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Tags: Busuanga Airplane, News
Zest Air Plane Broke down ———- Today, or earlier this morning, at the Busuanga Airport, the Zest Air Plane broke down. It just cant start. That’s according to the hearsay at the airport. Although it’s hearsay, it really happened. I was at the Busuanga airport today this 12nn.

Too bad for those Zest Air passengers. That is the main reason I DO NOT RECOMMEND Zest Air as your airline to take. I am not really against Zest Air. Why not improve their operations and system. Do not tourist trap us by offering very cheap fare. It is really too good to be true.

I have a refund from Zest Air last October 2008, and until now March 2009 they haven’t paid me back. Forget the promise of Gift Certificate, just give my money back because I refunded that.

So Zest Air passengers or victims, ride at your own risk.

I will just take precautionary measure for joiners of mine who are Zest Air passengers, just to make sure the Joining Group won’t be affected.

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I initially thought that their first Airbus A320 aircraft is brand new but I was wrong the very second I entered the aircraft just because of the smell... Yes, I know how a brand new airplane smells like. It didn't smell like a brand new airplane at all. Aside from that, the seats are not new as there is a cover on the back of the seat where a personal entertainment system of its previous owner might be placed. Then I saw the passenger safety information card, if you look closely on the picture below there is just a sticker of Zest Air covering the words JetBlue. I therefore conclude at that time that U.S.-based JetBlue Airways is the original owner of the aircraft. A funny thing is that it contains a Spanish translation targeted for the Hispanic passengers of JetBlue. I hope by now Zest Air replaced those safety cards as I think it is not that costly for an airline to print those cards so it can display their official company colors rather than the design which is only intended for JetBlue. If they want they can put a Filipino translation to replace the Spanish translation as it is more practical for a Philippines-based airline.

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The flight ended in a smooth landing at Mactan-Cebu International Airport. When it is time to deplane I was dumbfounded to know that we need to walk all the way to the terminal as Zest Air does not use the aerobridges which Mactan Airport obviously have unlike its terminal in Manila. I don't know why, maybe because the other gates with an aerobridge are reserved for other airlines or Zest Air just does not want to pay extra to access an aerobridge. Oh well, the weather is good at that time and I need a little exercise anyway.

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On the flight back to Manila it is such an inconvenience to passengers when only 1 check-in counter is open to accommodate all of us passengers. I'm still on queue 30 mins. before the official departure time and I found out that the flight is only half-full. It didn't stop there as the flight was delayed for 2 hours and they only announced it way past our scheduled departure time.

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Zest Air Sucks BIG TIME!

We are booked for Batanes on the 17th - 22nd of April, 2009. We are very much looking forward about it until I learned here in PEX that all flights going to Basco are cancelled.

The thing about Zest Air is that they do not have the DECENCY to inform their clients that they cancelled/changed their flight schedule. I called one of their branches and the lady told me that our flight is indeed cancelled. She gave us two options:

(1) First is to refund our money (if transaction is done through credit card, you'll get your money thru credit card)

(2) Wait in vain. Wait for something indefinitely. If one will choose this, you are going to compromise your entire summer vacation!

The lady told me that they cancelled their flights to Basco due to the "erratic weather" there. She added that it is the same reason for their Masbate flights. Maybe they think it is the best reason that they can give to their customers.

Last night I realized something. What if I booked my aging Lolo and Lola on the said dates and the same eventuality happened. My grandparents do not know anything about the internet nor PEX. What if this flight cancelling thing did not reach our awareness? Wouldn't it be a big disaster for them when they found out about it at the entrance gate of the Domestic Airport on the very early morning of April 17? Que horor!

These Administrators of Zest Air really need to learn the true meaning of decency and professionalism! Your system is very much automated so I see no reason why they cannot inform your clients via e-mail. Alternatively, I think they have the enough manpower to call those clients who are not that computer literate.

Their clients deserve decency! They need to reflect on their values.

In the end, our anticipation turns to frustration.

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spiritless


in september 19 last year, all in a sheer joy of traveling to this must-see and experience place, we booked an asian spirit flight to batanes. since airfare to batanes could easily shoot up to almost PHP 12,000, we grabbed the opportunity to strike the cheapest possible fare that we could. and we did. we even went to their ticketing office in legaspi street, so that mylene could swipe her way to our printed tickets. the crew there said that we should keep these tickets safe, for without it, we might not get to our flight. apparently, they won't print out another set if we lost ours.

then the biggest news so far. last week we got a downright disappointing news that our batanes trip won't push through anymore. the new management (juicemaker zest-o took over last year, hence the new name, zest airways) has terminated their flights to basco, along with other destinations, mostly northern and southern. it's now less than a month before the flight and zest air has not even bothered to inform us about the cancellation of the flight. the only reason behind the cancellation was that the airline was supposedly beefing up their aircrafts, while cathy was told that strong winds prevent any of their flights from landing in basco airport. crap.

most of us have already filed for leave during those days, so scheduling another one will be tougher. aside from the fact that we won't get our cash anymore if we decide to get a refund (which means that those credits will be spent even if i don't like to), the major frustration lies in missing the whole trip altogether since our minds are already set in seeing batanes' marlboro country, ivatan houses, among others. to make things worse, zest air will not be shouldering the additional cost if we decide to get to another airline that goes to batanes on that same date. buwisit! as of now, the website says that resumption of flights will be announced soon. but how soon is this? grrrrr!

spiritless - that's what this airline is. and now, they're saying that zest air is asia's most refreshing airline… i don't think so. refreshingly crap maybe.

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Zest orders six more MA60s

Wednesday June 3, 2009

Zest Air of the Philippines placed an order for six additional MA60s. The carrier, formerly Asian Spirit, already operates five of the Chinese-built aircraft and expects to take delivery of the newly ordered planes starting in October. Two more will arrive in December, with the remaining three coming next year, AVIC's Xi'an Aircraft Industry Co. said. The MA60 has received 92 firm orders, with letters of intent signed for another 70. The MA600 has received 12 orders.

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