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SIA ads to show full fares

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Very commendable. Our MY airlines should follow suit.

 

 

http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_189292.html

SIA ads to show full fares

 

Bucking the industry trend, the airline will include various surcharges and

taxes in the listed price

 

By Karamjit Kaur, Aviation Correspondent

Dec 22, 2007

 

WHAT you see is what you pay. From next month, Singapore Airlines (SIA) will

advertise full fares so travellers will know right away how much their air

ticket will cost.

 

No more looking at one price, only to end up paying considerably more after

various surcharges and taxes are piled on.

 

Instead of seeing a return ticket to Sydney advertised for $900, for

example, SIA will add up the extras and state upfront that the price is

$1,263.

 

In countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Britain, airlines are bound

by regulations to advertise full fares.

 

With no such rule here, it is common for airlines to advertise low prices

that do not reflect the extras.

 

SIA is going ahead to be different in a bid to be more transparent and

deliver what customers want, its executive vice-president for marketing and

regions, Mr Huang Cheng Eng, said in a media statement yesterday.

 

The total ticket price includes not only the base fare - for the seat on the

plane - but also a host of charges lumped under 'taxes and fees'.

 

These cover security and airport taxes, insurance and administrative charges

as well as fuel surcharges.

 

In some cases, the extras can make up more than 75 per cent of the final

cost, especially for budget airline tickets.

 

Keen competition has seen low- cost carriers advertising special promotions

of as low as 50 cents and $9.99. Those numbers, displayed prominently in

advertisements, leave out all the extras that add up to many times more.

 

SIA pointed out that in some cases, its all-inclusive fares will not include

airport taxes. Some countries, such as New Zealand, Indonesia and Brunei for

example, require this payment to be made in cash at the airport.

 

SIA's decision was immediately welcomed by the Consumers Association of

Singapore (Case) which said it had received many complaints from frustrated

travellers, and had been pushing for transparency for some time now.

 

Executive director Seah Seng Choon said Case received 1,177 travel-related

complaints last year and 838 this year up to last month.

 

He said: 'With SIA's move, we hope that the rest of the industry will follow

suit.'

 

Other airlines contacted, including SIA subsidiary SilkAir and low-cost

carrier Jetstar Asia, did not rule out a similar move, but stressed that no

decision had been made.

 

Jetstar chief executive officer Chong Phit Lian said that even if all the

extras are not advertised, the total fare - including the breakdown of taxes

and fees - is clearly listed at the time of booking.

 

As the only one bucking the trend for now, SIA is aware that its prices may

suddenly appear higher at first glance.

 

But Mr Huang said SIA is going ahead because it believes it is time the

industry did this across the board.

 

Kudos to the airline, said housewife Esther Leong, 45, who recently visited

a budget carrier's website for three tickets to Phuket, Thailand.

 

The fare was stated as $150 for three, which seemed a steal, but the taxes

added up to $438 - almost three times more.

 

'If people know from the start what the extras can come to, they can decide

there and then if they want to pay,' she said.

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Bravo to SQ. Not only an innovative airline but an airline with honest advertising. Time for MH and AK to do the same.

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Bravo to SQ. Not only an innovative airline but an airline with honest advertising. Time for MH and AK to do the same.

 

Our ex-tourism minister will smile la after this. No more ads. with RM 9.99..

 

I still remeber he arguing so many times about the AirAsia ads. stratergy.

 

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This is what I call fare for all.

As what other company advertise using the word "FROM" is a misleading.

This mean alot to consumer as no point going over to a travel fair to make compare where hiddent charge had big difference in comparing the final fare for the ticket. People walk walk around and ask for price that might come out difference and exhibitor been always say "don't you know how to look at signboard!"

Normal people want the final fare and not the fare "FROM".

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Kudos to SQ.

 

But I don't think AK will follow suit.

 

We should make it a law to be complied, not just by AK but MH, FY etc. etc.

 

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I think this is a very bold move by Singapore Airlines to bring total transparency to advertised fares.

 

While this may make SIA fares more expensive compared to the gimmicky fares we so often ogled at - then then subsequently recoiled when the various taxes and surcharges are lobbed on, it ensures that you know right from the start what you will be paying.

 

I certainly would love to see the day all other airlines - including LCCs, do the same.

 

I too agree that this should perhaps be the advertising standard that the laws of each country hold up. No more nasty surprises.

 

KC Sim

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Bought a return fare from SYD recently. Very happy to be quoted a fix price, tax and charges inclusive, rather than "plus plus" - which means having to do maths to find the best deal.

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We should make it a law to be complied, not just by AK but MH, FY etc. etc.

 

In NL it's law since 01jan08 for all tickets sold in NL, so even Easyjet, Air Berlin and the likes have to show all-in fares...

Ryanair is sued now for breaking this law :lol:

 

(P.S. noticed most fares ex UK also now all-inclusive)...

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