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Free Spirit Planning Burnie RPT?

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Free Spirit Planning Burnie RPT?

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Old 17th Apr 2015, 01:57
  #81 (permalink)  
 
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Better make sure you purchase their travel "assurance" before you travel.

That well meaning pat on the back before boarding can really be reassuring.
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Old 17th Apr 2015, 02:56
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you can't sell individual seats to public

if a charter, only if RPT (Caper decision in Federal court - to protect big boys)
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Old 24th Apr 2015, 10:52
  #83 (permalink)  
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Hey Loco, I see the FSA add is on the local TV,
As of yesterday morning there is no signage or visible changes to the Western Terminal at Wynyard.
There was another Story in yesterday's Advocate. Starting with 2 services a day. There has been strong interest in seat reservations, but Roman says the service would be quite light on to begin with.
He also said there will be an Essendon Merimbula link in June
Koizi, I recon you will pay $149 for a drink & Roman will give you a free flight.
Regards RW
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Old 24th Apr 2015, 11:23
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It bewilders me that they consider it ok to have designed their website themselves. It looks terrible. You pay for TV ads yet can't even afford web design that isn't stuck in the nineties!

It remind me of the importance of proof reading a job application, but in reverse. If you are expecting to be put at the controls of a $100,000 + or multi million dollar aircraft and have a stupid mistake in a resume or application, then it is not unreasonable to wonder as to the applicant's commitment to their own processes.


So, if they are expecting the traveling public to trust them with their lives, while operating multi million dollar aircraft over Bass Strait, then it is paramount to present yourself as a trustworthy, self respecting entity.

I don't understand how they can expect to compete or maintain any ounce of credibility when they have obviously invested $0 in the FIRST THING any paying passenger will see of the company when considering their service.
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Old 24th Apr 2015, 13:11
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I have seen their ads in the Advocate and on TV Rotor.

They have been flogging them along daily for a week or so.

Funny thing is that I haven't had one phone enquiry or the normal "know alls" at the RSL in my ear. You know the type - worked at the Pulp for 40 years but know everything about tourism and air transport.

I hate being interrupted when I am rehydrating

Normally a new carrier into the Coast would create quite a bit of interest.

This time - nada. Go figure.

Best all

EWL
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Old 25th Apr 2015, 07:53
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You can go to their site and still book 10 adults and 8 children from their launch day forward and go right through to their super professional looking credit card portal.

Cant have a single person booked... This isn't an Airline, its a Virtual Airline, CASA wont like this with the company not having the relevant licences.. Cant believe WW would get involved with this
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Old 29th Apr 2015, 11:33
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If you go to make a booking, you will notice there is a number assigned. As of today someone told me it was in the 60s. I know from a few people that at least a dozen are fake, as it keeps counting even if you do not proceed with payment. By the sounds of it others have experimented as well. So who know how many real booking they actually have. Tomorrow is d day, so we shall see.
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Old 29th Apr 2015, 14:48
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How does one make a booking at the Restaurant at the end of the Universe?

Starting to smell of that a little.

I wish no ill will but haven't seen a thing that smells vaguely professional in the presentation to punters, the forward planning or the communication to the industry.

Hope this all works but I am very glad I don't have any money invested.

Best all

EWL
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Old 29th Apr 2015, 21:35
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a virtual airlines doesn't need any licences, only the operator does.


Don't even need travel agents licence anymore. They went out 30 June last year.
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Old 29th Apr 2015, 23:29
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poon what's wrong with their website ?


A website doesn't need to be pretty. Look at Ryanair, the worlds most successful airline by far.


It had the worlds ugliest airline website by far, but it was incredibly successful.


Now it just looks similar to many others.


+ look at the fleets


Free Spirit - 1 x beech 1900 (operated by Westwing of TSV)


Ryanair - hundreds of 738's (so many hard to keep count)


Is anyone going to say, I won't fly them because I don't like their website. No of course not. Ryanair proved that.


Flying into Essendon is a great move. MEL like all other big airports are bloody horrible places.


Question is, how can you make money with a beech 1900. With so few seats, economies of scale working against them, esp cf. Rex Saabs.
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Old 30th Apr 2015, 00:32
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Flight Plan submitted for VH-EMK Departure at 00.55 z from MEB - BWT / 02.15 z BWT - MEB.
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Old 30th Apr 2015, 00:38
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Flying into Essendon is a great move. MEL like all other big airports are bloody horrible places.
You keep rolling out this line about how bad the major airport are in Australia, but apart from in Flight Sim, have you actually ever been to most of them.

Have you been to Essendon? The terminal is a miserable, bleak, cold, run down s#!thole. Sorry, but I'd rather go to Melbourne and use my frequent flyer privileges. In fact, apart from Gold Coast airport during school holidays, from a passengers perspective, most of the major airports in Australia are fine.
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Old 30th Apr 2015, 01:52
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BS.


The big airports are like shopping mauls.


Who wants to walk miles past dozens of very overpriced shops to get in or out of airport ?


Airports like MEB you can get in & out of fast & if aircraft under 20 tonnes, no BS security either.






What ff privileges ?
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Old 30th Apr 2015, 02:02
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What ff privileges ?
Priority check-in, priority security screening, priority boarding, lounge access, free food, free drinks, free wifi, points, complimentary upgrades, need I go on?

What can you get at Essendon? A 6 hour old luke warm chicko roll and a chocolate milk.
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Old 30th Apr 2015, 03:01
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think you mean Qantas club or equivalent.


If flying out of MEB (under 20 tonnes) you don't need to go through security, you don't need to park miles away & you only need to be there a few minutes before flight.


Who wants to spend 1 second more at a bloody airport than you have to ?


Have much better things to do.
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Old 30th Apr 2015, 22:24
  #96 (permalink)  
 
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wishiwasupthere
What a load of tripe. Sounds like you go to airports for a day out - a jolly occasion of scarf shopping and soy latte-ing.


Me? I go to an airport to get on an aeroplane. YMEN offers quick in and out, free parking, no security, no traffic issues, no goons on the sidewalk pushing you around, - totally hassle free. IT WORKS. Particularly not having to pay $56 for 3 minutes parking.




EWL - mate, your rantings are boring now in my view. Just because they aren't using your services you just haven't let up. Sure, it may all be done on a budget, but just because its not done how YOU'D do it, you become vitriolic. And spare me the "oh I wish them well, I'm just pointing out......................"


I for one hope they do bloody well and fill a niche out of YMEN like Sharpe's have done.
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Old 30th Apr 2015, 23:24
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there are a number of projects going on right now for flights out of MEB both intrastate & interstate.


All aircraft under 20 tonnes so no B/S security.
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Old 1st May 2015, 09:03
  #98 (permalink)  
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+1, I hope they do well also,

I called into Wynyard Thursday late afternoon, still no changes to the Western terminal.

From today's Advocate Newspaper + a photo of Roman on the tarmac

Free Spirit makes first NW landing | The Advocate

IT flew into an easterly breeze and landed without a hitch at Wynyard Airport, touching down in Tasmania after its first commercial flight.
Free Spirit Airlines began its service for the North-West, flying from Essendon Airport and landing only three minutes late at 11.53am.Managing director Roman Badov and four other passengers exited the airline's small two-engine Beechcraft 1900 onto the tarmac after the flight.
Onboard passengers have to stoop while standing, but sitting there is room enough on the 19-seat aircraft.
Mr Badov hoped bookings would increase after people knew the airline had begun flying to Burnie. We have been experiencing a steady rate of bookings and it has been increasing daily," he said.
In the next week 50 per cent of seats on Free Spirit Airline flights to and from Melbourne are booked, he said.
"We are experiencing a very high level of public interest.
"Today is really a defining moment because it's proved to the public we are a functional airline."
Flights on the Burnie to Melbourne route cost from $149 one way.

Four kilograms of carry-on luggage and 16 kg of checked luggage are included in the flight cost.
The airline will offer up to two return flights to Melbourne from Burnie each day until June, when it will begin to have up to three daily services.
It will soon operate a second plane.
Mr Badov expected the business to become profitable within six months.
He said passengers would benefit from lower congestion, ample parking and easy access to Melbourne at Essendon Airport compared to Tullamarine.
Mr Badov hoped Free Spirit Airlines' presence would lower flight costs for North-West residents using Jetstar in Launceston, Regional Express in Burnie and QantasLink in Devonport.Free Spirit Airlines also plans to expand by adding a service from Melbourne to Merimbula, NSW, in June.
Valerie Norton, a Heybridge-based passenger on the airline's first flight into Wynyard, said she would use it travelling with her husband Brendon for his Melbourne medical appointments.
Free Spirit Airlines has passed regulatory approvals tests, Mr Badov said.
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Old 1st May 2015, 10:13
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Hope it's not just a Dream ...They are talking it up on local radio and papers here on the Far south coast.

Under Dog
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Old 1st May 2015, 23:05
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in USA the www.surfair.com is being cloned in Texas ( www.1flyrise.com & www.txairshuttle ).


Business types who pay the highest airfares want convenience.


Perhaps Free Spirit should sell some seats on the basis of a monthly subscription ? Maybe 4-6.


It would give them free PR, as never been done in OZ before AFAIK & it would give them cash flow.


They might need an app, but could also be done, by very simple email or SMS from phones.




Surf Air now charge USD$1750 for unlimited travel on their Californian network for a month, from smaller airports in Pilatus 7 or 8 seaters.
(they have a 3 month minimum)


They have a waiting list for "MEMBERSHIP".


Think you can only have booked 4 sectors, so once flown one, can book another. Guess this stops people booking heaps of flights & doing no shows.


No security BS at check in(prescreening is done), free parking at terminal, no hassles, no stress.


Surfair are planning to fly to Vegas once they get approval to fly interstate.


At present it's virtually faster to drive from LAX to LAS. Think about it. Need to be at LAX hours before flight, park miles away, get a shuttle, q at check in, bend over (here comes the rubber gloves) security handled by people on minimum wages, walk km to gate, wait due to congestion delays, taxi, more delays, actually fly (block time is probably only 20 mins) taxi at other end, deplane, wait for bags, get taxi/rental car etc.


From getting to LAX to departing LAS is probably 4.5 hours.


You can drive from most parts of LA to Vegas, door to door, in less than 4 hours in normal weather/traffic.


Surfair will probably cut the 4.5 hours down to 2 hours or less with absolutely no stress. Actual block time will be longer, but such a short sector, it would probably only be 5-10 minutes longer, far less than more security q's at U.S. airports.


Surfair wins hands down on time over all of it's other sectors as well & the last thing we all need is stress.


USD$1750/month is really nothing for a regular business flyer, who would fly 4 or more times a month.




Surprised to learn that full Y class BNE/MEL on QF or VA one way is now AUD$975.


Think regular flyers are really getting sick of the BS at big airports.


Who has time or wants to sit in a lounge. The only reason many sit in a lounge, is they have to get to airport long before their flight, due to ever increasing q's. We seem to be heading down the disasterous U.S. path at big airports.


Back to Free Spirit ...................


Hardest thing they will face, is convincing media that they are a success.


Full flights in the eyes of the media = success. The media would have no idea, if flights given away free to fill aircraft or not.


A media story like, every Free Spirit full for 1st 3 weeks, would seem to indicate success in the public eyes.
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