I am a frequent traveller from Asia to NZ, and the following NZ Herald article only universalises the problem for NZ - that it is an expensive place to travel. Whether you are flying there or leaving, its expensive for several reasons:
1. You have to rely on one of the expensive - non-discounting airlines to get there
2. Your alternative is to fly to Sydney, Gold Coast, Melbourne, or other ports before flying on to NZ. The Australian route at least gives you more points of entry - that is Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or Queenstown.
3. The problem is that the choice of airports is offset by the poor travel times; so its hard to get a good connection. I often find it almost impossible to make good connections to get to or leave NZ. I invariably am left coming into the country at midnight, when there are no buses, having to stay an extra night for accommodation, and of course having to commute all the way to Auckland on slow public transport because domestic transport is so expensive.
This obstacle of course would readily be resolved if:
1. NZ migration laws were on-par with Australia
2. NZ biosecurity was beefed up
3. NZ did not have such a social welfare nightmare
Solve these problems and the dropping of barriers would see cheaper flights and greater inter-regional connections. i.e. You could well expect flights from Newcastle (NSW) to Rotorua (North Is NZ), or Melbourne to Napier (top of South Is NZ). This would of course be lovely for all concerned. Frankly, I think these developments are about 10 years off. This is how long it will take NZ to discover oil, and end its parlous state of economic irrelevance as 'Hobbitston' fame.
Aside from the need to change connections in Eastern Australia to get a good fare to Australia, the same is true flying from Asia. One is invariably forced to fly one of the Asian low-cost airlines to Sydney or the Gold Coast, before transferring to a Jetstar flight to Auckland or Christchurch. You have to pay more with Virgin Blue or Air NZ to fly to Wellington or Queenstown. I was forced to fly from Manila to Kuala Lumpur by Cebu Pacific, and then get a flight from KL to Sydney via Singapore, before transferring to a flight to Auckland with Jetstar. The poor service of Tiger Airlines (we could not reach its call centre after numerous attempts, its offices were non existent in Manila airport) and their website did not allow changes. Our problem was their misleading website - it suggests +15kg - leaving the passenger wondering if they are getting 15kg or 15kg + some nominal amount of luggage. Very annoying. Tiger is of course famous for poor service, which is why this airline is being absorbed by its sister company (under the Singapore Airlines brand) Scoot. Scoot is being well-marketed and is a very sensible operation. I have flown with them twice, and they are even better than Jetstar in service. This is their promotional stage, so that might change in 2013.
So it is clear in the Asian sector that the two main offerings are:
1. Scoot operating out of Singapore - see www.flyscoot.com
2. Jetstar operating out of Auckland, Singapore, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth - see www.jetstar.com
Clearly Jetstar has the stronger choice of destinations. Its service has been sloppy in some areas; however I suspect Scoot will give it reason to change its flight packaging. The discount airlines have really been very inflexible on their travel terms. i.e. For a cost of service charge of $3 for a flight change, they are extorting $50, or even causing travellers to forfeit discount tickets or buy new tickets on the day at premium prices. These tactics are shameful, and mirror the action of the banks in the past. It gets even worse, when in our case, the airline has unilaterally decided that there is no capacity to change a code share flight; or that you cannot change your luggage allowance...which is idiotic and frustrating when the revision arose because of their poor website disclosure. Tiger Airlines does not actually tell you on their website what your carry on baggage allowance is.
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1. You have to rely on one of the expensive - non-discounting airlines to get there
2. Your alternative is to fly to Sydney, Gold Coast, Melbourne, or other ports before flying on to NZ. The Australian route at least gives you more points of entry - that is Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or Queenstown.
3. The problem is that the choice of airports is offset by the poor travel times; so its hard to get a good connection. I often find it almost impossible to make good connections to get to or leave NZ. I invariably am left coming into the country at midnight, when there are no buses, having to stay an extra night for accommodation, and of course having to commute all the way to Auckland on slow public transport because domestic transport is so expensive.
This obstacle of course would readily be resolved if:
1. NZ migration laws were on-par with Australia
2. NZ biosecurity was beefed up
3. NZ did not have such a social welfare nightmare
Solve these problems and the dropping of barriers would see cheaper flights and greater inter-regional connections. i.e. You could well expect flights from Newcastle (NSW) to Rotorua (North Is NZ), or Melbourne to Napier (top of South Is NZ). This would of course be lovely for all concerned. Frankly, I think these developments are about 10 years off. This is how long it will take NZ to discover oil, and end its parlous state of economic irrelevance as 'Hobbitston' fame.
Aside from the need to change connections in Eastern Australia to get a good fare to Australia, the same is true flying from Asia. One is invariably forced to fly one of the Asian low-cost airlines to Sydney or the Gold Coast, before transferring to a Jetstar flight to Auckland or Christchurch. You have to pay more with Virgin Blue or Air NZ to fly to Wellington or Queenstown. I was forced to fly from Manila to Kuala Lumpur by Cebu Pacific, and then get a flight from KL to Sydney via Singapore, before transferring to a flight to Auckland with Jetstar. The poor service of Tiger Airlines (we could not reach its call centre after numerous attempts, its offices were non existent in Manila airport) and their website did not allow changes. Our problem was their misleading website - it suggests +15kg - leaving the passenger wondering if they are getting 15kg or 15kg + some nominal amount of luggage. Very annoying. Tiger is of course famous for poor service, which is why this airline is being absorbed by its sister company (under the Singapore Airlines brand) Scoot. Scoot is being well-marketed and is a very sensible operation. I have flown with them twice, and they are even better than Jetstar in service. This is their promotional stage, so that might change in 2013.
So it is clear in the Asian sector that the two main offerings are:
1. Scoot operating out of Singapore - see www.flyscoot.com
2. Jetstar operating out of Auckland, Singapore, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth - see www.jetstar.com
Clearly Jetstar has the stronger choice of destinations. Its service has been sloppy in some areas; however I suspect Scoot will give it reason to change its flight packaging. The discount airlines have really been very inflexible on their travel terms. i.e. For a cost of service charge of $3 for a flight change, they are extorting $50, or even causing travellers to forfeit discount tickets or buy new tickets on the day at premium prices. These tactics are shameful, and mirror the action of the banks in the past. It gets even worse, when in our case, the airline has unilaterally decided that there is no capacity to change a code share flight; or that you cannot change your luggage allowance...which is idiotic and frustrating when the revision arose because of their poor website disclosure. Tiger Airlines does not actually tell you on their website what your carry on baggage allowance is.
Asian property markets outperforming Japan Foreclosed Guide Philippines Property Guide
Profit from mining with Global Mining Investing eBook
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