Tiger Airways - be very careful...

[Cambridge Clarrie]

My wife and 2 year old son were coming home from the Gold Coast the other week on Tiger (at least that was the plan...)

They rocked up to the check in desk only to be told that they were 1 minute (yes this is not an exaggeration) late and they had therefore missed the flight. The check in for Tiger closes 45 minutes prior to departure and unfortunately that was the end of discussion...

$700 later and they came home 5 hours later on Jetstar.

While I know that it's her fault that she didn't get to the desk in time, I can recall numerous occaisions when Qantas had not been this strict.

I've also heard from others that Tiger have been shockers for cancelling flights, overbooking, etc.

Sure, the flights might be cheap, but ask yourself whether you're prepared to take the risk.

No way I'd book a ticket with them...

[Thiele]

My wife and 2 year old son were coming home from the Gold Coast the other week on Tiger (at least that was the plan...)

They rocked up to the check in desk only to be told that they were 1 minute (yes this is not an exaggeration) late and they had therefore missed the flight. The check in for Tiger closes 45 minutes prior to departure and unfortunately that was the end of discussion...

$700 later and they came home 5 hours later on Jetstar.

While I know that it's her fault that she didn't get to the desk in time, I can recall numerous occaisions when Qantas had not been this strict.

I've also heard from others that Tiger have been shockers for cancelling flights, overbooking, etc.

Sure, the flights might be cheap, but ask yourself whether you're prepared to take the risk.

No way I'd book a ticket with them...

Just Watch Channel 7 7.30 on tuesday

[Cambridge Clarrie]

My wife and 2 year old son were coming home from the Gold Coast the other week on Tiger (at least that was the plan...)

They rocked up to the check in desk only to be told that they were 1 minute (yes this is not an exaggeration) late and they had therefore missed the flight. The check in for Tiger closes 45 minutes prior to departure and unfortunately that was the end of discussion...

$700 later and they came home 5 hours later on Jetstar.

While I know that it's her fault that she didn't get to the desk in time, I can recall numerous occaisions when Qantas had not been this strict.

I've also heard from others that Tiger have been shockers for cancelling flights, overbooking, etc.

Sure, the flights might be cheap, but ask yourself whether you're prepared to take the risk.

No way I'd book a ticket with them...

Just Watch Channel 7 7.30 on tuesday

Am watching it! That's what prompted me...

[southee]

These days Im sorry to say airlines have a strict policy for the 45 minute cut off. End of story. This is what is written on your ticket prior to boarding.

Maybe your wife might have taken the time to read the "terms and conditions" this would not have resulted in this embarassing result. (and not make you go broke!!!)

Good time management is the key!!!!

[dedja]

Unfortunately, Jetstar will do the same thing.

[Cambridge Clarrie]

These days Im sorry to say airlines have a strict policy for the 45 minute cut off. End of story. This is what is written on your ticket prior to boarding.

Maybe your wife might have taken the time to read the "terms and conditions" this would not have resulted in this embarassing result. (and not make you go broke!!!)

Good time management is the key!!!!

I appreciate your words of wisdom Southee. (Though I find it hard to take advice from a grown man who locks himself in a bedroom and can't get out for an hour)...

[southee]

These days Im sorry to say airlines have a strict policy for the 45 minute cut off. End of story. This is what is written on your ticket prior to boarding.

Maybe your wife might have taken the time to read the "terms and conditions" this would not have resulted in this embarassing result. (and not make you go broke!!!)

Good time management is the key!!!!

I appreciate your words of wisdom Southee. (Though I find it hard to take advice from a grown man who locks himself in a bedroom and can't get out for an hour)...

Slightly different circumstances.....but at least I make my flights with good time management skillls. Preparation is the key to this.

[Dirko]

Having worked in the Aviation / Airline Industry I know only too well on how the cut off for flights work.

Tiger Airways make it very obvious check in closes 45 minutes prior. The check in counter opens 2 hours prior. I've flown with Tiger numerous times and have never had a problem (with & without kids). It's not that hard to check in at least an hour prior to boarding.

Jetstar / Qantas & Virgin all have cut off times too. They ALL cancel / overbook etc. It's quite common for airlines to overbook. They ALL do it.

[Cambridge Clarrie]

How much are they paying you?

Avatar, signature, etc...

[Dirko]

LOL ! No I've just got experience of the inside workings so I know Tiger aren't the only ones who do it....

[AFLflyer]

that's why they are cheap, if you dont like it, book a more expensive fare - end of story.

[Cambridge Clarrie]

that's why they are cheap, if you dont like it, book a more expensive fare - end of story.

Exactly right. My wife's was her own fault. People I know who've been stuffed around with cancelled flights would have a fair right to be pissed off though...

If I had tickets booked to a show and accomm paid for and then the flight I'd paid for a seat on was cancelled, I know I sure would be.

[Footy Chick]

I'd never fly anywhere except Melbourne on Tiger, at least if they dodge me, I haven't lost a fortune.

I'm surprised that Mrs CC was actaully late for something!

[Cambridge Clarrie]

I'd never fly anywhere except Melbourne on Tiger, at least if they dodge me, I haven't lost a fortune.

I'm surprised that Mrs CC was actaully late for something!

Yes, most unlike her! At least I'd have been a good 10 mins late...

[Pseudo]

I'm surprised that Mrs CC was actaully late for something!

Well they do have a two year old

[Sam_goUUUdogs]

Had a delay with them in Melbourne a few weeks back, fair enough, cant be helped, flight was originally scheduled to leave at 3:30, and we were told that would now be 4:30, gets to 5:30 and we are then told our flight has been canceled indefinitely.
At about 6:30 we get told a replacement flight has been arranged for 9pm.
I realised there were 2 other tiger flights going to Adelaide before our new time of 9pm, so went and asked at the service desk if there were any spare seats, they told me that there were, so i thought to myself great i will be able to get on one of the earlier flights, the service desk staff then tell me there is a $50 fee for changing my flight, and a $35 admin fee.
I could not believe it when they said that, its bad enough we have been stuffed around for nearly 4 hours, but then they want to hit us with these charges to get on an earlier flight, surely as a company tiger would try and keep atleast some of the people who have been delayed happy and put them on the EMPTY seats heading to their destination.
Anyway it gets to 9pm, no sign of any flight, but the tiger staff member tells us its not far off, the tiger flight that just left Melbourne to go to Adelaide (with empty seats) would then fly back to Melbourne and pick us all up.
so we get told tiger will be offering us a $5 meal voucher as compensation, wow so i get my $5 meal voucher and head to the place the voucher was valid for, i ask them what i can for $5 and they say, well nothing really, but these are $9 What ******* good is a $5 meal voucher when you cant get anything with it, on principal they were not going to be getting another cent of my money, so i grabbed a drink and left.
By about 10:30 our flight finally gets there and we are on our way, as it turns out it would have just about been quicker and certainly easier to head outside after the initial delay, hired a car, and driven back to Adelaide.
Felt sorry for the other people waiting around, there were people heading to Canberra, who had been delayed about 6 hours, and another lot that had been delayed about 3, the first Canberra delay got on its way, then tiger announce to the 2nd lot of Canberra delays that they will actually get the first Canberra delay to turn around and come back to pick them up, i can tell you i would not be to happy if i was delayed 6 hours, finally get on my way only to be told we are turning around and heading back.
An absolutely useless airline, who I will never go near again, I will be more than happy to drive interstate or to pay 3 times as much to fly with a company that actually delivers what you pay for than fly with tiger again.
It shouldn't really matter if tiger is cheaper than all the other airlines, you are still paying for a service, and they should still have to deliver it.
I was just lucky i was heading home from state of origin and not leaving to go to the match, as i most probably would have missed the match, and as a result, the costs of flights, hotel, match ticket etc would have all been a complete waste.

[rod_rooster]

I agree with most on here. I wouldn't touch Tiger with a ten foot barge pole. They are useless, unprofessional and incompetant. Disgraceful service and more unreliable than Windows Me.

[MatteeG]

They had a couple of hot hostesses though...

[Leaping Lindner]

I always fly Virgin. I'm usually there well on time but a couple of times have run late and what they do is when your flight gets close they go through the line and ask "Is anyone flying on the next flight to Adelaide?" or whatever and then put you to the front of a seperate queue. This comes in handy if you are flying out of Melbourne early in the day as sometimes the queue can go for quite some way.

Also I've always found their staff friendly and helpful as oppossed to Qantas staff who seem like they don't want to be there. And finally I've only ever had one flight delayed (touch wood) and that was due to the weather. And that was for a whole hour and a half (big deal in the scheme of things). Besides that wasn't so bad as it was at Adelaide and I just spent the time smoking and drinking Cibo cappucinos.

I don't care how much cheaper Tiger and Jetstar are I'll never risk using them. Have heard way too many horror stories.

[Psyber]

On my recent trip to Surfers to give evidence at a Committal Hearing I flew up on Virgin and found them pleasant.
However, the CIB had booked me to come back on Jetstar and the officer who drove me to the airport got me there 5 minutes late because of delays at the court.
Even when he flashed his badge and offered to vouch for me there was no flex with Jetstar.

The CIB then had to drive me back to Surfers, put me up in a Motel overnight, and then send another officer in the early morning to drive me from Surfers to Brisbane for a morning flight as I had late morning appointments in Adelaide. It also cost them another day of my fees for appearing as I was most of a day later getting back.
They weren't pleased with Jetstar..