year to compete with Qantas, AIR NZ, United and Virgin.

Looks like a great time to be thinking about going to the US if the exchange rate can improve by 10 or 15 cents and get back up top about 80c.

The exchange rate will be falling before it rises again. Get used to 50c-$1 rates unfortunately.

 

[Eagle87]

Just booked a flight in February for a family member, one way to KL on Air Asia X for $99 (upgraded to $124 to include a luggage allowance).....

That includes ALL taxes & charges ($17 fare + $82 taxes)...

$99 Perth to KL. Thats insane.

 

[Renegade]

Does anybody here know much about Delta (US). Apparently they are joining the Pacific route mid year to compete with Qantas, AIR NZ, United and Virgin.

Looks like a great time to be thinking about going to the US if the exchange rate can improve by 10 or 15 cents and get back up top about 80c.

I'm flying Delta next month from Honolulu through to New Jersey with a changeover in Atlanta. Will let you know what i think of them.

 

[Power King]

Jetstar gets a big tick of approval from me. Agree on it seeming like qantas.