Tiger Airways

[krusden]

Howdy all,

I have never used this company before and would like to seek people's opinions.
My conundrum is that Virgin blue have cancelled direct flights to hobart for the winter and you have to re-route through other cities.
The price difference isn't huge BUT the time difference is and the times of these new flights are also quite crappy.
Tiger has a direct flight on fridays and sundays (which is ideal for me) BUT I have heard that they are a bit unreliable/dubious/etc?
Please post experiences here

 

[Strike Swiftly]

I work at the airport and can confirm, Tiger are terrible. They are the most unreliable airline that services the airport. They have regular cancellations for such petty things as a flight attendant going sick. Other airlines have extra staff available to replace sick staff, not tiger. I would never pay hard earned to fly with them.

 

[magtrev]

You have to be there ridiculously early, and they leave ridiculously late. I listened to the entire Richmond vs Hawthorn game late last year including pre match and afterwards and then some extra olymipcs coverage on the end waiting at the terminal, and that was aftern a 3+ hour delay on the way up. Never again, i'd rather drive to melbourne than go Tiger. Would probably be quicker.

 

[The old campaigner]

I am a very infrequent flier, but earlier this year I flew from Melbourne to Hobart with Tiger and was very pleased with all aspects of the service. Had heard lots of negative stories but went with an open mind.
An exit seat on both legs of the trip so had plenty of room. The trip was only an hour so didnt need to eat or drink. Check in went smoothly despite some horror stories that I had heard.
On the whole it was a positive experience and I would not have any hesitation in using them again.

 

[-CG-]

I've flown once with Tiger, just from Adelaide to Melbourne, and I didn't find it too bad. Its annoying though having to get to the airport so early, and then the walk and tin shed at Melbourne isn't that great... but otherwise the flight was comfortable etc.

However, I doubt I'll fly with them again because I had a flight booked with them last year which the cancelled, several weeks beforehand, but thats not something that can just easily be fixed. It may be petty, but its put me off them. I don't want to risk booking a flight again only for it to be cancelled and then having to spend extra dollars on a last minute expensive flight.

 

[cammo84]

I've flown once with Tiger, just from Adelaide to Melbourne, and I didn't find it too bad. Its annoying though having to get to the airport so early, and then the walk and tin shed at Melbourne isn't that great... but otherwise the flight was comfortable etc.

I flew with them late last year and agree with all of this. I would only fly with them again if the flights were considerably cheaper. The terminal in Melbourne is a dump. There's even less to do than at a normal airport terminal, which sucks because you have to check in way too early.

The flight itself was fine though.

 

[Bombers_Forever]

SS is right - Tiger might have the best on time performance but it is purely because of the number of flights they cancel. They cancel so many of them for the reasons SS mentioned. I am sure that when they cancel thier ticket conditions are not great - you can't get a refund.

Quite frankly unless you have loads of time and don't mind care about being stuffed around, it isn't worth the risk. I would pay the extra even to go via Melbourne on another carrier.

 

[FIGJAM]

The terminal in Melbourne is a dump. There's even less to do than at a normal airport terminal, which sucks because you have to check in way too early.

I've lost count the amount of times I've been half-cut at 'the fly' in the Virgin terminal!

 

[rdhopkins2]

Flown Tiger once. Would use them if they were bargain basement prices but other than that would probably fly an established airline as their terminal in Melbourne is crap compared to Qantas/Virgin. They seem to change their schedules willy nilly too.

If I don't have a really important commitment/inflexible arrival time and they are way cheaper great. If not, I'm staying clear.

 

[Schache It Off]

Not the greatest services but hey, you have to enjoy the "Tiger bite" menu.

 

[Plogs]

Flew from Launny to Melb & back with them last year. Got some sort of you-beaut rate as they were just starting service on that route. A beer on the plane cost more than the flight itself.
No problems encountered.

 

[Scottroo]

flown once melb to adel, and although it wasnt anything special it wasnt too bad, flying to hobart next month for a weekend at bargain price, hope its decent service

 

[lookkg386]

Howdy all,

I have never used this company before and would like to seek people's opinions.
My conundrum is that Virgin blue have cancelled direct flights to hobart for the winter and you have to re-route through other cities.
The price difference isn't huge BUT the time difference is and the times of these new flights are also quite crappy.
Tiger has a direct flight on fridays and sundays (which is ideal for me) BUT I have heard that they are a bit unreliable/dubious/etc?
Please post experiences here

Are you sure Virgin aren't flying Melbourne(St.Kilda??)-Hobart direct, maybe they cut the amount of services doing that per week but I"m sure it will still run, is there a certain day you need to fly.

 

[krusden]

Are you sure Virgin aren't flying Melbourne(St.Kilda??)-Hobart direct, maybe they cut the amount of services doing that per week but I"m sure it will still run, is there a certain day you need to fly.

Sorry old chap I should have qualified that I am located in FOADelaide!

They're doing melbourne/etc direct still. It's just adelaide-hobart that is the problem which is highly as in previous years even wintertime flights were relatively full and they cut the plane size down recently to the two seats-aisle-two seats planes and they have been packed full on the friday-sunday trips that I like to take.

For people's information in regards of days it's travel of friday-sunday that kept my work happiest.

However a big to all who've responded. I think that I'll just have to take the day off on fridays and come back late on a sunday through canberra (which is where the flights are being connected to if you want to leave hobart at an acceptable time).

 

[bradrowe#32]

Flew from Canberra to Melbourne for $20 in December. There's no way in the world I could do that trip for that price using any other method. It wouldn't have bothered me if I had to wait etc.

However, I've some pretty dodgy things and been told to never use them for international flights or if you have to connect to another destination.

 

[dzeRnumbrd]

All you need from a budget airline is for the plane to take off and land successfully (at departure and arrival airports respectively).

Flew Tiger to Singapore it was OK and half the price of other airlines
I especially like the 250ml $5 cans of red wine.
Two of them puts you in your happy place for flying.

I would say long trips I would go a premium airline for the extra entertainment options but for short trips it was fine.

 

[Barwick17]

We did flights through asia and home on tiger (about 5 flights).
All except 1 were on time (1 hour delay)
Service was good and basic (if you asked for something you got it, otherwise they left you alone)
Seats weren't overly comfy but about $10 a seat for a 4 hour ride I can accept it
Beer was served warm with a glass of ice???????

Overall for a cheap airline they were great overseas (the one delay was in australia). Surely you can't pay bugger all and expect the world people. If it concerns you all that much - pay for extra and stop whingeing!

Really, they were fine just dont expect the red carpet treatment.

 

[rdhopkins2]

Pay peanuts you get monkeys. As long as the monkey isn't rabid who cares.
By all means great for a footy trip if you allow for a delay of a few hours.
I'm actually flying them to Launceston in April.
Planes seem modern and nice too (well the one to Perth was fine).