Airlines all say: We’re cheapest
Fare quotes could prove even more misleading soon
MANGO, the low-cost airline recently launched by state-owned South African Airways, says it ‘‘remains the lowest-fare carrier despite competitor discounting”. But when shopping around for air fares, The Times found that kulula.com appeared to be cheaper.
Marketing director of kulula. com Glenda Zvenyika said: “I believe that our fares are very competitive. We have no travel classes; business or economy class, as with most airlines, but we have different fare classes.
“Our pricing structure is a simple one; the cheapest fares per flight are bought first, followed by the next cheapest and that is how it works. This is inclusive of the airport tax.”
Some airlines are notorious for advertising cheap flights, which then turn out to be more expensive because their advertisements omit to include the Airports Company of South Africa’s fees.
Though the company charges according to airport and not airline, a consumer investigation found airlines were multiplying these by up to threefold on passenger’s bills. SAA was singled out as the worst culprit.
According to Mango chief executive Nico Bezuidenhout, other airlines are now guilty of excluding the airports company’s fees in their advertised prices.
“The fact that some of Mango’s competitors are now quoting both their regular fares and sale prices exclusive of taxes, means that consumers will pay up to 25 percent more than the advertised pricing of some our competitors.”
But air fare quotes are likely to become more misleading in October when the airports company hikes its fees by 40 percent.
The increase is to help cover its R20-billion expansion programme for major airports ahead of the 2010 World Cup.
Company spokesman Solomon Makgale said the passenger service charges for domestic flights will increase from R12.27 to R38.59 while international flights will rise from R70.18 to R105.26.
Makgale said passenger service charges are built into the air fares that passengers pay to airlines. The airport operator gets its share from the airlines.
SAA is following the trend among low-cost airlines to cut overheads by encouraging passengers to pay online.
From August, it will charge up to R500 extra for international flights and R200 for domestic flights that are not bought online.
Article from http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/
Remember to compare car hire prices with the benefits offered. Get advise from the team at www.southafrica-carhire.com
MANGO, the low-cost airline recently launched by state-owned South African Airways, says it ‘‘remains the lowest-fare carrier despite competitor discounting”. But when shopping around for air fares, The Times found that kulula.com appeared to be cheaper.
Marketing director of kulula. com Glenda Zvenyika said: “I believe that our fares are very competitive. We have no travel classes; business or economy class, as with most airlines, but we have different fare classes.
“Our pricing structure is a simple one; the cheapest fares per flight are bought first, followed by the next cheapest and that is how it works. This is inclusive of the airport tax.”
Some airlines are notorious for advertising cheap flights, which then turn out to be more expensive because their advertisements omit to include the Airports Company of South Africa’s fees.
Though the company charges according to airport and not airline, a consumer investigation found airlines were multiplying these by up to threefold on passenger’s bills. SAA was singled out as the worst culprit.
According to Mango chief executive Nico Bezuidenhout, other airlines are now guilty of excluding the airports company’s fees in their advertised prices.
“The fact that some of Mango’s competitors are now quoting both their regular fares and sale prices exclusive of taxes, means that consumers will pay up to 25 percent more than the advertised pricing of some our competitors.”
But air fare quotes are likely to become more misleading in October when the airports company hikes its fees by 40 percent.
The increase is to help cover its R20-billion expansion programme for major airports ahead of the 2010 World Cup.
Company spokesman Solomon Makgale said the passenger service charges for domestic flights will increase from R12.27 to R38.59 while international flights will rise from R70.18 to R105.26.
Makgale said passenger service charges are built into the air fares that passengers pay to airlines. The airport operator gets its share from the airlines.
SAA is following the trend among low-cost airlines to cut overheads by encouraging passengers to pay online.
From August, it will charge up to R500 extra for international flights and R200 for domestic flights that are not bought online.
Article from http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/
Remember to compare car hire prices with the benefits offered. Get advise from the team at www.southafrica-carhire.com
Labels: South Africa - Airlines
