Flights go under the hammer

[Wirraway]

Thurs "The Australian"

Flights go under the hammer
Steve Creedy, Aviation writer
December 23, 2004

JETSTAR is looking at using internet auctions to fill empty seats as the airline expands its network.

The low-cost Qantas offshoot began testing the concept this week by offering 20 $100 vouchers for auction on eBay.

The vouchers can be put towards any Jetstar flights in the next 12 months, and yesterday afternoon bids had reached the low $30s.

Overseas low-cost carriers use internet auctions to sell "distressed inventory" - seats still unsold just before departure.

"There's no actual auctioning of fares at the moment in Australia," Jetstar spokesman Simon Westaway said.

"It occurs in the US and it occurs in Europe, and Jetstar has an adaptable airline model where we want to pick the eyes out of initiatives that work."

eBay is one of several alternative channels for selling tickets under consideration by Jetstar.

The airline will not say whether this includes an Asian concept of selling tickets from retail outlets other than travel agents.

Jetstar has added two 177-seat A320s - with wider leather seats and audio entertainment - to its fleet this month and plans to add another four early next year. It plans to make Hamilton Island - where it has been criticised for being too downmarket - its first all-A320 port from March 27.

Jetstar's post-Easter schedule will also see flights between Sydney and the Whitsunday coast rise from three times weekly to daily.

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[Eastwest Loco]

Fortunately or unfortunately, in this country one has to have Travel Compensation accreditation and a State License to sell travel.

If Jetscar or anyone else tries to sell tickets via Myer, K Mart or Woolies rest assure it will cop more law suits than Al Quaeda ever dreamed of.

Simple accreditation, or a change of ownership costs over $9000.00, so those of us that have paid will not put up with that crap without serious retribution.

If we pay - they pay too - for every single location.

I will also be looking closely at the regulations, as EBay is acting as an agent, and under Australian laws would need to hold a license.

I can be a consumate prick too when I need to be.

Best all

EWL

[go_dj]

EWL
The way the carryon is going on at the moment it would not
be hard to imagine something along the lines of Woolworths
selling Jetstar and Coles following with Virgin Blue, it was only
a few years ago when you would not think about these 2 getting
involved selling petrol.

[PureRisk]

Unfortunately EWL I agree, I would not want to be a travel agent re-lying on domestic travel in the future. I dont agree with it, but I think It is definately going down that road that discount tickets will some how be offered through other sources... Exactly what I dont know.
And all though we can all whinge and say its not right etc etc (which I agree with!) I think it will still happin...
It is really quite astonishing to think how low and grubby this LCC vs LCC batte will go.. The saddest thing is, I am sure most mainline Q people cant see the inevitable train crash coming. And I dont mean in terms of a company collapse, but future corperate direction is without a doubt to shrink wages and cost and mainline infrusture etc in general by using jestar. If I was a new SO I would be very worried about the long term prospects if I wanted to actually do any real flying or prgress to the LHS.
(hope I am wrong, but i dont think so)

[ITCZ]

EWL,

Unfortunately, I can see your industry going the way of many others.

Talk to taxi cab owner/operators who paid hundreds of thousands per plate, then had goverments issue new plates and introduce hire cars and taxi buses.

Talk to service station owner/operators that had a protected industry, that now see Coles and Woolies getting into the business.

To name just two.

All such businesses could put up arguments that they had specialist knowledge and expensive setups. That they offered a service to the customer that a non-specialist could not match.

But does your average Joe Blow think about layers of protection when they buy petrol or hop in a cab?

No. Its "Wow, Adelaide to Brisbane for $99!"

Non refundable. Not insured. No inflight entertainment or meal. No points. No infrastructure or smooth handling if there is a breakdown or schedule interruption. No tech or cabin crew in the aeroplane sometimes as you board!

Who cares says Joe Blow.... Ninetynine bucks!

Watch out!

:*

[tinpis]

And $50000 per annum Captains.

[sinala1]

No tech or cabin crew in the aeroplane sometimes as you board!
:confused: :confused: :confused:

[Eastwest Loco]

ITCZ

In a lot of ways you are correct and the marginal mums and dads agency will evaporate.

The market for highn care corporate and specialise agencies is and will stiil be there.

That is where I am positioned.

If you can find a niche market - surfing is mine - then you have a nice base to build on.

Go to www.surfingaustralia.com and see who is their preferred Travel dude.

I will panic when turnover drops below 3 million a year, and in our current world, panic isnt out of the question.

Merry Christmas all.

EWL

[sport]

Don't be so naive they are not selling seats they are selling vouchers. Which when you end up reading the fine print can only be used on already inflated seat prices.

It's just another gimmick from a try anything airline. But aren't they all.

[Orville]

Here's another trick or slight of hand.

B.A. are offering a free upgrade to first class if you arrive at your destination and are still tired, for travel from Aus to LHR.

For you to claim this free upgrade you would have to be travelling back to Aus and the chances of an upgrade are unlikely as their first class seats are usually full. So for you to claim your free upgrade you may have to make many more trips. Now multiply this by the number of easy to fleece customers out there and you have a financial windfall, no extra cost.

Marketing genius.

[Eastwest Loco]

BA has done a similar thing to my Agency Orville.

Offered a free J class ticket to Europe (no disclaimers) to the Agency in the group with the highest growth over a given period.

We Won. Whoopee chook!!! One of my staff tried to take it within the given utilisation period and -quel domage !! No seats in J but they cold do Y - staff member has a back complaint and wouldn't travel Y to Europe as he would arrive a cot case. I kicked up a stink and they agreed to extend the validity, but have still booked Y and will upgrade to J if available. Talk about forked tongues!

A mate of mine who used to work for TN and later for Traveland here won 2 positive space J seats on BA to london return. One was downgraded to Y ex MEL outbound, and on the way back they were totally offloaded in BKK due to overbookings and were finally uplifted in the crew rest compartment of a QF 747 3 days later.

BA offers??

Not worth a knob of goat droppings.

Best regards

EWL