Takimg my own advice..Legacy airlines

[esa-aardvark]

On the thread "Complaints about airports" I advised Oldpax to
try Norwegian. So I booked Norwegian just now Bangkok to
Oslo (Premium) process was really easy. Then after a lot of effort
I booked my onward to Norwich with a legacy carrier.
Really difficult. I had difficulty understanding that a return
was cheaper than a single. Baggage charges on a full-fair ticket ?
Seat allocation for 0 kroner, next panel no it's not free.
Website difficult & unclear. I wish Norwegian all the best.
You may ask why take such a strange route ?
Well by then I will have been travelling for 3 months, wanted to get an easy way home.


Also I wanted to try Norwegian.
Cheapest through ticket to Norwich was euro 4424 for two of us,
and with this arrangement I could do it for 2320 including
a hotel stopover in Oslo. Just my few cents worth.

Just received my e-tickets from legacy carrier, no checked baggage shown. My invoice
shows that I paid for 2 separate checked bags. So now I will have to argue that case
with them. Corporate ignorance or stupidity ?

[Hotel Tango]

I had difficulty understanding that a return was cheaper than a single.

If you're 75 I'm surprised you had difficulty with this. It's been like that with legacy carriers since the Wright brothers.

As for the rest, if you don't name the legacy carrier concerned we cannot be certain that what you say is accurate.

[esa-aardvark]

Hotel Tango,
I am 75 years of age. Sadly I had forgotten what legacy airlines
get up to. I retired in 1995 after many years of flying all around
Europe, I don't think I have travelled with an European legacy since.
My Flight Oslo Norwich is with KLM.
At one time I had enough points (miles) with them for a couple of free RTW flights
(actually not possible, of course). They are not what they were.
Once you start charging in such a strange way you are in a race
to the bottom, and the low costs will win.

[Metro man]

The lines are blurring between low cost and legacy. As low cost improves and legacy cuts service to compete, the gap narrows. There used to be defining line between them of free meals/drinks/baggage, but that is being crossed as BA cuts catering on short haul, Aer Lingus charges for baggage and many even charge for seat selection.

Some low costs even offer a premium cabin which, whilst not as good as legacy business class, is an attractive option compared to the paying 4x the regular fare to sit upfront on a full service airline.

A whole generation has grown up with the internet and is comfortable with the new pricing methods, booking online, and knows how to compare prices using search engines. As the older, pre internet generation dies off, legacy airlines may be in more difficulty if they don't change with the times, as these people are their traditional customers, wealthier and less inclined to shop around.

[edi_local]

Originally Posted by esa-aardvark

Just received my e-tickets from legacy carrier, no checked baggage shown. My invoice
shows that I paid for 2 separate checked bags. So now I will have to argue that case
with them. Corporate ignorance or stupidity ?

No argument should be necessary. From working on the ticket desk of 3 legacy carriers who charge for checked in baggage this is quite common these days.

Your ticketed allowance is 0 bags. You have purchased baggage as an "add on", so it will still appear in the booking that you have this baggage allowance, it is just not on the ticket as that still remains a 0 bag ticket. At most it will require the check in agent to call someone to verify the bags have been paid for already, but really it will likely just highlight somewhere on their screen that it's ok to accept the bags.

[Heathrow Harry]

Trouble is legacy airlines (and a few LCO's) still peddle the idea that air travel is different and glamorous.

If they told the truth - that it's really a long haul bus service with some at-seat service - people would be less disapointed and just as unhappy............

If you replace say "British Airways" with "National Express" in your mind you'll be closer to the real experience

[Metro man]

Always check if any box is pre ticked or you may be buying things you don't need such as travel insurance. Some airlines will preselect seats and baggage and it's up to you to remove them.

[esa-aardvark]

More whingeing

Should have mentioned cost. BKK-Oslo Premium cabin
(46" legroom ?, 2 checked bags, meal, at least some free drink)
cost 683 Euro. Onward to Norwich 401 euros + bags, possibly
a free sandwich included. I think the only role the legacies have
now is to stop the loco's dominating the market, but I fail to see
how a high price strategy will win in the end. Part of the
problem vis-a-vis Norwich is the total failure of the Airport
to attract other airlines, so KLM is dominant there.
Actually in the end I'm not too unhappy. I saved 2000 euros,
will travel in some comfort, don't have to get a taxi from
Heathrow.

[ZFT]

Originally Posted by Metro man

Always check if any box is pre ticked or you may be buying things you don't need such as travel insurance. Some airlines will preselect seats and baggage and it's up to you to remove them.

Yep. TG website just started doing just that. If you don't deselect it you find you have purchased unwanted travel insurance.

Have already made my complaint to them.

[PAXboy]

Also, with some sites if you decide to go back a step to check something, some of those boxes AUTOMATICALLY reselect themselves!

[ZFT]

Devious eh

[Basil]

D2, who lives in London, went to EDI fest.
Traveled by rail. 4h30m + £25 for 1st and no airport hassle.
No contest.