I get email newsletters from a couple of airlines so when I read one yesterday for $18 fares I immediately got online and started booking an $18 flight to Melbourne with Jetstar. I think everyone else was doing it too, so it took a lot longer than it should have. I think they need to do something to get around the overload problem.
Apparently there was a meltdown when they advertised $22 flights a month ago. It obviously hasn’t been fixed yet.
Despite that, I managed to contact my friend in Melbourne, make sure it was okay to lob on their doorstep in August (when the $18 fares are), and then book the tickets. By the time I paid for 2 return tickets, taxes, credit card booking fee and I even got insurance it came to just under $100 but that’s still really cheap.
I haven’t told JJ yet because I don’t want four months of when are we going on a plane?
I don’t want to sound mealy-mouthed but..
I do have problems with bottom dollar prices. With planes, I query safety (and Virgin has had some issues) and what people are paid. After all Qantas is off-loading Australian jobs to Asia. I have problems with Woolworths and their current promotion on ROLLBACK. What does this mean for farmers, for employees? Does the drive for cheaper food mean more cruelty to animals? Call me old fashioned but why can’t people pay fair wages, pay suppliers fair prices, set fair retailprices for consumers – and maintain them (oil companies please note).
Good point Miss Eagle, however, this is one area of my consumerism where I will try to save money. After all why pay for a full price flight when I can get a discount one?
Having said that, in other areas of my life, eg food purchases, I try to buy local fresh produce and Australian made produce, rather than the cheap imports.
About offshore jobs, I’ve also recently read an article in australianit.news.com.au about Australian companies who’ve outsourced jobs offshore not finding it as successful as they’d hoped because of culture differences and high staff turnover.