Review of Tiger Airways Australia
Itchy Feet Team | May 06, 2008 | Comments 170
Tiger Airways is a low cost airline which commenced its operations in Australia in November 2007. Essentially Tiger Airways offers cheap flights on its 12 destinations in Australia. As a budget airline service the ticket cost covers the seat booking and 15kg of check in luggage. The airline also offers upgrades on luggage of 5kg, 10kg and 15kg that is paid for on top of the ticket price.
No food or drink is included in the ticket price however an in-flight service offers food and drinks for sale. Generally these prices are expensive for budget conscious travellers.
Baggage and Flight Check in is Strict! Initially travellers have been caught by the strict check in procedures and been denied check in after the 45 minute cut off time. Here an excerpt from Tigers check in policy so you don’t get caught.
“Baggage check-in opens 2 hours prior to the scheduled time of your departure. Check-in desks close strictly 45 minutes before scheduled departure time.
Tiger Airways recommends that passengers check in two hours prior to scheduled departure. Check-in desks in the Budget Terminal close strictly 45 minutes before scheduled departure, by which time passengers should have completed the check-in process and be in possession of a valid boarding card. We reserve the right to cancel your reservation and deny you boarding if you do not comply with the Check-in Deadline.
Any passenger not having completed check-in formalities and be in receipt of a boarding card within the above time line will forfeit their seat and no compensation will be given. You will be expected to purchase a new ticket on the next available service.”
The hub of Tiger Airways is Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport. Tiger flys to Alice Springs, Adelaide, Hobart, Launceston, Canberra, Newcastle, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton and Mackay. Tiger also has flights to Perth and Darwin utilizing these cities as exit points to fly internationally into Singapore.
The flight experience is good with new planes and friendly staff however the baggage collection for Tiger at Melbourne Airport is budget. It is situated next to the large and luxurious Melbourne terminal, in a shed with cyclone mesh fencing open to the elements. The baggage service is fine and bags are available for pick up in a reasonable time frame. This ending to a trip reminds the traveller that they are flying a budget airline. Don’t let this put you off however as the cost savings compared to its competitors more than makes up for this little bug bear.
More Information:
Got something to say…
If you have a comment on tiger airways (good or bad) please leave it for others to read. We will review it and then approve it if it is relevant.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
It appears that this blog entry has attracted many people that are dissatisfied with the customer service from Tiger Airways. We now apparently have Secret information from “Inside Scoop” in our comments. Check out the information that is provided and use it if you so desire, but please do not disclose the source. Protect the “Inside Scoop”. Thanks
Popularity: 100% [?]
Filed Under: Air Travel • Featured
Why does Tiger Airways need 45min checkin when all other domestic carries allow 30mins, are they that inept? It’s stupid they dont allow people with even carry-on bags if you are a minute late, when the plane does not depart for more than 45mins, Tiger is never ever be an option with Jetstar and Virgin around.
Tiger Airlines would have to be the worst Mickey Mouse settup I have ever had the misfortune to experience. From paying extra for seat allocation only to arrive at airport to be seated somewhere else cause they’d doubled up!!!!, computer system was down!!! TWO broken suitcases!!! early closure of checkin counter due to being short staffed!!! very difficult to contact anyone, end up with heavily accented girl in a call centre with an english vocabularly of 4 lines!!!! the list goes on. NEVER AGAIN, took a chance with a cheap fare, paid for it tenfold. Best to spend a little extra & travel with confidence.
Tiger airways are soo F***** stupid!! NEVER gonna fly with them!! rather pay extra $$ and go with JETSTAR!
45mins check in on the dot!!! My younger sister & brother got there 25mins early (They’re usually always about 30mins early for domestic and 2 hrs early for international flights….was abit late that day due to traffic) and they would’nt even allow them on plane!. Freakin plane wont even take off in another 25-35mins atleast! what kind of BS nonsense is this??? At the end both me sis & bro lost there tickets so we went back home and bourght a ticket with JETSTAR next morning.
I am frustated and surprised by tiger airways postponing flight from darwin to singapore. I booked ticket from darwin to singapore and singapore to chennai(both tiger airways) in two different itenary in Dec 2008.They are so rude , charged me difference from singapore to chennai( as I have to postponed as tiger changed darwin to singapore due to unknown circumstances). Tiger were rude and roared at me and charged the difference . December is the peak season, how come they ruined the holidays of people with out any suitable compensation or booking some other flights. There is no law in australia which binds them to make decision before they sell tickets. They are cancelling flights for commercial purpose or not for security or technical purpose. Is it not the responsibilily of them to think of operational cost before they issue tickets. Customers have to loose money if they book with diffrent airlines in peak season. I feel it is courtesy or their responsibility to avail tickets for nearest date if they wish to travel on those or nearby dates.
never fly with tiger. flew from Darwin to Singapore. My baby’s stroller was charged as excess luggage. Complained about it in Singapore. They were so rude and unhelpful. Since then, we have never flown Tiger.
Comfortable flt. Cbr/Melbourne but long wait for Melbourne/Drw
departure,0200 spoilt it..Ditto for return wheen Tiger canc. our orig.
Melbourne/Cbr. flt. to late afternoon after arriving at 0800..
All staff from checkin to flt. staff very polite and knew what they were
doing..Would utilise there servics again…
Never fly with then again on 5 january Darwin Airport closed due to Cyclone, will not refund money, claim I missed flight due to personal circumstances, their website claimed airport closed, did not answer phone number on web site, tried for 6 hours, engaged. Better to pay a few dollars more and know you will not have this BS. Now have to take them to Small Claims Tribunal to get money back, I guess they figure, if we make it hard enough, people will not bother.
Travelled Tiger Airways a couple of times,the only downer for me is the fact that you have to check in 45 mins before departure time but other than that i find them reasonably priced and for a budget airline i think there service was great.
Three 17 year old girls were declined their schedule flight TT 7402 21/9/08 as it had closed, our party was at MELB terminal T4 at 6.05am flight departure was 7.00am. By the time the queue & got to the Check in Desk it was 6.30am, to be told sorry flight was closed, no accouncement that the flight was closing except for the Rockhampton one which left at 6.55am. The girls were able to rebook on the next flight for an additional $630.00 to the Gold Coast. I have been unable to contact or talk with anyone at Tiger Airways who prompt quality customer service for customers, the check in staff showed no empathy towards our plight and were smirking and smiling during the whole outcome, inside secutirty camera footage would confirm all of this. Ripped Off – Customers have no say or rights anymore.
Would not recommend anybody to fly with Tiger Airways. 15 minute minimum walk from plane to their shed (I mean terminal) at Melbourne airport. Ages for luggage to turn up at Melbourne and Gold Coast airport. Notification of change in flight times by email (what if I didn’t check my email?). Only a couple of seats at Melbourne luggage carousel area. Only a couple of seats at Gold Coast check in area. Only 2 check in staff at Gold Coast airport causing a long wait in line. Cheap and nasty airline.
Flew from Melbourne to Adelaide. Had a carry on baggage ticket. One bag was too heavy, but was allowed to tranfer items to a suit bag, then allowed through. Found the check in asistant very helpful.
The waiting lounge facilities are very budget in presentation. The flight is a pleasnt experience.
Happy so far.
My fiance was 4 minutes late for a flight check in (so there not 45 mins early but 41) to get to a funeral in VIC travelling from QLD, they couldn’t care less abut the funeral and would not let him on the plance. DISGUTSING and appalling. Should be ashamed of yourselves Tiger….scum.
I think I can sadly top all the previous BLOGS- here is a copy of my complaint letter to Tiger Airways sent to them today.
To the attention of: Commercial Services Dept – Tiger Airways
I am writing to speak to someone regarding the 5 different changes to my flight plans by Tiger Airways over the last 3 months.
I have also attached the previous letter sent regarding what I have been through in the past with Tiger Airways regarding the same issue.
Since writing the original complain my flights have been changed again 4 more times.
Each time Tiger Airways has made it impossible or very inconvenient to catch my connecting flight.
So far as of yesterday 19/11/2008 my Adelaide to Melbourne flight (***) has been changed to the following times,
1. Original flight leaving 7.55am then changed to 11.30am, then changed to 7.40am, then changed to 2.05pm and now finally again changed to 8.45am- this is a total of 5 flights in 3 months.
Secondly my connecting flight from Melbourne to the Gold Coast (***) has also been changed numerous times,
1. Original flight leaving Melbourne at 11.30am, then changed to 7.05pm, then changed to 6.40pm.
My current flight plan as of today (god knows how many more changes Tiger Airways can make in the month to my take off in just over a month) is
Depart Adelaide Thursday 25/12/2008 at 8.45am arriving in Melbourne at 10.30am, then I am stuck in Melbourne for 8hours on Christmas Day until I depart again at 6.40pm arriving in Gold Coast at 7.45pm. You have ruined me Christmas holiday which I had planned to spend with my family.
Sadly I am not the only one involved I have 8 other people going with me that have been inconvenienced- following bookings: ***, ***, ***, ***, ***, ***
This is a total of 11 hours to get from Adelaide to Gold Coast which would normally take 4-5 hours with stop over and flight changes. I would be able to fly overseas for less time than this. This is completely unreasonable and very inconsiderate on behalf of Tiger Airways.
I have had to make a total of 10 (STD) PHONE calls and have been on the phone for a total of 3 hours over the time of originally booking my flights until yesterday with the last call I made.
I would like someone to contact me on ******* between the hours of 9am – 7pm
Australian Eastern standard time, within 24 hours to discuss this matter. I am at the point now that I am considering going to the News Papers, Radio and TV news to voice my disgust at Tiger Airways and the service that I am receiving from your call centre.
Please have someone call me ASAP to discuss this matter before I take this further.
Ouch, that hurts Milenko.
I’m in the same situation, I had booked a flight to leave from Melbourne to Launceston on 25/12/08 leaving at 8am. I have since received an email telling me the flight will now leave at 4:30pm. There goes Christmas Lunch….
Tiger are cheap, for a reason…. I think Qantas and Virgin are just sitting back and laughing.
I will not waste my time with Tiger anymore, I’d rather pay a bit more and actually get what I pay for.
Hopefully the ACCC will do something about Tigers bait and switch advertising.
Hi,
I agree, in particular, comments from Milenko (20 Nov 2008). Myself and a group of 4 others booked a flight to Singapore from Melb for mid Feb 09 with Jetstar. This is not the problem!
However, we also booked a connecting flight from Adelaide to Melb, leaving at 9.45a, arriving Melb @ 11.30, which would allow us sufficient time to check in for the flight to Singapore, which leaves at 1.30pm.
But oh no, Tiger informed us the other day that our Adel/Melb leg had been changed to now leave at 17.30p, which of course, if we accepted this, we would miss out on a connecting flight to Singapore. This is approx. a 7 hour difference!?
Tiger says ‘contact us’, but after 5 days of trying, to which the phone line was permanantly engaged or the recorded message says ‘please hold to speak to an operator’ and then eventually hangs up, I am still waiting to speak to someone from Tiger Airlines.
I have even tried ringing Tiger in Singapore and have had the same problems. I then decided to ring Singapore Airlines (they own Tiger, according to the Website), but they didn’t want to know about the problem.
If you read the fine print on Tiger website, it says we (the passenger) cannot get a refund of fares etc, if it is our error and this is understandable.
BUT what if the shoe is on the other foot – Tiger changes the flight details that do not suit!?
Should not they at least get you on another flight to match your connecting, refund your money or have the decency to have someone at the other end of the phone.
For a company trying to ‘make it in Australia’ they are going the right way about how NOT to run a business!.
I have contacted my local TV/new/media to give them my story, so maybe something may happen, but I will NOT be using them ever again.
The Tiger Airlines ‘Hotline’ is indeed totally disfunctional. Both their phone and fax seemed to be permanantly engaged during business hours. Has anyone been able to contact Tiger via another means? Anyone have a mailing address? Flights changes by them are a real problem – especially when it is impossible to contact them.
I am in a very painful and embarassing situation. Could someone here kindly suggest me what to do?
I have booked a total of 8 domestic airtickets for my relatives from Canada, who will be on their first Australian trip in March 2009. Today I tried to upsize their luggage by contacting the Call Centre, I called 10 times at different times of the day, and every time I attempted by making different selection of services. However, every call I made was cut off soon after selection!! What’s worse, there is no other way of contact except this. I am very angry and frustrated.
I have just stumbled across this website and read your comments, and I am now even more anxious. I’ve never realised their services could be so appalling, but I’ve already paid in full for their airtickets which worth more than A$1500. Their policy states that no refund will apply to cancellations except in the event of death or flight re-schedules.
Does anyone here know of other possible contact methods to the airline? I am now all at sea. Their final Tiger flights were scheduled only 1/2 day before their international flights back to Canada. If I cancel their airtickets, I will get no refund and have to bear the loss. If I make changes to their schedules, I still have to prepare for the worst that could happen to them.
Many thanks for reading my message. I share the empathy of you all.
I have just returned from Adelaide after flying in with Tiger, waiting over two hours before departure. Because I was travelling with a child I was told to arrive early to ensure we would be seated together! I should have realized that something was dodgy about this airline when the queue for Queensland fight didn’t move for nearly an hour.
They changed the boarding gate at the last second (whilst I was in the toilet) and forgot to change the signage, which then looked like people were boarding a flight to Canberra, very unprofessional and the check in staff member was very rude as my baggage was 800 grams over the allowance so I had to line up three times to recheck the weight and carried half my clothes on board and still got slugged $25 for this!!
Three hours after arriving in Adelaide I got a message via my mobile (from Singapore) to check my email, which my husband did , my flight had been changed, I tried unsuccessfully to change my flights to a more suitable time via the booking number which was coming up as invalid and via the telephone which rang out or just hung up if I was fortunate enough to get a message machine!!!
I couldn’t get through to anyone and ended up booking with Qantas, the contrast was amazing very professional, fantastic service, sympathetic staff, easy check in with very little waiting time, and a person on the phone to talk to about any changes or queries. I am out of pocket $200 dollars but I will tell everyone I know about this ghastly airline and the lack of customer service, I hope the Australian Government shuts them down because they are ripping people off.
The old saying you get what you pay for seems to be true here.
OMG!!. My father’s friend just climbed over the back fence at 2.00am after a terrible experience with Tiger Airways.
The plane was originally leaving at 4.00am. saturday morning.
Then the flight was changed to 1.35am. saturday morning.
We dropped him off at 12.30, so he had 15minutes ontop of the 45minutes.
To find that they had shut the gate at 12.25 due to over booking the flight.
6 people were left without a flight.
1 man argued with the flight check staff for 30minutes and was let on the plane.
The 2 flight check staff then turned and walked away, leaving the remaining 5 people without service or contact details.
Unfortunately and much to the 5 remaining people, (2 of thoughs people had been there 3 hours early,) found out that they would not be receiving refunds, even though it was tiger airways fault.
I dont understand how these people are still running a business, and shouldn’t it be conpulsory for a business to have a telephone number, or atleast a complain desk/office. Or even just a complaint box, so you know they complaint actually made it to the airline.
Tiger Airway’s you are a disgrace. I may be 16 but I’m going to be watching thoughs TV add and listening to the radio adds, very very carefully, and anything that is incorrect i will record and sue them for false advertising, maybe then they will get the hint.
I’m very determind to get rid of this idiotic company.
Look out Tiger Airways. Alot of people really really hate you!
As I write this, my phone has just clicked over th 50th minute that I have been ON HOLD to Tiger Airlines..in Singapore (Melbourne number is ALWAYS engaged).
Absolutely ridiculous.
We booked our flights for christmas to return to Tasmania. Our flights were Gold Coast- Melbourne, Melbourne – Launceston.
Having booked approx 6months ahead of time to SAVE money, this has resulted in one of the most EXPENSIVE and ANNOYING christmases EVER.
1. They changed our flight approx 2 months ago. Very annoying, which meant we then had a 6 hour wait in Melbourne between flights – annoyed but accepted this as a one off.
2. our flights were scheduled for xmas eve – 24th Dec. On Friday 19th Dec, we receive an email saying that they have AGAIN changed our flight – this time leaving only 15minutes between legs. Totally impossible to make this work, since they cannot check you in from your original destination, and you have to collect bags and re-check in with a 45 min advance.
Their solution – refund us / give us a credit / shift our Melbourne leg flight to the next day (we would have to o’night in Melbourne at OUR cost) which meant we would not arrive until 8pm XMAS DAY – oh but for that option, a $180 fee would apply.
3. Contacting them is a nightmare… they must have 1 person on the phones, with 100million angry frustrated and annoyed customers!
RIDICULOUS
in order for us to get to our final destination, we had to cancel our flight with Tiger, and buy a last minute Virgin flight, for xmas eve – around $280 per person!!!!
I am extremely unhappy with the service and on-chargin of every cost to the consumer.
I WILL NEVER FLY TIGER AIRLINES AGAIN AND RECOMMEND EVERY PERSON I MEET TO NEVER FLY THEM EITHER.
Tiger appear to be almost operating in a fradulent manner. They called us to state our flight had been moved 5 hours into the future and we could have a refund if that was unacceptable. They refund very little but will do if the flight is changed greater than 4 hours. So we called the service centre (an ordeal in itself) and were granted a refund in 21 days. After 26 business days, still no refund. Ive refaxed a request and sent another copy via registered post to ensure delivery. Could not even get through to the call center this time. Next step will be a VCAT application to see them in court which they cannot avoid. With the level of complaints over this airline and surprised authorities are not yet involved with their conduct. The most annoying part is that they offered the refund within their policy guidelines. It is as if they drag their feet long enough you will give up.
Tiger have messed me up twice now and they won’t have the chance to do it again.
I booked Launceston to Melbourne and then a flight within two hours to Adelaide. I received an email telling me my flight to Melbourne had been cancelled and I had been put on a flight that reached Melbourne after my Adelaide flight had departed. I had to pay a change flight fee to book a more expensive ticket and wait 5 hours for my Adelaide flight.. I phoned Tiger at least 30 times but it was never answered. I was told at the airport to write to a particular address and have received no reply.
Second incident. I booked Adelaide to Melbourne , and Melbourne to Launceston. Because of illness I had to change my flight for a week later. I tried many times to achieve the change but every time was told there was an error in my details which were right all along. Eventually the change flight page was locked against me. I phoned the given number many times and no answer was forthcoming. I have subsequently booked on Virgin, despite paying Tiger a fare which I either surrender or try to negotiate with somebody who isn’t there.
It’s clear to me that anyone who books with Tiger does so at their peril as, like me, they might well end up forfeiting their fare and flying with somebody else.
Follow up to refund not being paid as promised. Tiger have now come through with a full refund. Promised 21 days. Tooks 26 business days or 41 normal days. Tiger have either come through with the refund as we have persisted and indicated we would go to VCAT in future or they just process refunds slowly. If that is the case they do themselves a diservice as it generates nothing but anger and suspicion. Ours were not super cheap airfares either. They rivalled Virgins better fares. We chose Tiger as they had available seats.
Agree with all the above complaints re changed flights .. we have 2 holidays booked flying from Launceston to Melbourne, one in January one in April, so 4 flights booked (first time with Tiger) … all 4 flights changed considerably so that in fact we have lost a day of each holiday and they are only short stays. Will never fly Tiger again! Hopeless
I HATE TIGER AIRWAY… CALLING THE STUPID Customer services for 2 DAYS! each call lasted at least 50mins! and no one answer!
Hmmm 22 out of 25 comments negative. Think I will steer clear. I don’t think overbooking has a place in Australia.
I’ve booked my first Tiger fares (Canberra to Adelaide return) before I read all of this, and didn’t prepay seat allocation. I later saw on another blog that they don’t guarantee that travelling companions will sit together. I’m travelling with my 2 children aged 4 & 6 yrs – can anyone tell me whether they at least do your seat allocation upon checkin (and that you don’t have to fight for a seat on the plane), and also whether they try to put small kids with their parents?
And can anyone tell me whether you get slugged a charge for amending a booking to add in prepaid seat allocation?
Of course I have tried to ring their call centre, but I don’t need to tell you that I didn’t get anywhere with that.
Hi Julie,
I have flown Tiger with my family. My suggestion to you is to arrive at the very start of the booking in time, that is 2 hours before your flight. A bit of a pain with kids but if you get in early I don’t think you will have a problem getting seated together as seats are allocated when you book in.
I could fill the page easily. Nov 19, flight changed KL to Sing by 3hrs 40 min, arrives in Sing 5 min after connection departs.
Tigers choice Tiger should refund. Melb number constantly engaged, If connects line always drops out. Always fax error from 2 different faxes. Sent 2 registered letters Melb Dec 8, Jan 14. Faxed Singapore 29 Dec. Now 10 weeks, no contact/refund.
Cheap Airline, Cheap attitude. Nil service. All planned I’m sure
Worst airline ever!
They changed our flight departure times several times, ended up being 3 hours and 55 minutes later from the original booking. Very convenient for them as they only have to refund if the new time is 4 hours or more out. We tried to contact their “call centre” every couple of days for 3 weeks but number was constantly engaged. Tried faxing them many times – fax number never answered. Ended up calling their Singapore office only to have someonewho didnt speak english read out something off the internet page. We ended up giving up and had to buy tickets with another airline to get to our destination on time.
The flight back was just as bad, got to their terminal with an hour and a quater to spare then stood in a line of over a hundred people for 50 minutes while 2 staff processed every one. Luckily they still let us on the flight even though we were not checked in within the ridiculous 45 minute cut off. Security was a joke – the cleaner was vacuuming through the metal dectector while people were walking through setting it off! They had hardly any food on board the flight – I got a cup of noodles for $4 and the water they poured in was luke warm, not even enough to soften the noodles. When we arrived it took 45 minutes for our luggage to come out – 2 other flights had arrive and their luggage had cleared before we got ours. No represtentative anywhere to let us know what was going on.
This airline is DODGY – the tickets may seem cheap but they make their money by stuffing people around until they are so frustrated they forfeit their tickets so Tiger can sell the seats to someone else. Never ever again.
Upcoming original flight Gold Coast to Melbourne had arrival time of 4.15pm rescheduled to 11.55pm. Oddly, there are seats available/for sale on the roughly original departure flight/time. WTF?
When I occasionally get through to the call centre, and make a selection, it cuts off. Strangely this doesn’t happen if i call from my mobile, which costs me MORE MONEY.
I have had a gutful, like everybody else here.
RIP Tiger Airways Australia.
Avoid them like the plague.
UPDATE: Wow! Just got through, didn’t cut off, offered free change to 15.10pmarrival.
I’m still OVER them!
Not only are the customers experiencing unprofessional and seriously unfair treatment but also the recruits. I was accepted into a ground school and passed all my exams with fantastic scores 3 x100% ,98% and 92%. I was asked to leave the course due to the fact that I didnt ask for help with the stuff I got incorrect. When asked these issues again I gave the correct response, showing I didn not need help.
I also was informed that others hadn’t even passed or done as well but because they asked for help they would stay on. Good luck on a flight full of flight attendants that need to ask for help everytime something goes wrong………
Tonight I was just about to book Melbourne to Canberra return flights with Tiger. My wife asked why is Tiger so cheep, well from all the comments here the flight reliability and customer service is appalling. We are travelling with our children and having up to 4 hour delays would be a disaster after a long weekend socialising with friends….worse still we may have not made it to Canberra at all.
Thanks for the frank and open comments you have saved us from having a bad weekend.
One word: dodgy. I haven’t even flown with them yet! The booking procedure was dodgerama. The total price of my booking didn’t appear until after I had given my credit card and authorised payment.
Before paying, there was a message stating that the total amount might increase by an additional fee – but the fee was not listed and I assumed that this did not apply to me. The fee was subsequently added to my cost after I gave my credit card booking and proceeded to pay the amount. This additional fee meant that Tiger airlines was more expensive than Jetstar and Virgin (with whom I can do onine check in and select my seats for free!).
I will be contacting the ACCC as I believe that this is a breach of the Trade Practices Act.
Won’t be fooled again.
I’m really worried now we fly out next week adelaide to Hobart and have booked seats and also insurance for tickets and baggage..Has anyone flown adelaide to hobart and had any problems?Don’t they ring your mobile to tell you any changes?
Wish I had booked with virgin now..Fingers crossed we’re ok…
just checking my tiger booking adelaide, gold coast, return 15/4-22/4. without any notice whatsoever , the flight times have changed dramatically. I wonder how long it will take for them to advise me. I have transfer arrangements in place, lets wait & see.
Does anyone know what happened at tiger airways at Tullamarine in Melbourne last Thursday night? I have a friend who said there was all sorts of drama going on and reporters with cameras were there. Haven’t read or heard any media reports. Has anyone else?
This bunch of hicks don’t understand the Australian airline market. They don’t understand principles of customer service – the essence of airline travel – which apply in any business. They will go bust, because they quickly established a rotten reputation for reliability, arbitrary dismissal of their customers, hidden charges, and people in this country don’t put up with being treated like cattle. I am pissed off and I haven’t even travelled with them yet. My bookings and trying to get some response are a shameful saga for any business.
What a joke. These clowns don’t even have a 1300 or 1800 number; the phone [probably permanently re-routed to some call centre in Asia that handles all their business for the whole of Asia] is continuously engaged and there is not way to contact them on their website.
I’ll be off to the Small Claims Tribunal if these people stuff up my travel.
Update on Comment Jan 30. Received by mail computer generated repy from Singapore dated March 17. (took 14 weeks) Cutting through the sorry and PR bs, bottom line is “Schedules subject to change at anytime for any reason, and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss incurred by passengers.” Prior to receiving this letter, the matter had been forwarded to NSW Dept Fair Trading. Stay tuned.
I have to agree with all the above complains. My flight has been changed to more than 7 hours later from the original time. Tried calling Tiger call centre the whole day but constantly engaged. After redialling for the 20th times, it finally went through and was put on hold for another 15 mins. Spoken to a lady whose English is really hard to understand.
Anyway, I’m lucky they agreed to cancel and refund me the full cost (which takes 3-4 weeks). Will update here again when I (hopefully) get my refund…
Closely dodging the bullet here.. phew!!
Well an update, we flew adelaide – hobart and return, no problems what so ever providing you get there 2 hours before as we did, we did see people turned away though at the 45min check in point they were left stranded with no flight out..The staff were friendly and i found the seats were comfortable, however no leg room, all in all though we were fine, thank god was worried after reading all the comments..Still think I will fly with someone else next time just in case…
Well where do i start, Booked a fare to Hobart last Saturday only to find that our seats on the return flight had not been allocated together, there were
6 of us flying together in 3 weeks, went back on the site to pay $5.00 fee for each seat allocation as advised by customer service and the pricks charged us for all the fares again $480.00. We rang customer service straight away and were greeted by the rudest asian woman in the world that interupted and yelled at my saying Bad luck
No refunds. Has cost us $1500 dollars to fly to Hobart. bloody disgusting here we are trying to get the cheapest flight and we paid for 12 seats and got 6. No one cares
who will help you cant get thru to customer service and we tried sending a fax but will not go thru. If it takes us the rest of our lives I will not let them get away with it.
Please be warned never change anything on line the stress this has caused is unbelievable…………….
Well have tried to send 27 faxes to the Famous Tiger Airways from 3 diffent Fax M/c and their service (Not) would not recieve any faxes.Called 11times at my cost to try to resole their over charging only to be told their policy is strictly no refunds.So I can only take from that they dont in any form care less about customer service as long as they have our money or yours.What is worth noting is to look up who owns or is in partnership with Tiger Airways & dont use any of then .POOR SERVICE ABSOLUTELY NO CUSTOMER SERVICE .WELL MY POINT IS REMEBER THAT THE CUSTOMERS PAY ALL OF THEIR WAGES & THE CUSTOMERS HAVE GREAT MEMORIES.WOULD I RECOMEND THEN OR ANY OF THE PARTNER AIRSERVICES NO.
I PLAN TO TELL AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE A DAY OF MY EXPERIENCES SO AT LEAST THEY CAN BE AWARE & MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ON THEIR AIR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS REMEBER ALL GET TOGETHER & TELL 20 PERSPECTIVE TRAVELLERS OF YOUR FEELING & DISAPOINMENTS SO THEY INFACT ARE AWARE OF THE PITFALLS.
I WILL KEEP POSTING A UPDATE ON THE TALLY OF PEOPLE I HAVE TOLD.
THANKS ALL
NEVER FLY TIGER AIRWAYS.NO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT ALL. CALLING CUSTOMER CENTRE AUSTRALIA NUMBER.nO BODY PICKS UP.TIGER AIRWAYS RIPPING OFF PEOPLE.
I have had the same problesas all the other with regards to there Call center spent 2 days trying to get through My wife was traving to Brisbane from Melb (tullamarrine) first off there temilal is 20 min walk from jetsar & virgin Blue it is very small and you cant go in and have a coffe with the passanger before take off only passanger are alowed in this area NO place to view the flight take off
My wife rang and told me the seating is very cramped and the are diorganized and she said ” NEVER AGIAN WILL I FLY WITH THEM!
GET RID OF THEM FLY VIRGIN BLUE as we used to do bad misake to change to TIGER !
Last word DO NOT USE TIGER AIRWAYS !!
Just booked next week with Tiger. Sounds exciting. I’ll pack a crash helmet.
I never even got the chance to fly with this hick Airline. I had to cancell the bookong but was unable to call by phone or send a fax advising them. I appears that their “office” is either unmanned or at best run by a 16 year old who spends most of his/her time texting messages.
This mob should be under tighter regulation and forced to provide an acceptable minimum service. Their entire attitude not only reflects on them but their owner Singapore Airlines.
In the long run it the entire Airline will lose and in todays’ tough competition it may be good ridence.
Go Virgin Airlines. The discount airline that offers real service.
We just flew home with tiger airlines last night from Gold coast (coolangatta). We had booked an extra seat as we have a baby ( he is 6 months old) On the web site it states if you want a seat for an infant to pay for it so we did as instructed (I was going to be breast feeding and just wanted a little privacy) We were told when arriving to check in we have to pay for each of his baby items as he is an adult and has an adult ticket.. So where they list on there website- (Infant equipment, including but not limited to prams, buggies, cots and car seats can be carried in the hold of the aircraft. Tiger Airways is prepared to carry such items on a ‘Limited Release’ (i.e. entirely ‘at your own risk’ for damage or delay) basis for free. You may therefore wish to ensure that you have suitable private insurance cover in force for such item.) My son had a normal seat and is now considered an adult. So they do not need to take any items. I was then told at Coolangatta by Dan Jones the manager that its only 1 infant item per child. But still then he charged me for each item as there was over 20 kilos as we had a porter cot, a car seat and a pram they wanted to charge up $15 per kilo. He then decided he would “do us a favor” and log it as sporting items and only charge us $30 per item. By this stage I was furious and upset. Dan Jones then told us Head office is in melbourne and if we wanted to we could take it up with them and he said straight out (he doesn’t work for tiger he works for a company called Aero-Care Pty Ltd). When we arrived in Melbourne we went to the main tiger building and asked a girl where the customer service desk is. We were told they do not have one, but if we would wait around say 10 -20 minutes someone would be able to help us. We were then told at Melbourne airport we shouldn’t have been charged BUT she couldn’t refund us she had left some details on the computer which she let us read and then said to contact tiger. So this morning I’ve called and got Roda (in Singapore) and was told that she couldn’t help me. I asked where I could speak or see someone face to face for and was told there is no one I can talk to here in Australia. Roda then said she wasn’t able to make a decision on this even though the manager at Melbourne had stated we should get a full refund. She has now said a manger from head office Singapore will call me that was at 11:36am. We will never fly with them again.
The writing in bold is what is stated on the tiger airlines website as a condition.
I lost 3 x full fare seats by arriving 10 mins late, this was dur to road works! Finally found someone who said tough buy another ticket.
NEVER AGAIN spent another $600 with Qantas. 3 seats to Melbourne $900.00
I’ve DISGUSTED with this airline and they never answer the phone.
Be warned don’t travel with them!