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Flight Review: Jetstar – Melbourne to Bangkok

Written by James Clark on February 8, 2008 · 6 Comments

Flight: Jetstar JQ 29
Date: 27 Jan 2008

Jetstar is the low cost airline brand of Qantas. They operate flights from Australia to popular destinations in Asia as well as New Zealand and Hawaii.

[Jetstar at Melbourne Airport]

As Jetstar is a low cost airline it doesn’t have the usual frills of a full service airline such as free food and drink and personal entertainment units.

If you are used to flying long haul flights with full service airlines like Qantas or Thai Airways then flying with a low cost is a step down in the travel experience. What you need to remember is that you are paying for the service of a cheaper flight.

Before you Fly

If you want extra frills onboard you can pre-purchase the following items online when you buy your ticket:

- Buy before you fly and drink free $30 (2 meals and unlimited drink)
- Blanket and amenity pack $7
- Video on demand with headsets $10

If you want to save money on the flight come prepared before you fly. Have a big meal before you go and bring some snacks and you wont need to buy anything onboard.

Onboard

If you didn’t pre-purchase you can buy onboard. A selection of prices include:
- Cadbury Chocolate $3
- Sandwiches $6
- Light meal $10
- Full meal $15
- Beer (375m) $6
- Coffee $3

For entertainment there are video screens onboard that show TV programs and a movie during the flight for free. If you want your own personal video screen with movies on demand then you can still rent it onboard if you didn’t pre-order it online.

Flight Review: Viva Macau – Macau to Sydney

Written by James Clark on December 15, 2007 · 1 Comment

Flight: Viva Macau ZG 9501
Date: 8 Dec 2007

Viva Macau is a low cost airline based in Macau. They currently fly 3 times a week to Sydney.

Viva Macau offer a no frills long haul service so you need to come prepared before you fly, as you will not be fed and entertained like you would on a full service airline.

What they do offer is one of the cheapest flights you will find from Sydney to East Asia. I picked up a sale seat for $199 (one-way) plus taxes, bringing the total to $320 Australian Dollars. I bought this online about one month before flying.

Aircraft

Viva Macau use a Boeing 767 for this route. The seating arrangement is 2-3-2 across.

[Viva Macau seats]

Entertainment

Viva Macau show movies on a projector screen. There are no personal screens. They show an English and Hong Kong film during the flight. Bring your own headphones, otherwise you will need to purchase a set.

Food and Drink

There is no inflight meal service so make sure you have a big meal at the airport or bring enough food. The only hot meal available to purchase was pot noodles. Drinks have to be bought as well.

Currencies accepted include Macau Pataca, Hong Kong, US and Austalian Dollars.

Here is a list of items available for purchase onboard, in Hong Kong Dollars

Blanket 40 HKD
Neck Pillow 20 HKD
Headphones 20 HKD
Coffee 10 HKD
Coke (can) 20 HKD
Heineken (can) 30 HKD
Pot Noodles 30 HKD

Flight Review: Oasis Hong Kong – London to Hong Kong

Written by James Clark on December 6, 2007 · Leave a Comment

Oasis Hong Kong is a long-haul low-cost airline based in Hong Kong. They currently fly to London and Vancouver and are expanding to other destinations in 2008.

[Oasis Hong Kong at Gatwick]

I had not considered flying a low-cost airline long-haul due to the perceived lack of services, but the price difference was enough for me to consider again.

Price

This was what got me through the door. The cheapest advertised price was £99, with an asterisk of course.

Fare Breakdown:
Air Fare GBP 99
Fuel Surcharge GBP 29.96
UK Air Passenger Duty Economy GBP 40.00
UK passenger Service Charge GBP 7.90

Total: GBP 176.86

This is for a one way fare from London to Hong Kong. This was booked about one month before travel, and was about half the price of the next best fare found on expedia et al with regular airlines. Booking as a one way flight might have made a difference to the fares with other airlines.

Low-cost and Long-Haul?

The low cost model works well for short haul flights as a cooked meal and entertainment isn’t necessary on a 2 hour flight. For inter-continental flights though these extras are required to make the long flight bearable.

My perception was that you would have to pay for your meals and your entertainment. Some long-haul low cost airlines are following this route but Oasis haven’t.

Meals

Yes, meals are free. There is a dinner service shortly after take off, then a breakfast service before arrival. You can order other meals any time during the flight for a cost.

[Oasis Hong Kong Dinner]

[Oasis Hong Kong Breakfast]

The meals are your standard inflight fare you would find on a BA/Cathay flight, and you get two choices.

Drinks

Juice and soft drinks are free but you have to pay for alcohol.

Entertainment

Another low cost misconception busted. There is inflight entertainment onboard. Each seat has its own tv screen and has 16 channels plus the usual where are we now Air Show.

[London - Hong Kong Air Show]

Oasis Hong Kong have their own inflight magazine and a selection of newspapers and magazines are provided free as you board.

[Free newspapers and magazines]

Remarks

Overall the flight was as comfortable as any flight I have taken in economy long haul. The winning difference is in the price difference, though if I found a flight with a comparable price with a traditional alliance airline I would have taken that, if only for the frequent flyer points.