Tiger (Australia) - Flight Cancellation

Well, we were scheduled to go to Canberra for the weekend last Friday. Bought tickets a few months back in the Tiger only pay the taxes sale and so cost us $111 return for both of us.

I received a text and email at 1600 ish Friday pm telling me that the flight scheduled at 2020 had been cancelled due to technical reasons.

They offered to rebook for another date free of charge, a full refund or $120 p/p towards another ticket with another airline, only with proof of purchase though.

We decided to take the refund as only tickets could get with either DJ or QF meant spending another $250 each, one way, on top of the $120 and these flights left at 1915 and 1900 which did not leave a lot of time to go home pack a few bits and get to the airport in Friday night traffic.

However the point of the post is to say how amazed I was at a LCC offering $120p/p to spend on another ticket with another airline. I thought that was very generous and is certainly outside of their usual policy. This is the first time I have had a problem with Tiger, all other 7/8 trips have been on time, and won't deter me from using them again. I guess I wouldn't have been quite so relaxed about it if we were in Canberra and still had to get back home.

I will however be more inclined to take out the insurance (we did end up having to pay one nights accommodation due to the late cancellation).

[mcmbenjamin]

Maybe I am a bit daff but Tiger gave you $120 and you paid $111 so I see that they only gave you $9?

Right?

It's a nice move, even if it is just transferring the taxes and charges and a few dollars (credit card fee?) more. I think what makes this stand out is that they are being proactive about it.

No exactly we paid $111 for 2 return tickets they offered $120 each so $240 in total towards alternative one way tickets with another airline. And we could still have used the return portion of the original ticket.

Wow!

[mcmbenjamin]

Thanks Rob! Makes sense now.

Sidebar: Rob, do you feel that you should earn frequent flyer points assuming Tiger Airways offered a revenue-based frequent flyer program?

Benjamin

I assume you mean do I think that as I was forced not to fly with my ticketed choice do I think I should get FF points etc on the original booking as the changes were out of my control?

If so - good question - and I am 50/50 I can see arguments for and against.

Tigers usual policy is to rebook on the next available flight rather than offering travel with another airline. If they had a FF program and I was at re-qualification for status then I would be rather miffed. But all the FF programs I belong to do state accrual is only gained on flights actually taken. I guess it would be up to the airline to offer a good will gesture in these circumstances. Its just bad luck in the same way as an op up is good luck.

In these circumstances I wouldn't have been too bothered as am a FF in the alternative airlines programs.

In summary, I would say I don't feel I should earn FF miles in these circumstances.