When Malaysian businessman Tony Fernandes launched a no-frills, low-cost airline in 2002 with only two planes, few people realised the effect it would have. From only four routes, Air Asia set off a low-fare revolution that changed the face of the airline industry in the region. It is a stunning success story and now has 35 aircraft and flies millions of passengers across south-east Asia every year.
If you want to book a ticket with a low-cost carrier, the first trick is to find out which airlines serve your intended route. With lower advertising budgets than traditional airlines, this is often quite difficult. For your convenience we have listed the major budget carriers serving the two prime destinations - Singapore, Thailand.
Singapore:
The major budget carriers operating to and from this island state are JetStar Asia and Tiger Airways. JetStar Asia covers most major destinations in south-east asia, as well as Bangalore and Kolkata in India.
Tiger Airways covers Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand, Macau, and Padang in Indonesia. It is the only budget carrier direct to Vietnam from Singapore and the only budget choice to Australia, flying from Singapore to Darwin).
Thailand:
The three main operators in Thailand are Thai Air Asia, Nok Air and One-Two-Go. Thai AirAsia was launched in January 2004. Based primarily in Bangkok, the airline serves Thailand’s major domestic destinations, as well as Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Kota Kinabalu), Singapore, Macau, Xiamen and Hanoi.
Cheap flights from low cost airlines operating out of the UK and other European countries could be under threat as the Conservative Party - once a campaigner and implementer of lower taxes - has called for purchase tax to be introduced to domestic flights.
The tax would add up to 17.5 per cent on to the cost of a flight from one British city to another, but while flights to the European mainland and popular holiday islands such as Menorca aren’t specifically mentioned, one travel company believes the new policy will inevitably lead to higher fares for flights not just within Britain, but elsewhere too.
The Tory policy review calls for the UK to be a leader on green growth, noting that it was illogical for flights to attract less tax than cars and trains, with David Cameron, the Tory Party leader, saying that much of the report would be included in their manifesto at the next British General Election, which could be up to two years away, but at the time could have been just weeks away as Prime Minister Gordon Brown considered an early poll.
‘It’s not so much that we’re convinced the Tories will win the next election and tax domestic flights’, say the travel company, ‘But by proposing new taxes on flights it leads the door open to the Labour Party, who are more likely to win, to use taxes on flights as a revenue raiser with no opposition from the Tories who are traditionally seen as the tax cutting party. We have no doubt that flights will be taxed a lot more in 2008 because the Tories have now made it a soft target for the British government of any political persuasion and the Treasury when they prepare their annual budgets.’
Menorca
Citing Menorca as an example, the company points to the holiday industry on the island being a major employer, and the Menorca map changing over the years as new resorts have been built to accommodate additional visitors.
‘One of the other aspects of the report that is a worry for the holiday industry’, continues the travel company, ‘Is that new runways at Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow Airports are all ruled out - all three airports serve London and the South-East of England. Any increased demand for example for Menorca holidays probably won’t be able to be met without increased capacity, inevitably leading to a consequence of higher prices overall.’
From the environmental lobby the Green Party described the proposals as ‘fiddling around the edges when what is needed is urgent and radical action’, adding that the Tory eco-taxes would hit the poorest in society hardest.
Citing Menorca as typical of the areas that could be affected most by additional flight taxes, the travel company takes the view that any downturn in visitor numbers and the volume of bookings for holidays and hotels in Menorca would hit an island that relies heavily on tourism.
The Spanish island is currently served by three UK airlines that offer scheduled flights, including one low cost carrier that offers cheap Menorca flights. But there are a high number of holiday companies who offer chartered flights in the summer months, and these companies have helped reduced prices for holidaymakers visiting the island. Neighbouring island Majorca attracted most UK tourists for 2007, beating off competition from low cost destinations in Eastern Europe, and Menorca has also benefitted from an increase in visitor numbers.
Low lying European ski countries last year who saw a decline in ski holiday visitors, including Andorra, have been investing in her facilities to try and tempt the skiiers she lost back for the 2008 season.
In the past Andorra has grown in stature from a destination offering cheap ski holidays to one that can compete with the best that Europe has to offer, with a growing number of ski holidays being taken in the country over the last decade to the point where it was attracting some ten million tourists a year.
But unexpectedly the rise in visitors to Andorra came to a screeching halt for the 2006/7 ski season, and the ski slopes closed two weeks earlier than anticipated due to a lack of snow that saw many other resorts in Europe, especially in countries with low lying slopes like Austria, badly affected by the lack of natural snow.
The Andorra economy is unusually reliant on the ski holidays industry, the other main activity being the financial and banking industry due to her tax haven status, and the Andorra weather refused to play her part last year. Some estimates suggest takings for supermarkets, petrol stations, department stores and supermarkets were down some 40 per cent compared to 2006 in the main ski holiday areas.
The good news for the Andorra ski holiday industry as it hopes for an improved 2008 holidays season is that the snow - notably absent last year - started to fall in November, and long range weather forecasts suggest that January through to April could see enough snow to give Andorra skiiers good snow depth, and little if any need for snow cannons to make up any shortfall.
But the tourist authorities are determined not to be caught out again, and continue with the progress made in the last twenty years that has seen Andorra rise impressively from a cheap ski holiday destination to one that caters for the middle and upmarket price range with UK ski holiday specialist companies like Crystal Ski offering a full range of holidays in Andorra.
Private money as well as finance from the banks in Andorra have helped to upgrade Soldeu, a main Andorra ski holiday resort, to a high class status with new hotels and upgrades for existing ones.
New Investment
In total it is estimated that nearly 200 million Euros has been invested in Andorra’s on-mountain ski facilities, and the figure rises significantly when off-mountain spending is taken into account, such as the new hotels in Andorra, notably in the top ski areas of Soldeu and Arinsal.
The ski areas of Andorra have been praised by many in the industry for having the capability of producing enough man made snow to cover over 40 per cent of the ski domain, but investment has continued to further this already high amount by having for the 2008 ski holiday season over a thousand snow cannons in place - although it is hoped they don’t have to be used much.
Like everyone else, the internet has put pricing for flights at our fingertips. There are numerous providers that let you search, sort, compare and prioritize, even name your own price to find ‘matching’ deals and best pricing. Seat sales are not the only sources of great fares. Here are a few online suggestions:
Explore offerings online, comparison shop and booking with discount airlines are all smart strategies. Flexibility on your part regarding dates and times will translate into more substantial savings.
Enrolling in an air miles, reward or frequent flyer plan that often includes discounts on hotels and car rentals can be used at this time to optimize your savings even more.
Even for last-minute holiday travel, avoid so-called ‘peak’ periods during the day for example, business hours etc., (pick red-eye or weekends if available) For holidays, spring break, and peak business hour time’s makes for more travelers en route and supply and demand will dictate pricing and cost. It is usually much higher. Take advantage of shoulder and low season travel periods.
A little known fact is that some of the best airfare rates often involve a Saturday night stay.
Dealing with the carrier directly, logging on to the airline’s website and checking out unadvertised flight specials are also great ideas. Booking on-line usually saves a few dollars too.
Use a park-and-fly service and park your own vehicle at the airport. Driving your car there and back is much cheaper than a taxi if you live far from the airport. There are also airport bus services or shuttles that are cheaper than taxis.
For more tips on cheap air flights visit our site : http://www.cheapairflightsonline.info
Following a few simple rules will help you on your way through airport security quickly and efficiently. Begin by knowing the airline regulations for the particular airline you’re flying. Most airlines allow a carryon bag and a personal bag. Carryons usually must be no larger than 45″ measuring the height, length and width. Some of the airlines also have a weight restriction on the carryon bag. Be sure to check with the airline you’re using before you get to the airport. The personal bag can be a camera case, a handbag or tote, a briefcase or a laptop case.
It should also be able to fit under the seat if you have another carryon, because there is not always room for two pieces in the overhead compartments. Most of the lightweight luggage available today has a matching tote bag that will fit on top of the carryon bag for ease in wheeling through the airport. That will comprise your two pieces. You usually cannot take a third bag no matter how small unless it will fit inside one of the carry bags. Wheeled carryons are the easiest way to go because of the time spent pre-boarding at the airport terminal. Even lightweight bags start to feel heavy when you’re walking a great distance to get to your gate. Many of the personal bags are now also available with wheels. These will usually fit on top of the carryon bag so you will not have to wheel two separate pieces through the airport.
If you are taking a laptop case, you’ll need to remove it from your carry bag and send it through security separately. There are laptop sleeves, which will protect the laptop as it goes through the conveyer belt. These are just for added protection and will still enable your laptop to fit inside the laptop case. These sleeves are popular as corporate gifts and can be individually monogrammed with initials or a company name or logo. The new airline regulations also restrict the amount of liquids or gels you can take onto a plane. All liquids carried on must be in a clear, zippered one quart sized bag and the containers inside must be three ounces or less. Several manufacturers have this 3-1-1 case available with the correct size containers included. You can fill the bottles or spray containers with your own shampoo, mouthwash, etc. The bottles can be reused for each trip. This 3-1-1 case must also be removed from your carryon and sent through security separately.
Take into consideration what you will be wearing when you have to go through airport security. Metal objects need to be removed, or you will set off the alarms and hold everyone else up in line. Belts with buckles will need to be removed. Small earrings or rings can be left on, but larger pieces of jewelry and most watches must be removed. Shoes must also be removed and sent through security separately. You cannot wear a jacket, sweater or coat and that must also be removed and sent through security. Change in your pocket and your wallet will need to be put in your carry bag. Keys will also need to be removed and placed in your carry bag. If you have any type of surgery that has used metal pins in your body, carry a doctor’s note for expediency.
Pack your carry on and personal bag neatly and efficiently. Do not overstuff the bag. Security may decide to go through your bag, and it will be harder to re-pack if you already have too much in the case. Packing cubes are a great idea for small objects and underwear. It makes re-packing quick and easy, and keeps security from having to go through each and every item of personal clothing. You’ll find these cubes to be a lifesaver when packing your discount luggage to go through security. The cubes are available in a huge array of sizes to organize your case to the maximum. You don’t want your entire belongings on display should it be chosen by security to be personally checked. Follow these simple rules and have a safe trip!
Maxine Greco has been in the luggage and travel business for over 38 years. She is currently working at Village Luggage and Gifts.