Debrief

Cheap fares: How credible?

As demand sinks, unbelievable fare deals are coming out, only to be trumped within hours by competitors. Jetstar’s ‘price guarantee’ which copies whitegoods and hardware retailer’s tactics without showing their hand on fixed prices. Surprisingly no one else has copied it yet, but if the opposition is running cheap seats or 50c sales, there just may be no cheap Jetstar seats available at that particular time.

Jetstar – who are raking in the publicity, if not as many passengers – has also offered fares from only $199 on its recently increased to daily Gold Coast-Tokyo services. Comparing that to some other specials on a mileage basis, Brisbane-LA should be $317 compared to the current $450, but LA-Brisbane where things are tougher has been around $300. Brisbane-London (with a $100 transit cost) should be $569 via Singapore, or $581 via Dubai. A fare finder reports that near $300 London fares are also on offer.