Jetstar deceptive advertising and "sales"

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timmmay

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#119386 30-May-2013 08:49

Following on from this Herald article about deceptive advertising, have many people gotten airfares from Jetstar sales? They're usually so limited with so few seats they're far too restricted to be useful for me. They seem designed to get people to their website to buy regular fares, they don't seem to be genuine sales.

I'm sure someone has bought the sale seats, but you'd have to be pretty flexible with your times and dates.

sidefx

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#828137 30-May-2013 09:02

Jetstar might be bad, but in my recent experience Virgin Australia is by far the worst. What they seem to do (this is only speculation but has happened to me and others I know) is sell seats on a flight, then if the flight isn't full enough (or something) they just cancel it on the day, literally while the people who have bought tickets are waiting to board.

I ended up with a flight "delayed" by 29 hours from Australia not that long ago. And as I say I know 3 other people on different flights who have had a similar experience: you arrive at the airport and the flight shows as "delayed" then after waiting hours they cancel it. Might be coincidence but somehow I suspect not...

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johnr

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#828154 30-May-2013 09:44

OT but I have flown Jetstar 4 times around NZ and I can't fault them for service, All 4 flights have left on time and landed on time or a few minutes early and staff were very good, AIRNZ is also very good and I can't fault them either,

TinyTim

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#828162 30-May-2013 09:56

sidefx: Jetstar might be bad, but in my recent experience Virgin Australia is by far the worst. What they seem to do (this is only speculation but has happened to me and others I know) is sell seats on a flight, then if the flight isn't full enough (or something) they just cancel it on the day, literally while the people who have bought tickets are waiting to board.

I ended up with a flight "delayed" by 29 hours from Australia not that long ago. And as I say I know 3 other people on different flights who have had a similar experience: you arrive at the airport and the flight shows as "delayed" then after waiting hours they cancel it. Might be coincidence but somehow I suspect not...

There are rumours like this about all airlines.

marmel

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#828525 30-May-2013 22:41

I purchased flights recently in a Jetstar sale.

Four people flying return from Dunedin to Auckland, total $392!

I couldn't even drive to Wellington for that.

1080p

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#828594 31-May-2013 09:20

timmmay: Following on from this Herald article about deceptive advertising, have many people gotten airfares from Jetstar sales? They're usually so limited with so few seats they're far too restricted to be useful for me. They seem designed to get people to their website to buy regular fares, they don't seem to be genuine sales.

I'm sure someone has bought the sale seats, but you'd have to be pretty flexible with your times and dates.

I'm not sure I understand your complaint. Jetstar offer (restrictive, whatever that means) sales that don't fit with your travel plans an are therefore 'misleading' or 'deceptive'?

If the sales weren't genuine then buying tickets for a discounted price would not be possible.

timmmay

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#828596 31-May-2013 09:22

My point is they have sales, they sell a few seats, but in my experience they tend to be at off peak times they have spare capacity or have conditions that don't make them useful. That's probably exactly what they mean to do, but even when I'm thinking "oh ok sale to Auckland maybe i'll go for the weekend" there are conditions like only flies at 10pm and 7am (or something) that make it impractical for a weekend away.

Kingy

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#828839 31-May-2013 15:33

marmel: I purchased flights recently in a Jetstar sale.

Four people flying return from Dunedin to Auckland, total $392!

I couldn't even drive to Wellington for that.

You should probably check your car for a leaking fuel tank.

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mattwnz

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#828868 31-May-2013 15:54

timmmay: My point is they have sales, they sell a few seats, but in my experience they tend to be at off peak times they have spare capacity or have conditions that don't make them useful. That's probably exactly what they mean to do, but even when I'm thinking "oh ok sale to Auckland maybe i'll go for the weekend" there are conditions like only flies at 10pm and 7am (or something) that make it impractical for a weekend away.

Personally I have no experiecne with that company or what offers they send people. However with shops selling products in a store, they have to have adequte stock, or offer rainchecks, unless it is a clearance of a product or limited quantity, but that should be advertised clearly.

This link is interesting http://www.comcom.govt.nz/online-selling/ esepecailly the 'capacity' term.

Businesses offering goods or services through daily deal or group buying websites must have the capacity to meet the likely demand their offer attracts. This includes ensuring the timeframe in which consumers can redeem the offer is adequate.

graemeh

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#828875 31-May-2013 16:11

timmmay: My point is they have sales, they sell a few seats, but in my experience they tend to be at off peak times they have spare capacity or have conditions that don't make them useful. That's probably exactly what they mean to do, but even when I'm thinking "oh ok sale to Auckland maybe i'll go for the weekend" there are conditions like only flies at 10pm and 7am (or something) that make it impractical for a weekend away.

So it sounds to me like your objection is that they are only discounting tickets that are less desirable to people.

Isn't that how most retailers work with sales? Why would they discount something that is high demand?

If they advertised with the headline "have a weekend away" and the flights were not available to do it then you would have a valid complaint. If they just advertised "cheap flights between Auckland and Wellington" then you don't.

mattwnz

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#828876 31-May-2013 16:15

graemeh:
Isn't that how most retailers work with sales? Why would they discount something that is high demand?
.

Not always true. Many have loss leaders to get people instore or onto their website, and often they can be high demand items.

1080p

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#828928 31-May-2013 18:19

Kingy:
marmel: I purchased flights recently in a Jetstar sale.

Four people flying return from Dunedin to Auckland, total $392!

I couldn't even drive to Wellington for that.

You should probably check your car for a leaking fuel tank.

I think the ferries will be $150 alone for the crossing, plus a fare for each passenger.

marmel

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#828932 31-May-2013 18:22

Kingy:
marmel: I purchased flights recently in a Jetstar sale.

Four people flying return from Dunedin to Auckland, total $392!

I couldn't even drive to Wellington for that.

You should probably check your car for a leaking fuel tank.

I drive a V8 Range Rover, believe me $392 would not get me to Wellington! Costs over $200 to fill the tank although I do normally get about 95 litres in to it.

alasta

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#829050 31-May-2013 21:40

My car can get from Picton to Christchurch for less than $45 of fuel and the ferry plus passenger fare adds about $230.

An airfare is about half the cost even when you include all the hidden fees, but I'd still rather drive to avoid the misery of dealing with airlines and airports.

richms

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#829421 1-Jun-2013 21:50

timmmay: My point is they have sales, they sell a few seats, but in my experience they tend to be at off peak times they have spare capacity or have conditions that don't make them useful. That's probably exactly what they mean to do, but even when I'm thinking "oh ok sale to Auckland maybe i'll go for the weekend" there are conditions like only flies at 10pm and 7am (or something) that make it impractical for a weekend away.

I have no problem with how their sales work, and know many people that have been able to get away to see relatives in the south island for less than the cost of a decent meal out. The sales work well if you are prepared to plan your activities around the available flights. Nothing in the ad makes a commitment to be able to fly at the time and date that suits you at all.

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